Koyi Thampuran

Last updated April 30, 2023

Koyi Thampuran was the title of the Prince Consorts of the Queens and Princesses of Travancore. The Koyi Thampurans' gained prominence and prestige in Kingdom of Travancore as they were the fathers of the then reigning Kings.^{[ citation needed ]} In Travancore, there were ten clans of Koyi Thampurans. The most ancient were the ones settled at Kilimanoor (in Attingal); others were Kirthipuram (in Mavelikkara), Pallam (in Kottayam), Paliyakkara (in Thiruvalla) and Nirazhi (in Changanasseri), Ananthapuram (in Karthikapalli), Chemprol (in Chengannur), Cherukol (in Pathanamthitta), Karazhma (in Mavelikara) and Vatakkemadham.^[1]

History

Adoption of Princess from Kolathiri Kingdom

After the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310, Veera Udaya Marthandavarma was forced to abdicate in favour of the Princesses sent from the Kolathiri Royal Family (also a family descending from the Cheras and Ay) called Attingal and Kunnumel Ranis. The line of kings after Ravi Varma continued through the Marumakkathayam law of matrilineal succession of Nairs. Thus, the Southern Chera-Ay dynasty adopted Matriarchy/Marumakkathayam after 1310. With the adoption of Attingal and Kunnumel Ranis to Venad in 1310, only the sons of the Attingal Rani had the right to become the King and the Kings own sons from non aristocratic Nair women did not have the right to become the next king. The Attingal Queen started adopting prince and princesses from the other Matriarchal dynasties of Kerala from the Koalthiri dynasty to the Venads Chera-Ay Royal houses.^[2] Soon after Ravi Varma's death two princesses were adopted from the Kolathiri Royal family and installed as Ranis or Queens at Attingal. The Venad Royal family continued thus in the female line. Whenever there were no females to take forth the line, princesses were adopted from the Kolathiri family, the latest adoption being in 1994. This tradition was reciprocal with several adoptions from the Venad Family also going into Kolathiri. The Koyi Thampurans were aristocratic men who were chosen to become the Prince Consorts or husbands to these Attingal Ranis.^[3]

Title and Status

The females of the royal family are styled as the "Queens of Attingal" with the titles of Attingal Mootha Thampuran (Senior Queen of Attingal) and "Attingal Elaya Thampuran" (Junior Queen of Attingal) and "Attingal Kochu Thampuran" (First Princess).^[4] According to historians, the Koyi Thampuran's or the Prince Consorts were selected from 10 major aristocratic houses or palaces which are closely related to the Travancore Dynasty. The Prince Consorts of the Senior and Junior Maharanis are known as the Valiya Koyi Thampuran and Kochu Koyi Thampuran respectively.

Even though the Koyi Thampurans attained prestige through marriage to the Attingal Ranis, the historians state that they were considered inferior to their spouses and their royal children. They weren't allowed to travel by the same vehicles and were not allowed to be seated next to the Queens and Princesses who were their wives. They were also supposed to provide their royal spouses and children all marks of respect and could only address them with the proper royal titles in public. They had no part in the Kingdom's administration even though couple of them tried to exert their influence illegally on their spouses. Compared to the status of the Travancore King's non aristocratic Nair spouses Ammachi Panapillai Ammas, the Koyi Thampuran's status were much better and had high degree of public respect. By the 20th Century, a lot of changes had taken place in the status of Koyi Thampurans. In 1924, Maharani Regent Sethu Lakshmi Bayi chose to seat her consort next to her in the Court despite some oppositions. And with the wedding of Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, the sister of Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal, with the then Capt. G. V. Raja almost all of those restrictions were lifted. Even then, the Koyi Thampurans weren't allowed to meddle in the administration. Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal eventually did handed his brother-in-law, Capt. G. V. Raja, duties & position in the then royal government.

Famous Koyi Thampurans

Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, Prince Consort of Maharani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, and Col G. V. Raja, consort of Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, went on to become famous in their own terms.

Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran (1845–1914) was renowned as Kalidasa of Kerala. He served as a member of the Assembly for three years. His interest in Kathakali made him write Kathakali songs in Malayalam, Karnataka, Telugu and Tamil. His famous works are the translation of Kalidasa's 'Abhijnana Shakunthalam'. This was the first drama in Malayalam literature, which earned the title 'Kerala Kalidasan' to him. He has also written Mayura Sandesam on the line of Kalidasa's Megha Duth, while in house arrest. In the poem, he used the peacocks of Haripad temple to send his messages to his wife, Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi stationed in Trivandrum. He died of injuries as a result of a car accident that he suffered in 1914.^[5]

Another royal consort who attained immortal fame was Karthika Nal Godavarma Raja (1908–1971) of Poonjar dynasty, famously known as Lt. Col. G. V. Raja, the Koyi Thampuran of Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi. A major exception to the rule of selection and status of Prince Consort was made when Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal chose the then Captain. Godavarma Raja (later Lt. Col.), of the Poonjar Royal House as the Prince Consort for his only sister, Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi in 1934. The Maharajah felt that it was fine to make a different choice so as to find a suitable spouse for his sister and for the first time chose a bridegroom from the Poonjar dynasty. Usually, the Koyi Thampurans were chosen from Travancore's aristocratic houses such as Paliyakkara, Kilimanur, Chembrol etc. The Maharajah entrusted Capt. Raja with the responsibility of dealing with foreign dignitaries; he was also appointed as the head of the sports and tourism departments of the then royal government. Capt. Raja then developed Kovalam as a major tourism destination by inviting many foreign dignitaries and by promoting the place by organising parties at the Kovalam Palace, according to Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Capt. Raja was also appointed as one of the Commanding Officers of Nair Brigade of Travancore Military. He served in it till 1949 and retired as a Lt. Col. Col. Raja established Travancore Sports Council (later renamed Kerala Sports Council), Travancore-Cochin Cricket Association(later renamed Kerala Cricket Association), Travancore Royal Flying Club (later renamed Thiruvananthapuram International Airport),^[6] and other twenty or more institutions dedicated to sports and tourism promotion in Kerala and was also the founder President of the aforementioned institutions. The CricInfo website reports that Col. Raja was the first Malayali to become the vice-president of Board of Control for Cricket in India, and had he lived, he would have become President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.^[7] He established the first travel agency of the state named Kerala Travels in 1959.^[8]^[9] He also took the initiative to develop the Trivandrum Airport.^[10] He was killed in a light air plane crash in 1971.

Related Research Articles

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala.

Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran also spelt Kerala Varma Valiya Koilthampuran and known as Kerala Varma, was a Malayalam - language poet and translator who had an equal facility in writing in English and Sanskrit from the Indian state of Kerala. He was part of the royal family of erstwhile Parappanad, Malappuram district. Kerala Varma is also known as the Kalidasa of Kerala.

Sir Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sethu Lakshmi Bayi</span> Regent Maharani of Travancore from 1924–1931

Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi CI was the monarch, though designated as the Regent due to British policy, of the Kingdom of Travancore in southern India between 1924 and 1931. She, along with her younger cousin, Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi, were adopted into the Travancore Royal Family and were the granddaughters of the celebrated painter, Raja Ravi Varma.

Maharani Ayilyom Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi (1791–1815) was the Maharani of the Indian state of Travancore from 1810 till 1813 and Regent from 1813 till her death in 1815 for her son Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. She was the only Queen of Travancore to have reigned in her own right which she did for two years before becoming a regent.

Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi (1802–1853) was the Regent of the Indian state of Travancore in 1815-1829. She succeeded her sister Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, till her regency was relinquished in favour of her nephew, Maharajah Swathi Thirunal.

Visakham Thirunal Rama VarmaFRAS was the Maharaja of the erstwhile Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1880 to 1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the throne of Travancore.

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the titular Maharaja of Travancore. He was the younger brother of the last ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Travancore, Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

Kowdiar Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India was built in 1934 by Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, on Pallikettu (wedding) of his only sister, Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi with Lt. Col. G. V. Raja. After the Constitutional Amendment of 1971, the properties and estates of the royal family were partitioned and divided equally among the branches of the two Travancore Queens, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and Sethu Parvathi Bayi. This Palace belongs to the heirs of Sethu Parvathi Bayi as it was built by her son Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal.

Ammaveedus were the residences of the consorts of the Maharajahs of Travancore in Trivandrum. The descendants of the Maharajahs were considered as members of these Ammaveedus, with a status subordinate only to royalty. The chief four Ammaveedus are the Arumana, Vadasseri, Thiruvattar and Nagercoil Ammaveedus.

"Aswathi Thirunal" Umayamma, known as Queen Umayamma or Queen Ashure (Aswathi), (died 1698), was the regent queen of Venad (Venatu) in southern India from 1677 to 1684 on behalf of her young nephew (son of her older sister Senior Queen Makayiram Thirunal) Ravi Varma. She also served as the Junior Queen of Attingal under Senior Queen Makayiram Thirunal and subsequently as the Senior Queen of Attingal.

The Travancore royal family was the ruling house of the Kingdom of Travancore. They gave up their ruling rights in 1949 when Travancore merged with India and their political pension privileges were abolished in 1971. The family is descended from the Ay/Venad family and the Chera dynasty.

Maharani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi CI (1848–1901) was the Senior Rani of Travancore from 1857 till her death in 1901. Her consort was the famous poet and writer, styled the father of Malayalam literature, Sri Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. V. Raja</span>

Lt. Col. P. R. Godavarma Raja, often referred to as G. V. Raja, was an Indian sports and tourism promoter and administrator, pilot, sportsman and Sanskrit scholar. He took special care in inspiring the youth into sports and was instrumental in founding the Kerala Sports Council in 1953. G. V. Raja occupied the post of Council President till he was killed in a flight mishap in 1971. G. V. Raja also played a key role in establishing the Trivandrum Tennis Club, Flying Club, and the development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. As the spouse of Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, he became the prince consort of Travancore.

Raja Raja Varma Koil Thampuran, also known as Raja Raja Varma, was a Malayalam language poet and translator from the Indian state of Kerala who had an equal facility in writing in English and Sanskrit. He was born in Neerazhi Palace, Changanassery. He was part of the royal family of erstwhile Parappanad, Malabar.

Rani Bharani Thirunal Parvathi Bayi was a junior Rani of Travancore as known as ' Attingal Elaya Rani ' Her consort was Kilimanoor Kerala Varma Koyi Thampuran. Parvathi Bayi was born in 1850 as the daughter of Bharani Thirunal Amma Thampuran of Utsava Madom Palace in Mavelikara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma</span>

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the current pretender to the throne of Travancorr. He is the youngest of the four children of the former titular Maharani of Travancore, Sree Padmanabhasevini Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi and her husband, Prince Consort Lt. Col. G. V. Raja of Poonjar Royal House.

Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi (1916-2008) was the only sister of the last ruling Maharajah of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and of his successor, Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. Under the matrilineal Marumakkathayam system of inheritance prevalent in the kingdom of Travancore, it was her children who were heirs to the throne. She therefore held a very special place in the Travancore court, superior to the Maharaja's wives, and was termed the Rani of Attingal in her own right. In 2013, her only surviving son duly succeeded his uncles as titular Maharaja of Travancore and is known as Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma.

Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi (1896–1983), better known as Amma Maharani, was the Junior Maharani (Queen) of Travancore as well as a promoter of Indian Classical music. She was the mother of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the last King of Travancore.

Lakshmipuram Palace is the royal palace of the Parappanad royal families at Changanassery. Palace is located at Puzhavathu near to Kavil Bhagavathy Temple. The Lakshmipuram Palace was built in 1811 AD by Travancore ruler Maharani Ayilyom Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi (1791–1815) on behalf of the family of her husband Raja Raja Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran. Until then, the royal family at the Neerazhi Palace in Changanacherry had been moved to newly built Lakshmipuram Palace. It was the seat of the royal family of Koi thampurans and has produced many illustrious writers such as Raja Raja Varma Koil Thampuran, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran and A. R. Raja Raja Varma. Noted Malayalam singer and classical musician L. P. R. Varma also hails from this palace.

References

↑ Mewat, Mahi. The Indian Encyclopaedia. p. 4690.
↑ Mateer, Rev. Samuel. Native Life in Travancore : VOL I AD 1883. p. 388.
↑ Staff Reporter, Our (25 November 2000). "New member in Travancore family". The Hindu . THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
↑ Velu Pillai, TK. Travancore State Manal Vol II. p. 121.
↑ Datta, Amaresh (1988). The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature (Volume Two) (Devraj To Jyoti). Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126011947.
↑ "Trivandrum International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala". Airport Technology. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
↑ cricinfo, India. "History of Kerala cricket By Professor AS Balakrishnan". CricInfo 2000. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
↑ "Col. GODA VARMA RAJA The God Father of Kerala Tourism". Kerla Tourism Web Magazine. Retrieved 14 January 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
↑ Interserve, Kerala Travels. "KTIL" . Retrieved 14 January 2015.
↑ "Trivandrum International Airport/History, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"Trivandrum International Airport 'The airport was established as part of the Royal Flying Club under the initiative of Colonel Goda Varma Raja, husband of H. H. Princess Karthika Thirunal of Travancore Kingdom.[8] Col G.V Raja, being a trained pilot, felt the need an airport to accommodate Travancore in the aviation map of India. In 1935, on royal patronage of H.H Maharaja Chitra Thirunal, Tata Airlines made its maiden flight to the airport using DH.83 Fox Moth aircraft under command of India's first pilot Nevill Vintcent, carried two passengers Jamshed Navoroji, a Tata company official, and Kanchi Dwarakadas, commercial agent of Travancore to Bombay Presidency along with a special mail from Viceroy of British India, Lord Willingdon wishing birthday greetings to the Maharaja.[9] The first flight from the airport took off on 1 November 1935, carrying mails of Royal Anchal (Travancore Post) to Bombay. Soon in 1938, the Royal Government of Travancore acquired a Dakota aircraft as Maharajah's private aircraft and placed 1st Squadron of Royal Indian Air Force (Travancore) for protection of State from aerial attacks.'

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Mewat, Mahi. The Indian Encyclopaedia. p. 4690.

[2] Mateer, Rev. Samuel. Native Life in Travancore : VOL I AD 1883. p. 388.

[3] Staff Reporter, Our (25 November 2000). "New member in Travancore family". The Hindu . THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

[4] Velu Pillai, TK. Travancore State Manal Vol II. p. 121.

[5] Datta, Amaresh (1988). The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature (Volume Two) (Devraj To Jyoti). Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126011947.

[airport-technology.com-6] "Trivandrum International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala". Airport Technology. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

[7] ricinfo, India. "History of Kerala cricket By Professor AS Balakrishnan". CricInfo 2000. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

[8] "Col. GODA VARMA RAJA The God Father of Kerala Tourism". Kerla Tourism Web Magazine. Retrieved 14 January 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ]}

[9] Interserve, Kerala Travels. "KTIL" . Retrieved 14 January 2015.

[10] "Trivandrum International Airport/History, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"Trivandrum International Airport 'The airport was established as part of the Royal Flying Club under the initiative of Colonel Goda Varma Raja, husband of H. H. Princess Karthika Thirunal of Travancore Kingdom.[8] Col G.V Raja, being a trained pilot, felt the need an airport to accommodate Travancore in the aviation map of India. In 1935, on royal patronage of H.H Maharaja Chitra Thirunal, Tata Airlines made its maiden flight to the airport using DH.83 Fox Moth aircraft under command of India's first pilot Nevill Vintcent, carried two passengers Jamshed Navoroji, a Tata company official, and Kanchi Dwarakadas, commercial agent of Travancore to Bombay Presidency along with a special mail from Viceroy of British India, Lord Willingdon wishing birthday greetings to the Maharaja.[9] The first flight from the airport took off on 1 November 1935, carrying mails of Royal Anchal (Travancore Post) to Bombay. Soon in 1938, the Royal Government of Travancore acquired a Dakota aircraft as Maharajah's private aircraft and placed 1st Squadron of Royal Indian Air Force (Travancore) for protection of State from aerial attacks.'

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]