ഭര്ത്താവ്: Kasaragod couple’s back‑to‑back deaths spark Malayalam term trend

What happened in Kasaragod on September 15‑16, 2026

On the night of September 15, 2026, Girijadevi Antharjanam (aged 75) died at her son’s residence in Kasaragod. The next morning her husband, N. Devadathan Namboothiri (aged 88), was informed of her death. While sitting beside his wife’s body, he began chanting her name. According to Manorama Online, ദേവദത്തൻ നമ്പൂതിരി (88), ഭാര്യ ഗിരിജാദേവി അന്തർജനം (75) എന്നിവരാണു മണിക്കൂറുകളുടെ ഇടവേളയിൽ മരിച്ചത്. The husband died only a few hours later, reportedly from a sudden health decline while continuing to pray near the corpse.

Who were Girijadevi Antharjanam and Devadathan Namboothiri

Girijadevi had been suffering from a prolonged illness; Suprabhaatham records that she passed away at 11:30 p.m. on September 15. Her husband, Devadathan Namboothiri, was a Devi Bhagavatha Sapthaha Yagnacharya and a Kathakali artist. Suprabhaatham describes him as പ്രസിദ്ധ പാഠക കലാകാരനും ദേവജ്ഞനും ദേവീഭാഗവത, സപ്താഹയജ്ഞ ആചാര്യനുമായിരുന്നു ദേവദത്തന്‍ നമ്പൂതിരി. The couple’s son, Satheesh D. Kariveli, works as a government school teacher in Kasaragod, and after the chanting period the bodies were brought home for traditional funeral rites as per local custom.

Cultural practice of chanting beside the deceased

In many Kerala Hindu traditions, close relatives may sit with the departed and recite prayers or the deceased’s name as a final act of devotion. Local reports noted that Devadathan spent hours chanting his wife’s name beside her corpse, an act described as praying while seated near the body. This ritual underscores the deep marital bond highlighted in the coverage and reflects a customary way of expressing grief and respect.

Why the term ഭര്ത്താവ് trended in India

The back‑to‑back deaths were covered by Manorama Online, Suprabhaatham and Janmabhumi on September 16, 2026, drawing widespread attention across Kerala and beyond. Google Trends India showed a 300 % increase in searches for the Malayalam word “ഭര്ത്താവ്” (husband) in the past 24 hours, with approximately 5,000 queries. The surge reflects public interest in the couple’s story, the unusual timing of the deaths, and the cultural resonance of the chanting ritual that many readers sought to understand.

Verification and cautions

The details of the incident come from the two Malayalam news articles cited above; neither source provides a medically confirmed cause of death for the husband, describing only a sudden health decline. Exact times of death vary slightly between outlets, so timings should be treated as approximate. The story involves personal grief, and coverage should avoid sensationalism while respecting the family’s privacy.