Krishnanattam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnanattam
Picture Book
http://krishnattam.tripod.com/picture_book/kaliya.html
Summary
http://www.dvaipayana.net/krishnanattam/krish_summary.html
Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Krishnattam

The various benefits of Krishnanattam as an offering are listed here

Avatharam for a birth of a child Kaliyamardhanam to remove the effect of poison Rasakreeda well being of unmarried girls, to end disputes between couples Kamsavaddham to remove enemies Swayamvaram for a happy matrimony Bana yuddham to remove impoverishment, for good farm production Vividha vadham to eliminate poverty and increase yield from farms Swargarohanam for peace of a departed soul

Prince Manavedan of Calicut was born in 1595 and had early education in Sanskrit. He wrote Purvabharatha Champu in 1643. He might have been familiar with Melpathur and Poonthanam during his time. Later he became the disciple of Villwamangalam II. With his devotion to Lord and guidance of Villwamangalam, he saw the Lord as Unnikrishna , standing under the Elajhi tree on the way from the Palace to the temple. The present Koothambalam is located at this spot. The Prince wrote a series of eight dramas for Krishnanattam . The Krishnanattam began to be staged in the temple regularly as an offering to the Lord.Further, the Zamorins' subjects and friends of other Principalities vied with each other to invite the troupe to their place as a mark of devotion to the Lord. Thus the dance-drama, Krishnanattam , became yet another medium to spread the fame of Guruvayur all over Kerala. There is a memorial built for Manavedan in the Panchajanyam Guest house compound.