Prominent personalities of Kerala
Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad

Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad: According to legend, after Parasurama created Kerala from the sea, various professions essential for the upkeep of the society were distributed among different communities. In doing so, architecture and construction of temples were given to a few Namboothiri families and Kanippayyur was prominent among them. This family, even now retains the centuries old tradition and forefathers of Krishnan Namboothiripad have had the distinction of being advisors to the erstwhile kingdoms of Cochin, Malabar and Travancore.

The ancestral home (Illam) is more than one hundred and fifty years old and it was a Pathinaaru (16) Kettu, a status symbol in ancient Kerala. They have shared their knowledge with others and presented Kerala with efficient architecture. Astrological tradition may not be as old as that of architecture but Krishnan Namboothiripad’s ancestors were all proficient in Ganithashasthra.

Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad had the good fortune to grow up under the tutelage of his grandfather's brother Panditharajan Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboothiripad. This doyen amongst the family members was architect par excellence, astrologer, astronomer and historian. At a young age itself Krishnan Namboothiripad was exposed to Sthapathya Veda and Vaastu Shasthra.

Krishnan Namboothiripad is the present custodian of Kerala's architectural tradition, and is a globetrotting architect. He is the Dean of all the universities of Mahirishi Mahesh Yogi and spends six months in a year at the Mahirishi’s Holland based complex, teaching and providing advice on the traditional architecture. He is also the Dean of Vasthu Vidya Gurukulam based at Aranmula in Kerala and Chairman of the Kozhikode-based Vaastu Vidya Prathisthan.

Temples designed by Krishnan Namboothiripad can be seen in Bombay, Pune, and at home. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum at the famous Paaramekkavu Temple of Thrissur stands testimony to his architectural marvel.

After doing his post-graduation in Mathematics, he worked as lecturer at Christ College, Irinjalakuda and Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur. But this was not his destiny and soon Krishnan Namboothiripad adorned the family mantle in 1966, and since then has not looked back. According to Krishnan Namboothiripad, building, just like the human body, consists of five elements (Panchabhoothas) and seven factors (Sapthadhaathukkal). Wear and tear occur in both and timely attention can improve the life span.