The work contains detailed descriptions of Guruvayurappan, a regional form of Krishna, and the temple town of Guruvayur.

[3] The Narayaniyam (pronunciation IPA: [nɑːrɑːjəɳiːjəm]) condenses the Bhagavata Purana into 1036 verses, divided into one hundred dasakam, or cantos.

The work occupies high place in Sanskrit literature, both because of the intense devotional fervour of the verses, and because of their extraordinary literary merit.

It is one of the most popular religious texts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and devout Hindus often recite it together in festivals and groups.

According to a local legend, Bhattathiri had a guru by the name of Achyuta Pisharadi, who fell victim to arthritis, and suffered unbearable pain.