Gesture

The Narayaneeyam in unique in the conversational mode employed by the poet, of addressing the Lord in the second person from start to finish. According to legend, after setting out certain important incidents, or making bold assumptions of the reason for them, Bhattathiri waited for confirmation of the accuracy by a gesture from the Lord, as an 'asariri' (disembodied voice) or nod of the head, before proceeding further.

Two such incidents may be seen in Dasakam 35, Verse 3, and Dasakam 45, Verse 9.

1. In Dasakam 35, Verse 3, while narrating the successful mission of Anjaneya to Lanka and his return with the crest-jewel of Shree Seetha, the poet concludes by saying "Mouliratnam dadau te" (Gave Thee the crest-jewel). Immediately, a doubt arose in his mind whether he had not erred in saying "Thee" instead of "Rama", and he looked up at the Lord's image. Legend has it that the Lord nodded His head, confirming that it was indeed HE in the outward form of "Rama", to whom Anjaneya handed over the crest-jewel.
2. In Dasakam 45, Verse 9, Bhattathiri makes a bold assertion that the Lord resorted to taking the curd or butter and ghee by stealth from the homes of the Gopis (cowherd women), instead of begging them for these, after his humiliating experience of begging for paces of land from Bali in the Vamana incarnation. It is said that through the voice of an "asariri" (disembodied voice) emanating from the garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), the Lord approved of the poet's assumption.

(Similar instances of direct communication with, and confirmation by the Lord, have been cited in relation to the composition of "Geetagovindam" by Jayadeva.)