20 November, 1904: Death of Stephanos Kathanar – Author of “Shayana Namaskaram” (Mar Thoma Shayana Namaskaram).

Stephanos Kathanar (born on 14 June 1852) was a member of Kallarakkal Peedikayil family of Thazhahkkara, Mavelikkara. He became a deacon at the age of 8. He was an expert teacher of the Syrian Language.

In 1897, he established Thazhakkara Mar Thoma Church and started a library for the parish. Achen is the author of The Shayana Namaskaram– (prayer song usually sung with the evening family prayer or public worship) “njangalkullha karthave…” which is still used by many Kerala Christians. Many Malayalaee Christian groups also use it for their common evening worships during the lent season.

Stephanos Kathanar was called to his eternal home on 20 Nov 1904.

Achen’s grandson Dr. Samuel Mathai was the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University.

“Shayana Namaskaram” (Mar Thoma Shayana Namaskaram)

Njangalkulha karthave
Njaaniha nidraozhinjittu
Unharvode nin thiru munpil
Nilpaan enikku nee arulhaname

Veendum njaan urrangunnaalil
Eeyadiyaanulha urrakkam
Karththaave nin thiru minpil
Dosham koodaath aakaname

Enn unharchayyil njaan chathipedukil
Nin kripa mochanam ennikekum
Nidrayilum pizha vannaakil
Ardhramathe kshama nalkaname

Ninnude krushin shanthiaathaal
Nallayurrakam enniku nee thaa
Aaka swapnam ashuddhiyil
Ninenne nee rakshichchkollhanhame

Shanthiyerriya nidrayathaal
Shanthi therenam raa muzhuvan
Aakka ninavum dushtathayum
Adhikaaraththil amarthalle

Ninude adiyaar njaan athinal
Ente shareeram kaappaanaai
Velhivinude maalaakaaye
Enniku nee therenam karththave

Dweshetha pettorichayil nin
Enne nee rakshich kollhaname
Uyirekum nin dehaththe
Njaan anibhavichchen athinaale

Ashwasathil urrangumpol
Aashisabhayam nin raktham
Nin srishtika swaathanthryam
Nee kripayode nalkhaname

Ninakai mananja shareerathil
Ninte velamkaai vazhanhame
Ninte karunakal kottayathaai
Ente chutthilum aakaname

Nidrayil aandu kidakumpol
Bhadram kaavalu nin shakthi
Enteyurrakkam thiru munpil
Nal dhoopam polaakaname

Enne potthun udayavane
Ninnodu thanne yachippu
Enikullha shayanathinmel
Thinma pettavan anhayaruthe

Balavanaai njaan jeevipaan
Baliaayi jeevan anhachchavane
Enne vyasanaththil aakaaivaan
Saathaane nee vilakanhame

Karththave nin vagdatham
Ennil nirravettheedenhame
Ninte shleeba maranaththaal
Ente ayussa kakkaname

Njaan unharum neraththinkal
Ninne njaan kondaduvaan
Ente nidra velhayillum
Ninte upavi nee kattenhame

Nin thiru manasine njaan arrinju
Njaan athine chchaivanaayi
Ninte manogunam athinaale
Ennikku manogunam arulhuka nee

Nirappu niranjor anthiyathum
Neethi vilhangum raavum nee
Njangalude rakshakanaam maashiha
Naadha addiyaarku arulhaname

Velhivin velhiv nee aakunnu
Velhivil thanne parkunnu
Velhivinude suthar aayavarum
Ninne thanne namikkunnu

Ninnakku sthuthi nin anugrahangal
Adiyaarudemel irrakhaname
Iha lokathilum athu pole
Paralokathilum aakaname

En karththaave ninakku sthuthi
Ninakku sthuthi sthuthi ninakku sthuthi
Aayiranghalinmel aayiramaai
Alhavu koodaathe ninakku sthuthI

Prrarthanagal kelhkunnavane
Yachanakal nalkunnavane
Njangalhin praarthanakal kettu
Yachanakal nalkeedaname