Notes
General Notes
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The following is a list of allusions in Marthandavarma , the 1891 historical novel by C. V. Raman Pillai.
According to V. Nagam Aiya, during the reign of king Rama Varma besides the troubles caused by confederate chiefs and nobles such as Ettuveetiil Pillas and Madambies, the other petty chieftains were also refracted from contributing to the revenue of the state; and sovereign was unable to defend the atrocities of armed dacoits, as there were not enough money and manpower with the state. [1] In Kollavarsham 901 king Rama Varma, headed to Tiruchirappalli and made a pact with the Madurai Nayaks to supply additional forces to Travancore for a fixed annual payment. [2] T. K. Velu Pillai cites the references of payment to Madurai from Travancore. [3] In the novel, it is presented that king Rama Varma and Thirumukhathu Pilla proceed to Tiruchirappalli in Kollavarsham 901 to arrange additional forces, which later camps at Boothapandi.
In the novel, while Rama Varma and Thirumukhathu Pilla headed to Tiruchirappalli, prince Marthanda Varma and Ananthapadmanabhan were staying at Nagercoil, from where latter among the duo at Nagercoil heads to his mother's house following the news of her illness. While Ananthapadmanabhan was away, the prince was chased away by the men of Padmanabhan Thambi and an attempt on his life was made at Kalliyankattu temple. The incident is further referred as the escape of Marthanda Varma as a Brahmin. Dr. P. Venugopalan cites the references of the incident in the history of Travancore and Marthandamahathmyam Kilippattu. [4] The incident took place at a temple of Shiva near to Kumarakovil (2 miles north to Thakkala), where Marthanda Varma took shelter while evading the attackers. At the temple Marthanda Varma was aided by the temple priest to escape in the outfit of the latter, and the priest was killed by the attackers as he was in the outfit of the former. [5]
There are references in the novel about attempts on the life of Marthanda Varma by his enemies as his successful escapes through the groove at Panathara, the Ezhava house at Perunkadavila, and the Nedumangad fort.
According to the legends, after evading the Ettuveettil Pillas and their men at Dhanuvachapuram, [upper-alpha 1] Eithukondamkani, [upper-alpha 2] and Marayamuttom, [upper-alpha 3] when Marthanda Varma was refreshing himself at a river near to Malakulangara [upper-alpha 4] he was spotted by the men of Thambi brothers and in urgency to escape from them, he headed into a nearby Ezhava house, Alayil Puthur Veedu at Perumkadavila, where he was aided by the Kalipanikkathi (Lady Kali) to hide under the rattan enclosures. The men of Thambi brothers were unsuccessful in finding the prince. [6]
In the novel, while running away from Velu Kuruppu and his men, Marthanda Varma is helped by a mad Channan who hides him in a tree and misdirects his pursuers. According to Dr. P. Venugopalan, the above account of actions is a collaboration of two situations where Marthanda Varma escaped from the enemies. [4] Once, when Marthanda Varma was returning after some confidential visits to Kanyakumari and Suchindram, he was tracked by the men of Ettuveettil Pillas and Thambi brothers. While running away from the chasers, he was suggested by a Channan plougher of the nearby field to hide inside the hollow statue of the elephant at the adjacent temple of Shasthavu. When the chasers reached the cultivation field and questioned the plougher, he misdirected them to the southern provinces. In another occasion, when Marthanda Varma was chased by the enemies, he evaded them by hiding inside the big hole within a jack tree at the Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple. [5] The tree is still preserved at the temple compound and known as Ammacciplāvŭ (Mother jack tree).
The incident is referred as the attempt to murder the little prince, Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma and his mother by Ramanamadathil Pilla along with his men in Kollavarsham 903, while the mother-son duo were heading from Trivandrum to Attingal, but only to evade the attempt with the help of Kilimanoor Koithampuran (Lord of Kilimanoor), who led the duo to a nearby safe village and took their place in the palanquin en route, confronted the attackers and eventually got killed, as described in the History of Travancore from the Earliest Times by P. Shangoony Menon. [7] The above account of incident is in conflict with the version described by Pachumuthathu in the Tiruvitāṁkūṟ Caritraṁ, [upper-alpha 5] which recounts the same at Budhanoor [upper-alpha 6] in the then district of Chengannur, where ruffians from Kayamkulam did the attack and states that lord of Kilimanoor who defended the attackers was the husband of the Queen. V. Nagam Aiya states the incident inline with the version by P. Shangoony Menon and mentions that lord of Kilimanoor, Kerala Varma Koithampuran as the consort of the Queen. [8] T. K. Velu Pillai supports the version of Pachumuthathu and condemns the version by P. Shangoony Menon; which is cited by Dr. A. P. Ibrahim Kunju, who points out the deliberation of T. K. Velu Pillai in supporting the version of Pachumuthathu by purposefully avoiding the references of incident in the British records, Letters to Tellicherry [upper-alpha 7] . [9]
Dr. A. P. Ibrahim Kunju refers to the legend that Thambi brothers made a claim to the throne of Venad during the final period of king Rama Varma as they were the linear descendants, which was against the tradition of collateral descent through maternal nephew followed by the Venad kingdom in selecting the heir to the throne. [10] P. K. Parameswaran Nair claims that there is a legend in which Rama Varma promises to his spouse, Abhirama to let the children she will bear, to ascend to the throne of Venad; however Dr. P. Venugopalan states that the above account of legend is not valid as Rama Varma was neither the king nor the next heir to the throne during the early days of his relationship with his spouse and he ruled the kingdom only in the last five years of his life. [11] P. Shangoony Menon and V. Nagam Aiya state that Thambi brothers were persuaded by feudatory chiefs and nobles, Ettuveettil Pillas and Madambies to make the claim to the throne. [12] Dewan Nanoo Pillay states that Thambi duo manifested the claim, as they felt degraded from the royal rank after the accession of Marthanda Varma, so Madambies and Ettuveettil Pillas fomented their disaffection. [13] T. K. Velu Pillai states that Thambi brothers attempted to seize the throne for themselves against the custom of Marumakkattāyaṁ (collateral descent through maternal nephews). [14] Even though the above claim and dispute happened after the demise of Rama Varma, in the novel, it is presented that the conspiracy by Thambi brothers were started long before the king was ill and also shows that Padmanabhan Thambi and Sundarayyan lay the plans against Marthanda Varma, to get him deprived from the line of succession. In the novel, it is mentioned that Ettuveettil Pillas gave assurance to Padmanabhan Thambi that they will make him king after the period of king Rama Varma. In the novel, it is also referred that Padmanabhan Thambi did not want to emphasize on Makkattāyaṁ (lineal descent through sons) by raising the concern to Sundarayyan that such a succession may bring his younger brother Raman Thambi against him.
The heirship claim of the Thambi brothers against the then existing custom in Venad led them to seek the aid of foreign forces to confront Marthanda Varma. According to P. Shangoony Menon the elder Thambi brother, Papu Thamby went to Tiruchirapalli in Kollavarsham 905 (1730) to seek aid from Pandyan governor. [15] V. Nagam Aiya states that the Thambi brothers went together to Tiruchirapalli in 1729 to seek aid from Pandyan governor. [16] According to Dewan Nanoo Pillai, only one of the Thambi brothers proceeded to Tiruchirapalli in Kollavarsham 905 (1729-1730). [13] T. K. Velu Pillai mentions that the Thambi brothers secured the mercenary services of a foreign contingent in Kollavarsham 905. [14] In the novel, the younger brother, Raman Thambi goes to Nanjinadu to arrange for additional forces in Kollavarsham 903.
Ettuveettil Pillas formed a council at the convention area of an inn at Venganoor, where they held consultation about the plans against the king Marthanda Varma and, the members resolved to assassinate the king on the Aaraattu festival day during his procession. The decision was scripted as palm leaf notes and hidden in the footwears of messengers. [17] According to P. Shangoony Menon and V. Nagam Aiya, the conference happened sometime after Kollavarsham 906. [18] Dr. A. P. Ibrahim Kunju states that above event as happened in Kollavarsham 912. [19] The messengers with the council notes were later detained by the king's men following the lead by a Paṇṭāraṁ (keeper of the inn), who spied on the council members and eventually the plan was foiled. [17] In the novel, the council of Ettuveettil Pillas is convened at the maternal house of Kudamon Pilla near to Andiyirakkam. The council passes the resolution to assassinate the prince Marthanda Varma after the demise of king Rama Varma, when the prince will be heading back after the last rites of the then deceased King. A council note of the same is prepared for Padmanabhan Thambi and entrusts the same to Sundarayyan, who on the way back puts up a fight with Ananthapadmanabhan disguised as a beggar, who tries to snatch the council note and, eventually the note is lost in the Killiyar. In the novel the above events are shown as happened in Kollavarsham 903 before the accession of Marthanda Varma.
When the foreign contingent arrived under Azhagappa Mudaliyar as an aid to Thambi brothers from Pandyan governor, the Thambi duo joins them at the Nanjinadu camp to mobilize the forces; meanwhile Marthanda Varma tried to arrange necessary counter forces at Kalkulam, however as there were not enough forces to confront the contingent and men of Thambi duo, Marthanda Varma negotiated with the officers of Azhagappa Mudaliyar, lieutenant Kanimiyavu and captain Kapalipara Sokkalingam Pillai, thus secured a safe passage out of Kalkulam fort with an escort to Neyyattinkara, in order to go to Perakathavazhi at Kollam; en route, on realizing that the little prince Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma and his royal mother at Puthenkotta [upper-alpha 8] were about to be attacked by a team led by Kudamon Pilla, Karakulathu Pilla and Vanchikoottathu Pilla, Marthanda Varma rushed there and moved the mother-son duo to Attingal and headed to Kollam. Meanwhile, the team led by Azhagappa Mudaliyar and Thambi brothers started from Kalkulam to Thiruvananthapuram, where they tried to take the possession of treasure at Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, but only to foil the plans by the local inhabitants, to whom the charge was entrusted by Vanchikoottathu Pilla before he moved from there. The protests by local people made the team of Thambi brothers to retract, so Azhagappa Mudaliyar and forces headed to eastern provinces. [14] Mathilakam Records [upper-alpha 9] mentions the above account of events as happened in Kollavarsham 905, one year after the demise of king Rama Varma. [21] In the novel, it is presented that the foreign forces, the forces from Nanjinadu are led by Raman Thambi. The men of Thambi brothers and Ettuveettil Pillas together plan to siege the palace to slay the prince, however prince Marthanda Varma evade the coup as he is timely tipped by Subhadra, who also insists to move the little prince and the mother to a safe place. When the team led by Thambi brothers and Ettuveettil Pillas are unsuccessful in locating Marthanda Varma and little prince, they head to Manacaud. The above course of events is shown in the novel as happened five days after the demise of king Rama Varma.
P. Shangoony Menon and V. Nagam Aiya state that Marthanda Varma ascended to the throne in Kollavarsham 904 (1729). [22] Mathilakam Records refers the accession of Marthanda Varma as happened on or before the month of Ani (June–July) in Kollavarsham 904 (1729). [21] T. K. Velu Pillai mentions the commencement of Marthanda Varma's reign in Kollavarsham 905. [23] A. P. Ibrahim Kunju mentions that the accession happened in Kollavarsham 905. [24] In the novel, the accession of Marthanda Varma is shown as happened two weeks after the demise of king Rama Varma in Kollavarsham 904. [25]
According to P. Shangoony Menon, king Rama Varma died of short illness in Kollavarsham 903 (1728). [7] V. Nagam Aiya also states that king Rama Varma died in the year 1728. [26] Dr. A. P. Ibrahim Kunju mentions that king Rama Varma died in Kollavarsham 904 (January 1729) referring to the Mathilakam Records. [27] In the novel, king Rama Varma is bed ridden due to illness during Kollavarsham 903 and dies in the course of story. According to Prof. N. Krishna Pillai and Prof. V. Anandakuttan Nair, the demise of king Rama Varma mentioned in the novel falls in the timeline of Kollavarsham 904. [28]
Dalawa Arumukham Pilla was once detained by foreign forces camped at Thrikkanamkudi, [upper-alpha 10] because the payment for them as per the agreement with the king Rama Varma was in arrears. The required payment was almost done through the merchants at Kottar, however Dalawa was not released and the release was accomplished by the then commander-in-chief, Kumarswami Pillai. According to P. Shangoony Menon and T. K. Velu Pillai, the detention and release happened post the accession of Marthanda Varma. [29] In the novel, Arumukham Pilla is detained by Madura forces at Boothapandi and possible payments are arranged through loans from Kottar; the events are presented as happened before the accession of Marthanda Varma and the remaining amount required is provided by Subhadra to Marthanda Varma to facilitate the release.
Marthanda Varma marched to Desinganadu in Kollavarsham 906 because the king of Desinganadu invaded and conquered the eastern portions of Kallada, which was under Venad. [30] In the novel, the conquest of Desinganadu is referred as happened in Kollavarsham 906 with the direct involvement of king Marthanda Varma, to whom Ananthapadmanabhan was the main protector in the conquest.
The first edition of the novel mentions that Padmanabhan Thambi is killed by Marthanda Varma's accomplices in a precognitive narration, which is removed from the further editions. [31] According to P. Shangoony Menon and V. Nagam Aiya, Pappu Thambi was killed at Nagercoil palace by the guards of Marthanda Varma, which the former records as happened in Kollavarsham 908 and the latter mentions that it happened a few months after the Arattu festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in 1732. [32]
The novel refers the Kalipankulam incident, which according to P. Shangoony Menon and V. Nagam Aiya was that the five princes who were the offspring of Umayamma Rani were murdered by men of confederates (Madampimar). [33] T. K. Velu Pillai points that Umayamma Rani never had any children. [34] In the novel, the tragedy at Kalipankulam is mentioned only as the massacre of five princes without giving any reference to Umayamma Rani, but refers the involvement of Ramanamadathil Pilla in the incident. The novel also refers to the attack of a Mukilan during when, a few families were converted as Mohammedians after circumcision; which implies the conquest of Mukilan (a petty chieftain under Moghul emperor) in Travancore during Kollavarsham 853–855, followed by the circumcision and proselytization of Nair family members to Islam. [35]
There is a reference to the tragedy of Iravikutti Pilla, who was the commander-in-chief during the period of Unni Kerala Varma (Kollavarsham 806–823). Iravikutti Pilla was killed by the forces of Thirumalai Nayak in the battle, to which he headed by ignoring the bad omens. [36] In the novel, Kazhakoottathu Pilla refers to the establishment of twenty-four Śāstākkanmāṟ (deities with the divine aspects of Shasthavu) at the downhills in Kerala for protection, which implies the legend about Parashurama, who did the enshrinements of Shasthavu deity at various places in Kerala. [37]
Venad is the kingdom in which the events of novel take place; in the novel, the king Rama Varma is referred as the ruler of Venad. The areas of Venad that are mentioned in the novel are as follows:
Foreign areas and kingdoms
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The novel presents that practices of Indian traditional medicine and Unani traditional medicine were prevailed in Venad during the timeline of the story.
The novel mentions about the languages Malayalam, Tamil and Hindustani, among which the former one is used primarily for the narration with the adopted words from Tamil, Sanskrit, English, Hindustani, Persian and a conversation in a substitution cipher, Mulabhadra.
The primary language used in the novel. In the novel, prince Marthanda Varma mentions that the diglot at the pathan camp seems to very good in Malayalam.
The novel presents the ambiguous usages of the term nazhika [lower-alpha 1] as a unit of measure for time and as a unit of measure for length. Nazhika1 as a unit of measure for time is analogous to Ghaṭi and 1 Nazhika corresponds to 24 minutes. Nazhika2 is a unit of measure for length prevailed in yesteryear Kerala at different denominations. Dr. A. C. Vasu cites two variants of the unit of measurement, among which the first one is termed as a "regional method" that equates 1 Nazhika to 1.828 kilometers, [upper-alpha 15] and the second one, "cochin survey method" equates 1 Nazhika to 914.4 meters. [upper-alpha 16] C. V. Vyakhyanakosam states that 1 Nazhika corresponds to approximately [upper-alpha 17] 1.5 kilometers. [104]
Sanskrit words are extensively used in the novel, such as cētōharaṁ, [lower-alpha 2] saṁsaṟggaṁ, [lower-alpha 3] skandha, [lower-alpha 4] sthaulyaṁ, [lower-alpha 5] śiraḥkambanamandasmitādikaḷ, [lower-alpha 6] sōmavāravrataṁ, [lower-alpha 7] aṟddhōnmīlitaṁ, [lower-alpha 8] khādyapēyalēhyabhōjya, [lower-alpha 9] tējaḥpuñjaṁ, [lower-alpha 10] aḷivr̥ndaniṟmmitaṁ, [lower-alpha 11] tāruṇyāraṁbhaṁ [lower-alpha 12] etc. to list a few. Dr. P. Venugopalan notes that some of the Sanskrit usages are changed in the revised edition. [105]
Tamil is extensively used in the conversations involving Sundarayyan, mad Channan, and the other Channar characters. Tamil words and prepositions are used in the statements of Shanku Assan, Anantham, Mangoikkal Kuruppu and in the narrations, among which, the Tamil word nāyaki [lower-alpha 13] in the first edition of the novel has been replaced with the adapted one, nāyika [lower-alpha 14] in the revised edition. In the novel, it is mentioned that Beeram Khan talks to the servant of Subhadra in Tamil. [106]
The novel states that the pathan camp members converse in Hindustani. In the novel, Ananthapadmanabhan helps Mangoikkal Kuruppu to learn the language, and while confronted by Parukutty and her mother inside the dungeon at Chembakassery, the two men converse in Hindustani. The novel presents that Sundarayyan also knows Hindustani, in which he shouts while fighting with Beeram Khan. In the novel, while talking to Subhadra, Anantham uses a word enāṁ, [lower-alpha 15] which is an adapted word from the Hindustani one, inām. [lower-alpha 16] The novel uses the words, caittān [lower-alpha 17] a form of Hindustani word šaitān, [lower-alpha 18] bahadūṟ, [lower-alpha 19] a form of Hindustani word bahādur. [lower-alpha 20] hukka, [lower-alpha 21] which is a form of Hindustani word hukkā, [lower-alpha 22] and kinkāb [lower-alpha 23] which is a form of word kimkhvāb , [lower-alpha 24] for silk brocade with gold and silver designs. [107]
In the novel, Hakkim refers Mangoikkal Kuruppu as sāhēb [lower-alpha 25] which is a form of Persian sāheb. [lower-alpha 26] The novel uses the term ṣaṟbatt, [lower-alpha 27] which is a form of Persian word sharbat [lower-alpha 28] for the beverages used in the pathan camp. The novel makes a usage for the shawl used by Thirumukhathu Pilla as sālva, [lower-alpha 29] which is analogous to the English word and the Persian version shāl. [lower-alpha 30]
The novel uses the word ṟōḍukaḷ, which is an adapted one from the English word roads, uses the English word, report as ṟepōṟṭṭu and for the meaning of guard while referring to the posture of Chembakassery Mootha Pilla at the door of Parukutty's room, the novel uses a word gāṭṭŭ akin to the obsolete form gard.
In the novel, Marthanda Varma and Parameswaran Pilla converse in Moolabadri while being in the presence of Kochu Velu, the youngest nephew of the Mangoikkal Kuruppu. Mulabhadra or Moolabadri is a way of a substitution ciphering prevailed in Travancore using Malayalam script.
General Notes
| Language Notes
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The Kingdom of Travancore (/ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of the south of modern-day Kerala, and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu with the Thachudaya Kaimal's enclave of Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple in the neighbouring Kingdom of Cochin. However Tangasseri area of Kollam city and Anchuthengu near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district, were British colonies and were part of the Malabar District until 30 June 1927, and Tirunelveli district from 1 July 1927 onwards. Travancore merged with the erstwhile princely state of Cochin to form Travancore-Cochin in 1950. The five Tamil-majority Taluks of Vilavancode, Kalkulam, Thovalai, Agastheeswaram, and Sengottai were transferred from Travancore-Cochin to Madras State in 1956. The Malayalam-speaking regions of Travancore-Cochin merged with the Malabar District and the Kasaragod taluk of the South Canara district in Madras State to form the modern Malayalam-state of Kerala on 1 November 1956, according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 passed by the Government of India.
The Ettuveetil Pillamar were nobles from eight ruling Houses in erstwhile Travancore in present-day Kerala state, South India. They were associated with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram and the Ettara Yogam. Their power and wealth grew until Marthanda Varma (1706–1758), the last king of Venad and the first king of Travancore, defeated them in the 1730s.
Kilimanoor is a panchayat and a town in the Chirayinkeezhu taluk of Trivandrum district in Kerala, India. It is located on MC/SH 1 Road, 33 kilometres (21 mi) North-west of the city of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), 14 km east of Attingal and 20 km (12 mi) east of Varkala.
Kilimanoor Palace is a palace located in Kilimanoor, in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the birthplace of painter Raja Ravi Varma and Raghava Varma, the father of king Marthanda Varma.
Dharma RajaKarthika Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore". During his reign Dharma Raja not only retained all the territories his predecessor had gained but administered the kingdom with success. He was addressed as Dharma Raja on account of his strict adherence to Dharma Sastra, the Hindu principles of justice by providing asylum to thousands of Hindus and Christians fleeing Malabar during the Mysorean conquest of Malabar.
The history of Thiruvananthapuram dates back to the 18th century AD. In 1795, the city became capital of the princely state of Travancore. Several historic landmarks of the city, including the Kowdiar Palace, University of Kerala, and Napier Museum were built during this period. After independence, Thiruvananthapuram was made the capital of the state of Kerala.
Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi ofThalakulam (1765–1809) was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1802 and 1809 during the reign of Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. He is best known for being one of the earliest individuals to rebel against the British East India Company's authority in India.
Cannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai, also known as C. V., was one of the major Indian novelists and playwrights and a pioneering playwright and novelist of Malayalam literature. He was known for his historical novels such as Marthandavarma, Dharmaraja and Ramaraja Bahadur; the last mentioned considered by many as one of the greatest novels written in Malayalam.
The Ettara Yogam or the King and Council of Eight has been the administrative setup of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala, India, for centuries.
Odiery Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri was an 18th-century Dalawa of the Travancore, a former Indian kingdom.
Rajah Rama Varma was the ruler of the Indian kingdom of Venad, later known as Travancore, in the modern day state of Kerala, India between 1724 and 1729, having succeeded his brother Unni Kerala Varma. He is better known as the uncle of Maharajah Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Perumal, the "maker of modern Travancore". He was born into the Royal Family of Kolathunadu, as the second son of Rajah Ittamar of Thattari Kovilakam. It was princes from the Parappanadu family who customarily married Kolathunadu princesses. Rama Varma's entire family, including himself, two sisters and his elder brother Unni Kerala Varma, were adopted into the Venad house as members of the Travancore Royal Family by Rajah Ravi Varma, nephew of Umayamma Rani due to the failure of heirs there. Ittammar Raja's sister and her sons, Rama Varma and Raghava Varma, settled in Kilimanoor and married the now adopted sisters. Of the adopted sisters, one died soon after her adoption while the other was the mother of the Maharajah Marthanda Varma.
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.
Marthanda Varma is a 1933 black and white Indian silent film directed by P. V. Rao, based on the 1891 Malayalam novel by C. V. Raman Pillai. This was the first film based on Malayalam literature and the next film of the Malayalam film industry after Vigathakumaran.
Marthandavarma is a historical romance novel by C. V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It recounts the history of Venad (Travancore) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma. Set in Kollavarsham 901–906, the story revolves around three protagonists, Ananthapadmanabhan, Subhadra and Mangoikkal Kuruppu, who try to protect the title character from Padmanabhan Thambi and Ettu Veetil Pillamar who plan to oust him from the throne of Travancore. The novel utilizes rich allusions to the Indian subcontinent and Western, historical, cultural and literary traditions.
Diwan Bahadur Sir Veeraraghavapuram Nagam Aiya was an Indian pioneer, historian, civil servant, and chronicler who served as the Dewan in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
The Battle of Changanacherry was a battle between the kingdoms of Thekkumkur and Travancore in September 1749. Defeat in this decisive battle led to Thekkumkur losing its dominance and expanding the Tranvancore empire to the southern border of the river Meenachilar.
Aditya Varma Manikandan popularly known as Aditya Varman, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely State of Thekkumkur. He was the ruler until September 1749 when the king of Travancore Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma ousted him from Neerazi Palace at the Battle of Changanassery. Thekkumkur kings were known as Manikandan. The goddess was Cheruvally Bhagavathi in the space. The official residence of Sri Aditya Varma was Neerazi Palace.
