തിരുവനന്തപുരം: തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ രാജകുടുംബത്തിലെ അവസാനത്തെ ഇളയരാജാവ് ഉത്രാടം തിരുനാള്‍ മാര്‍ത്താണ്ഡവര്‍മ ഇനി പ്രശാന്തമായ ഓര്‍മ.
വൈകീട്ട് 5.45-ന് കവടിയാര്‍ കൊട്ടാരവളപ്പില്‍ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അന്ത്യകര്‍മങ്ങള്‍ നടന്നു. അതിനുമുമ്പ് ഭൗതികശരീരം കോട്ടയ്ക്കകം ലെവിഹാളില്‍ പൊതുദര്‍ശനത്തിനുവെച്ചിരുന്നു. ആയിരങ്ങളാണ് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ അവസാനമായി കാണാന്‍ എത്തിയത്.
തിങ്കാളാഴ്ച പുലര്‍ച്ചെ 2.20-നാണ് എസ്.യു.ടി ആസ്പത്രിയില്‍ വെച്ച് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അന്ത്യം സംഭവിച്ചത്. ആന്തരിക രക്തസ്രാവവും ഹൃദയാഘാതവുമായിരുന്നു മരണകാരണം. വാര്‍ദ്ധക്യസഹജമായ അസുഖത്തെ തുടര്‍ന്ന് കുറച്ചു നാളായി ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്നു.
രാജകുടുംബത്തിന്റെ കാരണവരും ശ്രീപദ്മനാഭസ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ രക്ഷാധികാരിയുമായ ഉത്രാടം തിരുനാള്‍ മാര്‍ത്താണ്ഡവര്‍മ്മയെ ശ്വാസതടസ്സത്തെ തുടര്‍ന്നാണ് ആസ്പത്രിയില്‍ പ്രവേശിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നത്.
തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ ഭരിച്ച അവസാനത്തെ രാജാവായ ചിത്തിര തിരുന്നാള്‍ ബാലരാമവര്‍മയുടെ അനുജനാണ്. 1922 മാര്‍ച്ച് 22-നാണ് തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തെ കവടിയാര്‍ പാലസ്സില്‍ അദ്ദേഹം ജനിച്ചത്. മഹാറാണി സേതു പാര്‍വതി ഭായിയാണ് അമ്മ. കിളിമാനൂര്‍ കൊട്ടാരത്തിലെ രവി വര്‍മ കൊച്ചുകോയിക്കല്‍ തമ്പുരാനാണ് അച്ഛന്‍ .
തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ സര്‍വകലാശാലയില്‍ നിന്ന് ബിരുദം നേടിയ ശേഷം ബാംഗ്ലൂരിലെ പ്ലൈമൗത്ത് കമ്പനിയില്‍ ജോലി നോക്കി. പിന്നീട് ഉന്നതവിദ്യാഭ്യാസത്തിനായി ഇംഗ്ലണ്ടില്‍ പോയി. പഠനശേഷം തിരിച്ചെത്തി 1956-ല്‍ ബാംഗ്ലൂരില്‍ വ്യവസായ സ്ഥാപനം തുടങ്ങി. വളരെക്കാലം ബാംഗ്ലൂരിലായിരുന്നു താമസം.
ശ്രീ ചിത്തിര തിരുനാള്‍ 1991-ല്‍ നാടുനീങ്ങിയതിനെത്തുടര്‍ന്ന് രാജകുടുംബത്തിന്റെ അധികാരസ്ഥാനമേറ്റെടുത്ത ഉത്രാടം തിരുനാള്‍ എളിമയുടേയും പാണ്ഡിത്യത്തിന്റേയും പ്രതീകമായിരുന്നു.
എസ്.യു.ടി ആസ്പത്രി എന്ന് ചുരുക്കപ്പേരിലറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന ശ്രീ ഉത്രാടം തിരുന്നാള്‍ ആസ്പത്രി കോമ്പൗണ്ടിലെ പട്ടം പാലസിലാണ് (തുളസി ഹില്‍ പാലസ്) മഹാരാജാവ് താമസിച്ചിരുന്നത്. ഇവിടെ വെച്ചാണ് അസുഖം മൂര്‍ച്ഛിച്ചത്. തുടര്‍ന്നാണ് ആസ്പത്രിയില്‍ പ്രവേശിപ്പിച്ചത്. രോഗം വഷളായതിനെ തുടര്‍ന്ന് വെന്റിലേറ്ററിലേക്ക് മാറ്റി. തുടര്‍ന്നാണ് ഇന്നു പുലര്‍ച്ചെ അന്ത്യം സംഭവിച്ചത്. മരണസമയത്ത് രണ്ടു മക്കളും അദ്ദേഹത്തിനൊപ്പം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ആത്മകഥ 'തൃപ്പടിദാനം' പുറത്തിറക്കിയത് മാതൃഭൂമി ബുക്‌സാണ്. അനാര്‍ഭാടമായ ജീവിതവും സമത്വചിന്തയും ആയിരുന്നു മഹാരാജാവിന്റെ പ്രത്യേകത. ഇക്കാര്യത്തില്‍ 'ക്ഷേത്രപ്രവേശന വിളംബരം' നടത്തിയ മൂത്ത സഹോദരന്റെ പാതയാണ് അദ്ദേഹം പിന്തുടര്‍ന്നത്. 'ഭക്തിയുടെ നറുംപാല്‍ തിളപ്പിച്ച് ശ്രീപത്മനാഭന് നിത്യവും നിവേദ്യം ഒരുക്കാന്‍ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ഒരു ദാസഭക്തനാ'ണ് താനെന്നാണ് അദ്ദേഹം സ്വയം പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തിയിരുന്നത്.
കഴിഞ്ഞവര്‍ഷം കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങളുടെയും സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെയും നിര്‍ബന്ധത്തിന് വഴങ്ങി നവതി ആഘോഷിച്ചു. ഈ വര്‍ഷം നവംബര്‍ 11-ന് ചാള്‍സ് രാജകുമാരനുമായി നടന്ന കൂടിക്കാഴ്ച ചരിത്രസംഭവമായി. അനാരോഗ്യത്തെ വകവെയ്ക്കാതെ കൊച്ചിയിലെത്തിയാണ് അദ്ദേഹം ചാള്‍സ് രാജകുമാരനെ കണ്ടത്. തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ പവന്‍ ചാള്‍സിന് സമ്മാനമായി നല്‍കുകയും ചെയ്തു.
2010 ജൂണില്‍ ശ്രീപദ്മനാഭസ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ മഹാനിധിയെക്കുറിച്ച് ലോകമറിഞ്ഞതോടെ തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ രാജകുടുംബവും അതിന്റെ സ്ഥാനിയുമായ ഉത്രാടം തിരുനാള്‍ മാര്‍ത്താണ്ഡവര്‍മ്മ അന്തര്‍ദേശീയതലത്തില്‍ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. 2005-ല്‍ അന്തരിച്ച രാധാദേവിയാണ് ഭാര്യ. മകന്‍ പദ്മനാഭ വര്‍മ. മകള്‍ പാര്‍വതി ദേവി.
Reports Mathrubhumi Daily,16th Dec 2013
Showing posts with label Irayamman Thambi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irayamman Thambi. Show all posts
Monday, December 16, 2013
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thrippadidanam, the autobiography of Uthradam Thirunal released
Thiruvananthapuram: Thrippadidanam, the autobiography of Uthradam Thirunal Marthandavarma, which also details history and rituals of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, is now an asset to Malayalam literature, as the book published by Mathrubhumi Books, was released on Wednesday 21 Dec. Uthradam Thirunal released the book by presenting the copy to writer and Kerala Sahithya Akademi president Perumbadavom Sreedharan. Uthradam Thirunal said that a secret, which was hidden in mind for the last 82 years, is out now.
Mathrubhumi managing editor PV Chandran presided and Aswathi Thirunal Gowrilakhsmibhai, former chief secretary CP Nair, history researcher and journalist Malayinkeezhu Gopalakrishnan, Mathrubhumi books assistant manager Georgy Thomas, Kshthriya Khsema Sabha leader M Ravivarmaraja and Umamaheshwari, who prepared the book, were present
Mathrubhumi managing editor PV Chandran presided and Aswathi Thirunal Gowrilakhsmibhai, former chief secretary CP Nair, history researcher and journalist Malayinkeezhu Gopalakrishnan, Mathrubhumi books assistant manager Georgy Thomas, Kshthriya Khsema Sabha leader M Ravivarmaraja and Umamaheshwari, who prepared the book, were present
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Sri Padmanabha Swami temple - Story
The History narrated is not authenticated but more or less known as per the reserch done by some enthusiast
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Lord Vishnu's royal servants guard his riches
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Sree Padmanbha Swamy temple's glittering gems are valued and tagged, it's not just the diamonds that shine but also the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
It's an ode to the family's unflinching devotion and integrity that not a penny has gone missing from the billions stored in the cellars of the centuries-old shrine administered by the royals.
Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, current head of the royal family, refuses to comment on the stock-taking exercise till the last paisa is counted. "Till then, only my eyes would speak," he insists.
What makes the family's story vis-a-vis the temple all the more compelling is that the rulers always knew of the riches, yet never touched them. "The riches are mentioned in the book "Pradhanapetta Mathilakom Records" (Important Mathilakom Records) compiled by acclaimed Malayalam poet Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer and published in 1941. They also figure in the "Kottaram" (Palace) manual which runs into 12 volumes," says noted historian M G Sasibhushan. "These records refer to the sacred cellars from which treasure is being dug out."
Observers talk of the symbolic significance of the practice of royal family members dusting sand off their feet when they emerge from the shrine. "It was meant to convey that the family members would not take home or misappropriate even a speck of sand belonging to Padmanabha," they say. In fact, the present head, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, religiously follows the rule of paying of Rs 151 and 55 paise to the temple if he fails to make it to the shrine on any day.
Unlike other royals, the Travancore family has stayed away from opulence with descendants more inclined towards art and culture.
"There was also a rule that the affairs of the palace should be run from the proceeds of its spice business and not with money from the state treasury," says Sasibhushan. This is followed even now. The present ruler's nephew Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, next in line to head the family, runs the Aspinwall Company, which to this day supplies pepper to Buckingham Palace and many more European royals," Sasibhushan says.
Though the kingdom of Travancore lapsed in 1949 following the Instrument of Accession with the Union of India, the management of the temple remained with the royal family by virtue of a covenant.
Travancore extended from Kanyakumari (now in Tamil Nadu) in the south to Aluva (Ernakulam district) in the north. Padmanabhapuram (now in TN) was its first capital, but this was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram by Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma, better known as Dharma Raja, so called because he refused to let go of refugees who had fled Malabar following Tipu Sultan's onslaught. He succeeded Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, first ruler of Travancore, and is credited with formation of the state.
The family, which ruled over erstwhile Travancore, has had a long lineage of visionary rulers. In fact, it was a bold move by the first Marthanda Varma in 1750 that inextricably bonded the temple and the palace. The king donated the wealth of the kingdom to the deity Padmanabha (Lord Vishnu) and ruled the state as "Padmanabha Dasa" (servant of
Padmanabha).
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Maha Raja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (April 16, 1813 - December 25, 1846) was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore in India. He reigned under the regency of his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi from 1813 till 1815 and henceforth under the regency of his aunt Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi from 1815 till 1829. In 1829 he turned major and assumed full powers of ruler and ruled Travancore till his demise in 1846.
Besides being an able ruler, he was a patron of music and a musician himself. He encouraged both broad systems of Indian music, Hindustani and Carnatic music, though he was essentially a connoisseur of the Carnatic music tradition. He is credited with composing over 400 compositions in Carnatic music as well as Hindustani music. Some of his favorite compositions are Padmanabha Pahi, Deva Deva, Sarasijanabha and Sree Ramana Vibho. The king was fluent in a number of languages such as Malayalam, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, Oriya and English.
The Astronomical Observatory in Thiruvananthapuram, the Museum & Zoo, the Government Press, Trivandrum Public Library (now State Central Library), the Oriental Manuscript Library, etc. were started by Swathi Thirunal. The Maharajah was also an honorary member of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1843.
Swathi Thirunal (as he is commonly known) was born into the Kulasekhara dynasty of the Royal family of Travancore state, which is now a part of Kerala State in India) on April 16, 1813. He was the second child of the Regent Queen Gowri Lakshmi Bayi who ruled Travancore during 1811 - 1815, and Rajaraja Varma Koyithampuran of Changanasseri Palace. The famous poet and composer and close relative Iraiyamman Tampi wrote the song Omanathinkalkkitavo nalla komalathamarappuvo , perhaps the most famous lullaby in Malayalam, about Swathi Thirunal when he was born. He had an elder sister (Rukmini Bai) and a younger brother (Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma). Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi died about two months after the birth of her third child. After her death, her younger sister Gowri Parvati Bayi was in charge of the state and the children. Since Rama Varma was just seventeen months old when his mother died, Gowri Parvati Bayi ruled for fourteen years before Swathi Thirunal took over as the king. When he was just four months old, his mother invited Col. Munro (who was the representative of the British East India Company) and his officials and declared in the Durbar that she was entrusting the British East India Company with the care of her child and expected the Company to co-operate with him in future.
Both his aunt/foster mother, who was well-versed in music, and his father, a Sanskrit scholar. took special care about his education. Col. Munro also is said to have taken interest in his education. He started learning Malayalam and Sanskrit at the age of six and English at the age of seven. The young Prince studied several languages, including Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Hindustani, Telugu, Marathi, Sanskrit, English and Persian. He impressed all his teachers, and even guests from abroad, with his keen understanding of not only languages but also other subjects like geometry. P. Sankunni Menon (A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, 1878) records an incident when Swathi Thirunal told Col. Welsh, a visiting British officer, that the word geometry and words like hexagon, septagon and so on were derived from Sanskrit.
Swathi Thirunal was deeply interested in music right from childhood. He tried to learn the languages in which he found good music. His education in music started with the first lessons from Karamana Subrahmania Bhagavathar and Karamana Padmanabha Bhagavathar. Later, he studied music from his English teacher Subbarao. He continued to learn music by listening to accomplished musicians and practicing himself. This was a period when music and art were thriving in many parts of south India. The triumvirate of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja (1767–1847), Syama Sastri (1762–1827) and Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835), lived and enriched music during this period. Swati Tirunal's palace also was home to many musicians and artistes of the period, including the famous Thanjavur Quartet brothers, Tyagaraja's disciple Kannayya Bhagavathar, Ananthapadmanabha Goswami (a Maharashtrian singer known as Kokilakanthameru swami), Shadkala Govinda Marar, and many others.
Swathi Sangeethotsavam
Prince Rama Varma
Prince Rama Varma, the South Indian Classical Musician, is a descendent of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. He is the organiser for Swathi Sangeethotsavam, a week long music festival featuring exclusively the compositions of Swathi Thirunal. This unique musical event is conducted every year from 6 to 12 January at Kuthira Malika, Trivandrum.
Swathi Thirunal took over the reins of Travancore from his aunt (She was the regent in lieu Swathi Thirunal in his boyhood) at he age of sixteen. He appointed his teacher Subbarao as the chief minister (Diwan). One of his first moves was to shift the government secretariat from Kollam (about seventy five kilometres away) to Thiruvananthapuram. This enabled him to give personal attention to government affairs. He took steps to curb corruption in the government, and told even the Diwan to resign when he heard that the Diwan had acted to favour a particular party in a land dispute. He started an English school at Thiruvananthapuram in 1834, which came to be called the Raja's Government Free School and later became Maharaja's High School and then Maharaja's College. This is now the University College. Later, similar schools were started at many other places. He also implemented reforms in the legal sector, starting Munsif, District and Appellate Courts and modernising laws. He identified one Kandan Menon from Malabar and appointed him as Huzoor Diwan Peshkar to bring about legal reforms. Another of his achievements was to settle many land disputes by carrying out a resurvey of the land, in which also Menon helped him. He also conducted the first census of the state in 1836. As per the census, the population of Travancore was 1,28,068.
Kuthira Malika, Thiruvananthapuram, constructed by Maharajah Swathi ThirunalSwathi Thirunal was also instrumental in bringing modern medicine to the state. He appointed a European as the palace physician. He was also given the responsibility of providing medical assistance to local people, for which hospitals were started. It is this post that was known as Surgeon General till the formation of Kerala State. He also started an engineering department, which was placed under the command of one Lieutenant Horsley. The Karamana bridge was built at that time.
Another area where Swathi Thirunal took interest was in astronomy. He wished to compare Western findings with Indian knowledge. For this, he invited one Caldecott, an industrial representative who lived in Alapuzha, who used to fabricate instruments for astronomical observations. Finding that there was much common between western and Indian knowledge about the universe, Swathi Thirunal started an observatory and placed Caldecott in charge. Started in 1837, some of the equipment is still to be seen at the Thiruvananthapuram observatory (now under the Department of Physics, University of Kerala). He is also credited with starting the first government press (the only press at that time was CMS Press in Kottayam), and the museum and zoo in Thiruvananthapuram.
Family
Maharajah Swathi Thirunal was only a child when his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi died and he grew up under the maternal care of his childless aunt, who was the Regent of Travancore on his behalf, Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi. He had a brother, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma, who succeeded him in 1846 till his demise in 1860. The Maharajah also had a sister, Maharani Gowri Rukmini Bayi, whose children ascended the Travancore musnud consecutively. Her only daughter was the mother of Maharajah Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma.
Swathi Thirunal married Thiruvattar Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Narayani Pillai Kochamma of the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu family after the demise of his first wife. She was an expert carnatic singer and Veena player. She originally belonged to an ordinary Nair family in Quilon by the name of Aaikutty Veedu. Prior to her marriage with the king she was adopted into the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu along with her mother and siblings (her sister was married to the Maharajah's brother and successor Uthram Thirunal). From this marriage the Maharajah had a son, Thiruvattar Chithira Nal Anantha Padmanabhan Chempakaraman Thampi. In 1843 the Maharajah married Sundara Lakshmi Ammal, daughter of a Mudaliar who had migrated to Trivandrum. Lakshmi was a dancer, known better as Sugandhavalli. The Maharajah first adopted her into Vadasseri Ammaveedu, making her an Ammachi and bestowing the title of Thampi on her family members. In 1845 he constructed the Thanjavur Ammaveedu and Sugandhavalli, along with her family members resided here. The Maharajah's second wife, Thiruvattar Ammachi, whose sister was married to Uthram Thirunal did not approve of this marriage. Soon after in 1846 the Maharajah died. Legend and folklore has it that Sugandhavalli was banished from Travancore following which the Maharajah died broken hearted. However facts and records prove otherwise.
Sugandhavalli continued to live in Trivandrum at Thanjavur Ammaveedu until her own death in 1856, a full decade after the death of Swathi Thirunal, enjoying all the provisions and privileges she was entitled to as a royal consort. However soon after her death, her late husband's brother and successor, Maharajah Uthram Thirunal issued an order to attach the estate and properties that belonged to Thanjavur Ammaveedu on the ground that Sugandhavalli for whom they were made, had died. Sugandhavalli's sister Sundara Parvathi Pillai Thankachi, who had been married to Singaravelu Mudaliyar the former Alleppey District Judge, then filed a petition in Madras. The High Court of Madras in 1858 permitted the Travancore Government to attach the properties after compensating the family. Accordingly Rs. 10,000, a princely sum, was given to Sugandhavalli's family and the Thanjavur Ammaveedu taken over by the Travancore Government. The Ganapathi idol worshiped by Sugandhavalli was moved and consecrated at the Palkulangara Temple in Trivandrum. Her sister later died in 1883 (This information is from "Thiruvananthapurathinte Eithihaasam").
Besides being an able ruler, he was a patron of music and a musician himself. He encouraged both broad systems of Indian music, Hindustani and Carnatic music, though he was essentially a connoisseur of the Carnatic music tradition. He is credited with composing over 400 compositions in Carnatic music as well as Hindustani music. Some of his favorite compositions are Padmanabha Pahi, Deva Deva, Sarasijanabha and Sree Ramana Vibho. The king was fluent in a number of languages such as Malayalam, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, Oriya and English.
The Astronomical Observatory in Thiruvananthapuram, the Museum & Zoo, the Government Press, Trivandrum Public Library (now State Central Library), the Oriental Manuscript Library, etc. were started by Swathi Thirunal. The Maharajah was also an honorary member of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1843.
Swathi Thirunal (as he is commonly known) was born into the Kulasekhara dynasty of the Royal family of Travancore state, which is now a part of Kerala State in India) on April 16, 1813. He was the second child of the Regent Queen Gowri Lakshmi Bayi who ruled Travancore during 1811 - 1815, and Rajaraja Varma Koyithampuran of Changanasseri Palace. The famous poet and composer and close relative Iraiyamman Tampi wrote the song Omanathinkalkkitavo nalla komalathamarappuvo , perhaps the most famous lullaby in Malayalam, about Swathi Thirunal when he was born. He had an elder sister (Rukmini Bai) and a younger brother (Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma). Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi died about two months after the birth of her third child. After her death, her younger sister Gowri Parvati Bayi was in charge of the state and the children. Since Rama Varma was just seventeen months old when his mother died, Gowri Parvati Bayi ruled for fourteen years before Swathi Thirunal took over as the king. When he was just four months old, his mother invited Col. Munro (who was the representative of the British East India Company) and his officials and declared in the Durbar that she was entrusting the British East India Company with the care of her child and expected the Company to co-operate with him in future.
Both his aunt/foster mother, who was well-versed in music, and his father, a Sanskrit scholar. took special care about his education. Col. Munro also is said to have taken interest in his education. He started learning Malayalam and Sanskrit at the age of six and English at the age of seven. The young Prince studied several languages, including Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Hindustani, Telugu, Marathi, Sanskrit, English and Persian. He impressed all his teachers, and even guests from abroad, with his keen understanding of not only languages but also other subjects like geometry. P. Sankunni Menon (A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, 1878) records an incident when Swathi Thirunal told Col. Welsh, a visiting British officer, that the word geometry and words like hexagon, septagon and so on were derived from Sanskrit.
Swathi Thirunal was deeply interested in music right from childhood. He tried to learn the languages in which he found good music. His education in music started with the first lessons from Karamana Subrahmania Bhagavathar and Karamana Padmanabha Bhagavathar. Later, he studied music from his English teacher Subbarao. He continued to learn music by listening to accomplished musicians and practicing himself. This was a period when music and art were thriving in many parts of south India. The triumvirate of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja (1767–1847), Syama Sastri (1762–1827) and Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835), lived and enriched music during this period. Swati Tirunal's palace also was home to many musicians and artistes of the period, including the famous Thanjavur Quartet brothers, Tyagaraja's disciple Kannayya Bhagavathar, Ananthapadmanabha Goswami (a Maharashtrian singer known as Kokilakanthameru swami), Shadkala Govinda Marar, and many others.
Swathi Sangeethotsavam
Prince Rama Varma
Prince Rama Varma, the South Indian Classical Musician, is a descendent of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. He is the organiser for Swathi Sangeethotsavam, a week long music festival featuring exclusively the compositions of Swathi Thirunal. This unique musical event is conducted every year from 6 to 12 January at Kuthira Malika, Trivandrum.
Swathi Thirunal took over the reins of Travancore from his aunt (She was the regent in lieu Swathi Thirunal in his boyhood) at he age of sixteen. He appointed his teacher Subbarao as the chief minister (Diwan). One of his first moves was to shift the government secretariat from Kollam (about seventy five kilometres away) to Thiruvananthapuram. This enabled him to give personal attention to government affairs. He took steps to curb corruption in the government, and told even the Diwan to resign when he heard that the Diwan had acted to favour a particular party in a land dispute. He started an English school at Thiruvananthapuram in 1834, which came to be called the Raja's Government Free School and later became Maharaja's High School and then Maharaja's College. This is now the University College. Later, similar schools were started at many other places. He also implemented reforms in the legal sector, starting Munsif, District and Appellate Courts and modernising laws. He identified one Kandan Menon from Malabar and appointed him as Huzoor Diwan Peshkar to bring about legal reforms. Another of his achievements was to settle many land disputes by carrying out a resurvey of the land, in which also Menon helped him. He also conducted the first census of the state in 1836. As per the census, the population of Travancore was 1,28,068.
Kuthira Malika, Thiruvananthapuram, constructed by Maharajah Swathi ThirunalSwathi Thirunal was also instrumental in bringing modern medicine to the state. He appointed a European as the palace physician. He was also given the responsibility of providing medical assistance to local people, for which hospitals were started. It is this post that was known as Surgeon General till the formation of Kerala State. He also started an engineering department, which was placed under the command of one Lieutenant Horsley. The Karamana bridge was built at that time.
Another area where Swathi Thirunal took interest was in astronomy. He wished to compare Western findings with Indian knowledge. For this, he invited one Caldecott, an industrial representative who lived in Alapuzha, who used to fabricate instruments for astronomical observations. Finding that there was much common between western and Indian knowledge about the universe, Swathi Thirunal started an observatory and placed Caldecott in charge. Started in 1837, some of the equipment is still to be seen at the Thiruvananthapuram observatory (now under the Department of Physics, University of Kerala). He is also credited with starting the first government press (the only press at that time was CMS Press in Kottayam), and the museum and zoo in Thiruvananthapuram.
Family
Maharajah Swathi Thirunal was only a child when his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi died and he grew up under the maternal care of his childless aunt, who was the Regent of Travancore on his behalf, Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi. He had a brother, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma, who succeeded him in 1846 till his demise in 1860. The Maharajah also had a sister, Maharani Gowri Rukmini Bayi, whose children ascended the Travancore musnud consecutively. Her only daughter was the mother of Maharajah Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma.
Swathi Thirunal married Thiruvattar Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Narayani Pillai Kochamma of the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu family after the demise of his first wife. She was an expert carnatic singer and Veena player. She originally belonged to an ordinary Nair family in Quilon by the name of Aaikutty Veedu. Prior to her marriage with the king she was adopted into the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu along with her mother and siblings (her sister was married to the Maharajah's brother and successor Uthram Thirunal). From this marriage the Maharajah had a son, Thiruvattar Chithira Nal Anantha Padmanabhan Chempakaraman Thampi. In 1843 the Maharajah married Sundara Lakshmi Ammal, daughter of a Mudaliar who had migrated to Trivandrum. Lakshmi was a dancer, known better as Sugandhavalli. The Maharajah first adopted her into Vadasseri Ammaveedu, making her an Ammachi and bestowing the title of Thampi on her family members. In 1845 he constructed the Thanjavur Ammaveedu and Sugandhavalli, along with her family members resided here. The Maharajah's second wife, Thiruvattar Ammachi, whose sister was married to Uthram Thirunal did not approve of this marriage. Soon after in 1846 the Maharajah died. Legend and folklore has it that Sugandhavalli was banished from Travancore following which the Maharajah died broken hearted. However facts and records prove otherwise.
Sugandhavalli continued to live in Trivandrum at Thanjavur Ammaveedu until her own death in 1856, a full decade after the death of Swathi Thirunal, enjoying all the provisions and privileges she was entitled to as a royal consort. However soon after her death, her late husband's brother and successor, Maharajah Uthram Thirunal issued an order to attach the estate and properties that belonged to Thanjavur Ammaveedu on the ground that Sugandhavalli for whom they were made, had died. Sugandhavalli's sister Sundara Parvathi Pillai Thankachi, who had been married to Singaravelu Mudaliyar the former Alleppey District Judge, then filed a petition in Madras. The High Court of Madras in 1858 permitted the Travancore Government to attach the properties after compensating the family. Accordingly Rs. 10,000, a princely sum, was given to Sugandhavalli's family and the Thanjavur Ammaveedu taken over by the Travancore Government. The Ganapathi idol worshiped by Sugandhavalli was moved and consecrated at the Palkulangara Temple in Trivandrum. Her sister later died in 1883 (This information is from "Thiruvananthapurathinte Eithihaasam").
Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma (April 29, 1848 - October 2, 1906 - 58 Years ) was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. His paintings are considered to be among the best examples of the fusion of Indian traditions with the techniques of European academic art.
Varma is most remembered for his paintings of beautiful sari-clad women, who were portrayed as shapely and graceful. His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the age of 58. He is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art.
Raja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil Thampuran of Kilimanoor palace in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore(thiruvithankur) in Kerala. His father Ezhumavail Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba Thampuratti (d.1886) was a poet and writer whose work Parvati Swayamvaram would be published by Raja Ravi Varma after her death. His siblings were C. Goda Varma (b.1854), C. Raja Raja Varma (b.1860) and Mangala Bayi Thampuratti, who was also a painter. At a young age he secured the patronage of HH Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore,( a relative, and began formal training thereafter. He was trained in water painting by Rama Swami Naidu, and later in oil painting by Dutch portraitist Theodor Jenson. Raja Ravi Varma High school for Boys & Girls are situated at Kilimanoor in memory of Him. There are lot of other cultural organizations throughout Kerala with His name.
Varma is most remembered for his paintings of beautiful sari-clad women, who were portrayed as shapely and graceful. His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the age of 58. He is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art.
Raja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil Thampuran of Kilimanoor palace in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore(thiruvithankur) in Kerala. His father Ezhumavail Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba Thampuratti (d.1886) was a poet and writer whose work Parvati Swayamvaram would be published by Raja Ravi Varma after her death. His siblings were C. Goda Varma (b.1854), C. Raja Raja Varma (b.1860) and Mangala Bayi Thampuratti, who was also a painter. At a young age he secured the patronage of HH Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore,( a relative, and began formal training thereafter. He was trained in water painting by Rama Swami Naidu, and later in oil painting by Dutch portraitist Theodor Jenson. Raja Ravi Varma High school for Boys & Girls are situated at Kilimanoor in memory of Him. There are lot of other cultural organizations throughout Kerala with His name.
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