Irayimman Thampi, named Iravivarman Thampi after his grandfather, was born in 1782[1] at Kottakkakom Kizhake Madom, in Karamana, Travancore to Kerala Varma Thampuran, of the royal family of Cherthala, and Parvathi Pillai Thankachi of the Puthumana Ammaveedu Thampi family, the daughter of Prince Makayiram Thirunal Ravi Varma and niece of the Maharajah Dharma Raja of Travancore royal family.
[2][note 1] Thampi was brought up by his parents at a house called Kizhake Madom and after early education from his father, he went under the tutorship of Shankaran Elayathu in grammar, linguistics and Sanskrit literature.
[5] Irayiman Thampi married Kali Pillai Thankachi, daughter of his maternal uncle Puthumana Krishnan Thampi, and the couple had had seven children[note 2] including a daughter, Lakshmi Kutty Pillai Thankachi, better known as Kutty Kunju Thankachi (1820–1914), who continued her father's artistic and poetic legacy.
Irayimman Thampi was already thirty one years of age when Swathi Thirunal was born, but outlived him for a decade.
[note 3] Thampi's contributions range from attakathas, kirtanas, varnas and padams, and has been published as books.