The Golden Throne or Chinnada Simhasana or Ratna Simhasana in Kannada, was the royal throne of the rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore. It is one of the main attraction of Mysore Palace. It is kept for public viewing only during Dasara festival and on the rest of the days, it is disassembled and kept in safe lockers of the palace.
The Throne comprises a main seat, steps leading to the main seat, and a golden umbrella over the main seat. The throne is carved out of figwood and decorated with ivory plaques. It was embellished with jewellery, gold, precious stones and silver figurines by "Swarnakala Nipuna" Singannacharya. The balustrades of the steps leading to the seat are embellished with female figures (Salabhanjikeyaru). The four sides of the throne are decorated with creepers. There are elephants on the east, horses on the south, soldiers on the west and chariots on the north. Brahma in the south, Maheshwara in the north and Vishnu in the centre are the trinities. The Royal seat is called the Koormasana (ಕೂರ್ಮಾಸನ), on which cushion and pillows are covered with cloths studded with precious stones. The hand rests are made of half elephant and half lion shaped art. On the back of the seat is the art work of birds lion and flowers. In the centre is Goddess Chamundeshwari, with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati on either sides surrounded by asta dikpalakas (gods of 8 directions). The Royal seat is supported by the horses in jumping pose. The Royal seat is adorned by Lord Brahma on south, Lord Shiva to north and Lord Vishnu at centre. The lions are placed as a mark of victory. On the 3 edges of seat is carvings of 2 horses, 2 tigers and 4 swans The Royal seat. Back rest has the carving of the royal emblem of the Mysore kings Ganda berunda and below it is the quote "Satyamevoodharaham" meaning "I shall uphold the truth always". The Royal seat is 2.25 m in height and on that the Royal umbrella gives shadow to whole royal seat. On the royal umbrella has the words inscribed blessing to the Mysore king. The Royal Umbrella is studded with gems. On the top of the royal umbrella is a celestial bird called Huma, a swan with an emerald gem on its beak. It is believed that on who the shadow of the bird falls, will wear the royal crown always. The below image is the blessing inscription on the Royal Umbrella. [1]
The "slokas," which are engraved on the rim of the umbrella, are addressed to Krishnaraja Wadiyar III and refers to his ancestors from whom the throne has come down from generations of kings. A rough translation of a "sloka" describes Krishnaraja Wadiyar as "Lord of the Earth" and son of the illustrious Chamaraja, who is resplendent with the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari. "... You are the Lord of Karnataka Ratna Simhasana... and this golden umbrella of the golden throne, which you have inherited from your illustrious ancestors, evokes the awe of the whole world."
According to tradition, the throne belonged to the Pandavas of Mahabharata fame and was in Hastinapura. Kampilaraya brought this throne from Hastinapura to Penugonda, now in Andhra Pradesh, where it was kept underground. In 1336 AD, Vidyaranya, the royal preceptor of the Vijayanagar kings, showed the spot where it was buried to Harihara I, one of the founders of the Vijayanagar empire, who retrieved the throne. The throne was then used by the Vijayanagar kings at Anegondi for more than a century and a half. During the early part of the 17th century the Governor of Vijayanagar rulers at Srirangapatna obtained the throne. In 1609, the governor Srirangaraya gave the throne to Raja Wodeyar. In 1610, Raja Wodeyar ascended the throne. Inaugurated the Dasara festivities. Epigraphical evidence shows that this royal throne was in the possession of Chikkadevaraya Wodeyar in 1699.
The golden throne was associated with ceremonies, such as the coronation of the king in the early days and conducting of Dasara Durbar. But now it is just on public display during the Mysore Dasara festival when the Maharaja of Mysore conducts his private Durbar. The throne is under the joint guardianship of the scion and the Mysore Palace Board. During the rest of the year the throne is placed in a high security room. During the Mysuru Dasara, the king was seated upon the throne which in turn was placed upon an elephant to be paraded around Mysuru. In current times, the Utsava Mūrti (festive idol) of Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed on the throne and paraded around Mysuru on the same elephant during Mysuru Dasara.
Mysore, officially Mysuru, is a metropolitan city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the state's second-most populous and is one of the cleanest cities in India according to the Swachh Survekshan. It is the seat of the Wadiyar dynasty and was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore for almost six centuries, from 1399 until 1947. It is currently the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. Known for its heritage structures and palaces, including the famous Mysore Palace, and noted for its culture, Mysore is popularly known as the "City of Palaces", the "Heritage City", and the "Cultural Capital of Karnataka". For its pristine and calm ambience, it is also known as "Pensioners' Paradise".
The Wadiyar dynasty, is a late-medieval/early-modern South Indian Hindu royal family of former kings of Mysore from the Urs clan originally based in Mysore city.
The Chamundi Hills are located 13 km east of Mysore, Karnataka, India. The name comes from the Chamundeshwari Temple at the peak. The average elevation is 1,060 metres (3,480 ft).
Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is a historical palace and a royal residence (house). It is located in Mysore, Karnataka, India. It used to be the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore. The palace is in the centre of Mysore, and faces the Chamundi Hills eastward. Mysore is commonly described as the 'City of the Palaces', and there are seven palaces including this one. However, the Mysore Palace refers specifically to the one within the new fort.
Mysore district, officially Mysuru district, is an administrative district located in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Mysore division. Chamarajanagar District was carved out of the original larger Mysore District in the year 1998. The district is bounded by Chamrajanagar district to the southeast, Mandya district to the east and northeast, Kerala state to the south, Kodagu district to the west, and Hassan district to the north.
Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ನಾಲ್ವಡಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಜ ಒಡೆಯರು; 4 June 1884 – 3 August 1940) was the twenty-fourth Maharaja of Mysore, reigning from 1902 until his death in 1940.
Srikanthadattā Narasimharājā Wadiyar was an Indian royal, politician, and fashion designer, who served as Member of Parliament from Mysore. He was the son of Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last king of Mysore.
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, commonly known by its former name Jaganmohana Palace, is a royal mansion, arts museum and auditorium, and formerly an alternative royal residence of the ruling maharaja of Mysore, located in Mysore, India, about 200m (600ft) to the west of Mysore Palace. Began in 1856 and completed in 1861, the palace is one of the oldest modern structures in Mysore.
Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba of the state of Karnataka in India. It is a 10-day festival, starting with nine nights called Navaratri and the last day being Vijayadashami. The festival is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvina, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.
Elephants are an integral part of the Mysore Dasara Festival. The elephants form the core of the Mysore Dasara procession on the Vijayadashami day. The lead elephant carries the Golden Howdah with the Goddess Chamundeshwari in it. The Golden Howdah weighs 750 kilograms and is made of gold.
Balarama was the lead elephant of the Mysore Dasara procession and carried the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari on the fabled Golden Howdah thirteen times between 1999 and 2011. Balarama was a bull born about 1958 and was accompanied in the procession by other Dasara Elephants. Of the many elephants participating, Balarama was one of the star attractions when he carried on his back the sacred idol of goddess Chamundeshwari in the 750 kilograms (1,650 lb) golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.
Mysore is a city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka. Mysore was the capital of the Wodeyar kings who ruled over the Mysore Kingdom for many centuries. Wodeyars were great patrons of art and music and have contributed significantly to make Mysore a cultural centre. Mysore is well known for its palaces, museums and art galleries and the festivities that take place here during the period of Dasara attract a worldwide audience. Mysore has also lent its name to popular dishes like Mysore Masala Dosa and Mysore Pak. Mysore is also the origin of the popular silk sari known as Mysore silk sari and has also given rise to a popular form of painting known as Mysore painting.
The Kingdom of Mysore (1399–1950) was founded by Yaduraya in 1399 as a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire and became an independent kingdom in the early 17th century, after the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. Many musicians and composers have presumably adorned the courts of the Mysore kings from Yaduraya's time, furthering the Dakshinadi school of music that had developed in earlier centuries. However, records are only available from the time of King Ranadheera Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638). Musical treatises surviving from this time, though, provide ample information on the music, musical instruments, the types of compositions, the raga (melodies) and the tala (rhythms) used. Though all the Mysore kings patronised music, the golden age of Carnatic music was considered to be during the reigns of Kings Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1794–1868), Chamaraja Wodeyar IX (1862–1894), Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1884–1940) and Jaya Chamaraja Wodeyar (1919–1974). The reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV is regarded as particularly important in musical terms.
Krishnaraja Wadiyar III was the twenty-second maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore. Also known as Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the maharaja belonged to the Wadiyar dynasty and ruled the kingdom for nearly seventy years, from 30 June 1799 to 27 March 1868. He is known for his contribution and patronage to different arts and music during his reign. He was succeeded by his adopted son, Chamarajendra Wadiyar X.
Urs pronounced as 'Aras', is a surname used by the community associated to the royal family of Mysore Wodeyars based in Mysore in Karnataka, India. The word is derived from Arasu or Arasa which is used to designate royalty or ruler and meant ruler in Kannada. They claim various religious and sectarian affiliations like Shaivism or Vaishnavism, according to their clan and lineage. They are directly related to the wodeyars and are related to either distant vijayanagar rulers. The Arasu community is classified as a OBC by the Government of Karnataka.
The Mysore Dasara 2013 is the 403rd edition of the annual royal festive gala event, a show of pomp and tradition that is held in the Mysore city in Karnataka, India for 10 days. The festival is called the Navaratri (meaning nine nights or Dussehra or Vijayadashami which conforms to the bright half of the month of Ashvin, from pratipadathithi to navamithithi in the Hindu calendar corresponding to 5 to 13 October during 2013. The festival is also called Nada Habba in Kannada language. The first day of the nine-day festivity started on 5 October with the traditional and religious special puja performed to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the Chamundi Temple on top of the Chamundi Hill, which forms the backdrop to the city; the temple was beautifully decorated with flowers and tourist from Gujarat, Rajasthan and other states enthralled the audience with their bhajan singing. On this occasion, floral tribute wa offered to the goddess by Jnanpith Award winner Chandrashekhara Kambara and festivities will continue for ten days. The ninth day of the festival is a special event called the Mahanavami when the royal sword is worshipped and taken in a procession of elephants, camels and horses. The festival concludes on 14 October on the dashami day with the grand finale of Jambusavari with the idol of Chamundeshawri set in a golden howdah mounted on a richly caparisoned elephant. The procession is taken through the streets of the city and ends in the Banni Mantap where, in the evening, a torch light parade is held. Symbolically, the festival represents the victory of good over evil.
Kayou Shri Gowri was the official state anthem of the Kingdom of Mysore, under the rule of the Wadiyar dynasty. The anthem was composed by Basavappa Shastry (1843–1891), the court poet of the Mysore Court under the rule of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, who reigned between 1868 and 1894.
Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar is an Indian royal and the great-grandson of Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. He was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, the wife of his great-uncle Prince Srikantadatta Wadiyar fourteen months after the latter's demise on 10 December 2013. Yaduveer Wadiyar was installed as the "Maharaja of Mysore" in a private ceremony in 2015.
Y. Subramanya Raju was an Indian artist who patronized the Mysore style of traditional art. He was born into a family of court painters in the princely state of Mysore. The Mysore Dasara Procession paintings which adorn the walls of the Kalyana Mantapa in the Mysore Palace are few of his exquisite works. In the later years, Raju involved himself with the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath for the promotion of fine art and artists in the State. Raju spent most of his years teaching and popularizing Mysore style of art, as a recognition, Emeritus Fellowship was awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Government of India gave its National Award for his excellence in Traditional Mysore Painting.
Madhuvana Mysore Royal Cemetery is a site in Mysuru where many members of the Wadiyar royal family were cremated. It is located on Mysuru-Nanjangud road, and is on five acres of land. It is also known as "Khasa Brindavan", or "private garden". The cemetery is in the process of becoming a tourist attraction.