[1] Pakkanar was born as the son of Vararuchi, the famous astrologer who adorned the court of King Vikramaditya.
Pakkanar was second among the twelve offspring or the Parayi petta panthirukulam (12 children born from the Pariah woman).
The story goes that it was Paakkanar who actually made a "Thampraakkal" out of "Azhvanchery Thamprakkal", who is considered as the head of the Namboothiris of the region.
According to one story Pakkanar made only 4 "Muram" (A traditional south Indian board used to separate the chaff from the rice).
He says "One for giving credits (for his kids to whom he provides everything for sustaining them), One for paying off debts (To help his grandparents who made him what he is), One for himself and his wife, and the last one he just throws away (That is for charity without expecting returns)."