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Being heir to such great heritage, no wonder Bhattatiri rose to eminence. His period also gave him the necessary inspiration for an ambitious literary pursuit, for there were during those days numerous intellectual luminaries in Kerala who served as beacon lights for aspiring literary men. Bhattatiri makes respectful mention of several scholars including his own father Matradatta, who gave him instruction in the several branches of knowledge.
तर्क दामोदरायः दापि पदपदवीमच्युतायर्याद् बुधेन्द्रात् ।
तेषां कारुण्ययोगात् किमपि च कवितामाप्नवं कम मेतद
भूयात् कृष्णार्पण मे भवनु च सततं वीरधारे: कथायाम् ।।
(Prakriya Sarvasva)
This is proof positive that he had his lessons in Mīmāmsa from his father, vedic instruction from Madhavācārya, that he learned 'tarka' śāstra from Damodara, and 'vyäkarana' from Achyuta. In view of this statement, the popular story depicting Bhattatiri as a dullard and libertine during his earlier days, has to be understood with some amount of reservation. Bhattatiri must have inherited the great qualities of his parents, but might not have shown any inclination to study during his childhood. But later on coming under the influence of his great masters, his latent faculties must have awakened, and impelled him to new endeavours and enterprises, Of the teachers mentioned by him we know very little about Mădhava and Damodara. Achyuta Pisbāroți, a native of Třkkantiyür, S. Malabar, was a great scholar and authority in several Šāstras, particularly in 'vyakarana', jyotişa' and 'Ayurvēda', From several references to Sri Pisharoti, it is clear that Bhattatiri had profound regard for him. These facts afford us sufficient evidence to conclude that Bhattatiri had rigorous discipline in 'vedas' and in the several śāstras during his early days from very distinguished scholars.
Little is known about the biographical details of Bhattatiri. But it may be gathered from his works that he enjoyed the patronage of several kings and potentates of Kerala, particularly Deva Nāråyana the Brahmin chief of Cempakassēri (Ampalapuzha) at whose instance he wrote his 'Prakriyāsarvasva'. Here we may advert to an
