THE SANSKRIT VERSES PF KERALA HISTORY PART 19 14824 15824 The Ramavarma-vijaya by Kunan Variyar
Chapter 3 - Historical Details from Mahakavyas Ramavarma Vijaya of Kunan Variyar is another Mahakavya on the life history of the Cochin King Rajarsi Ramavarma (who ruled from 1895 -1940 AD). Kunnan Variyar is good poet who had command over both the languages, Sanskrit and Malayalam and had composed works in both these languages. He was born on the 8th June 1872 AD as the son of Madhavan Nambutiri of Erattayil Illam and Madhavi Varasyar. He belonged to Mankulannara Variyam situated at Mezhathur in Ponnani Taluk. Among his Sanskrit works the Ramavarma kavya is the best one. The poem consists 10 cantos and describe the life history of the king Ramavarma from his birth to his 60th year (Sastipurthi). It also highly useful to learn about the history of the Cochin kingdom of that period. Ramavarma—the Hero The hero Maharaja Sri Ramavarman, who is famous as the Rajarshi was the king of Cochi from 1895 -1940, when he renounced the throne. Rajarsi was the respectful title givenbyhissubjects. In full, he is known as—jñānavidyābhūṣaṇam Sir.—Sri. Ramavarman, KCSI, GCSI, GCIE. History designates him as the father of modern Kochin. He was born on December 27, 1852, in the Malayalam month of Dhanu 14, 1028 under the Punartam star. His mother was Ambatampuratti, the third daughter of the senior Rani who was the nice of Saktan Tampuran and the common ancestor of the present royal family of Cochin. She was a women endowed with rare qualities who had great interest and talent in Music and Literature. His father was the famous vedic scholar Kutalattupuram Bhaskaran Anujan Nambuthirippadu, who belonged to one of the wealthy aristocratic Brahmin families in the state. Lord Rama, after whom the prince was named was also born under the Punartam star[3]. Both of them belonged to the Suryavamsa. People compared Sri. Ramavarman to Lord Rama. Sri Ramavarman had four sisters and three brothers. He was sent to the palace school which was exclusively for the children of the royal family. His first teacher was Muzhikulath Kunnunni Nambiar, an able scholar who was especially proficient in grammar. Many eminent scholars gave him special guidance in English and Sanskrit. At the direction of his uncle, Maharaja Ravivarman, he joined the palace English school in 1861. His teachers were his uncle Keralavarman who later became king, and Paramekkavu Raman Nambiar. They taught him four years and with this he got a good command of Sanskrit. After his Upanayana he learned Vedic Mantras from Vadyan Nambutiri and did a year’s Bhajanam at the Trppunittura temple[5]. From his childhood he was very fun, loving, fond of mental sports like horse riding and hunting and scholarly past times like debates. He was very skilled in all these. By the time he attained youth he was exceptionally talented and learned. In particular, his handsome face with a high nose was the indication of a great soul. His beauty captivated all maidens. But women was able to charm this brave young prince, his words were like nectar to the ears of the people, and his beauty a feast to their eyes. In 1870, Sri Ramavarman married Parukkuttiyamma the only daughter of Ittutra Variyar, the younger brother of Divan Sankara Variar and Komarattu Kunhikkali Amma. He wanted the younger members of the royal family to gain proper knowledge of Sanskrit. After discussion with his brothers he established a school for the children of the royal family on July 1885. Its administration was in the hands of members of royal family. It became a college in 1940 and is now the government Sanskrit college Trppunittura. Ramavarman has written only two books -Balabodhanam and Vedanthaparibhasa sangraham. Both these books contain the fruits of his experience as a teacher. Administration and Administrative reforms Sriramavarma’s actions were different from those of all earliest kings[7]. Ramavarma travelled all over India and became acquainted with many kinds of people. These travels helped very much in improving the quality of his mind and his rule. He got many opportunities for contact with various Indian rulers and British administrators. He was a severe critic of British domination but the British had great respect to for him. Many British administrators visited him. Lord Curzon, Lord Aptil and many others were his close friends. Divan V. Subrahmania Pillai retired in December 1897. P. Rajagopalachari who had served under the British Government, was appointed as Devan. He was an able administrator and carried out the kings orders to the letter. He studied the existing conditions well and tried to bring about reforms all over the state. He imposed fines on corrupt officials and dismissed some of them from service. He visited various parts of the state and widened roads by removing ruined buildings and trees. He thus earned the praise of the people and the king, and proved worthy of the name Rajagopalan. In the same year the king visited the Governor of Madras Lord Arthur Havlock and other important officials. In 1897 Lord and Lady Havlock stayed in Ernakulam as the king’s guests. It was the time of queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. It was decided that a public library and a townhall should be established at Ernakulam and a hospital and a school for women at Trissur, in commemoration of Jubilee. In the same year the British government gave him the title knight commander of the star of India (KCSI) In December 1900 Lord Curzon visited Cochin with his wife. It was the first visit of a Viceroy to Kerala. Lord Curzon said that he had no were seen King Ramavarman’s equal in intelligent, strength, and the during his careful observation of the conditions in Indian states, he had no were seen a more intelligent and progressive administration than in Cochin. Later in the Devanship of Rajagopalachari clashes took place between Hindus and Muslims, and the kings sent the army under the Devan to the aid of the Hindus. Lord Curzon held a Durbar at Delhi in connection with the coronation of Edward VII as emperor of India. King Ramavarman went to participate in this Durbar accompanied by Divan Pattabhi Rama Rao and other important officials. During this journey he visited Puna, Bombay, Allahabad, Banaras and Culcutta. After the Durbar, the Maharaja received the title great commander of the star of India (GCSI) from the British Government. In 1904 the king set out with his great nephew Ramavarma Pariksit on a tour of South India. He was honoured Lord Aptle. At the invitation of Srimulam Tirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore he stayed for some time as his guest. The king’s Travancore visit strengthened the friendship between two royal families. In 1905, the Maharaja of Travancore and the Maharaja of Kochin were his guests at Cochin. In 1906 the tenure of Divan Pattabhirama Rao came to an end. A.R. Banarjee ICS was appointed as Devan. In 1907, his most important guest was Lord Citchner, the commander in chief of the Indian Army. In 1909 king Ramavarman went to Madras see the Viceroy. In the cause of the journey he stayed at Vijayanagaram. The state of Cochin was at first under the government of Madras. If there was any real or imagined deviation from conventional procedure, the govt of Madras could atones question it, and often did so. But king Ramavarman’s rule brought about a new order. the British authorities were wise enough to accept the change. The king, assisted by his many distinguished and experienced divans, introduced many reforms in the state and Cochin soon came to be recognised as one of the best governed and most progressive Indian state. During the time of Divan P. Rajagopalachari, he paid attention to the financial progress of his kingdom. For that purpose tax rules were revised and payment was regularised. Soon after king Ramavarman began his rule, he decided to conduct a land survey all over the state. A separate forest department was constituted. When taxes were imposed according to the fertility of the land, the revenue increased considerably. All palm leaf manuscript were transcribed into paper. Stamp paper was introduced for transactions. In rest houses the practising of providing meals for the Brahmins of the neighbourhood was stopped. The king took every measure for the perfect functioning of various departments. About sixty regulations and declarations were passed during his rule. He made a precise assessment of palace expenses. The monthly allowance to the members of the royal family was produced. The king was well aware that the judiciary is an important as the executive if not more, in the progress of nation. He renounces his right as king to entertain appeals against the decisions of the chief court. Thus, he endowed the judiciary with a greater freedom and power. A systamatic revenue settlement was effected during the time of Divan Pattabhirama Rao. The reorganisation of the excise department was also effected and the forest way was completed. Schools were open to all irrespective of caste or religion. Water was brought day and night vehicles to villages suffering from water scarcity. Complete arrangements were made for supplying water from the Alappuzha through pipes. This system stem that still gives life to whole of Cochin. Although there was seperate postal department in the state, it did not provide much a revenue. The number of post offices and post boxes were increased. Preliminary investigation with regard to the Cochin harbour was undertaken, but it had to be stayed due to the out break of the First World War, and the hydro electric project, which too was under investigation had to be dropped for the time being due to the same cause. It was at this stage that he laydown the reigns of administration. Sastipurti On December 25, 1912 the king celebrated the Sastipurti all the people young and old, the celebration on the grand scale. All institutions like courts and schools were given a holy day. Poor people were given a free feast. This was arranged all parts of the kingdom. There were special priors in temples and other places of worship[25]. [6]:praṇipatya guruṃ śeṣamambāṃ mātarameva ca saṃgrahaḥ paribhāṣāyāḥ kriyate rāmavarmaṇā || [9]:evaṃ prāyairbhūmirakṣānukūlai rnānāyatnaissādhubhiḥ stūyamānaḥ | so'yaṃ gośrīrājavaryaprasādāt sārthāṃ cakre rājagopālasajñām || Kunhan Variyar -V -42 [14]:tāvatsadasyākhilabhūpasamakṣameva bhūvallabho'labhata durlabhamanyamānyaiḥ | sabhrāja eva birudaṃ kila ji si ye [?]ssairūpaṃ viśeṣamahitaḥ kva na tādṛśassyāt || -------------------------------------------------- The Vancidravilasa of Sankara Subrahmania Sastri Chapter 3 - Historical Details from Mahakavyas Vancidravilasa of Sankara Subrahmania Sastri is a biographical poem in eight cantos on the life of Srimulam Tirunal Maharaja of Travancore (1885 to 1924AD). He was born in 1858 AD native of Ambasamudram in Tamil Nadu and was born in 1882, as the son of Padmanabha Jyotisi and Minakshi Amma. He had his education at Madras and his subjects of specialization were grammar and Ayurveda. He had served as a Sanskrit pandit for 30 years in the St. Joseph’s High School at Trivandrumm. Sastri is a good writer of Sanskrit prose and verse. He handles the both with equal and fluency. Among his works, the Vancidravilasa in the best one. He passed away on the 30th May of 1946 AD. It finds mention in the Travancore State Manual (Rev) T.K. Velu Pillai, its author, speaking about the literature produced on the Sastyabdapurti of Srimulam Tirunal refers to the Vancidra-vilasa in the following words. ‘Many poems were composed in honour of the event in Sanskrit and Malayalam. Mangalamanjari is prominent among the Malayalam poems. Among the Sanskrit works regarding the Sastipurthi is the Vancidravilasam, a poem in eight cantos. The name of the author has not been mentioned in the manual. The work is to give an account of the life of Srimulam Tirunal upto his 60th year of age. To quote his own words. prāyaśo'tra kathāneturjanmaprabhṛtayaḥ śrutāḥ vṛttānte ṣaṣṭipūrtyantāḥ viśadaṃ pratipāditāḥ || A noteworthy feature of the composition is that it is free from all attempts to give an embellished account of the hero. The first canto gives an account of Srimulam Tirunal’s life from his birth to the attainment of the position of Yuvaraja or heir -apparent. He was born on the 11th day of Bhadrapada in the year 1033 M.E. in the Vancisvaranvaya. His mother was princess Lakshmi sister of Ayilyam Tirunal and Visakham Tirunal Maharajas of Travancore. This is indicated in the verse yasya mātā viśāṃpatyorviśākhāśleṣa bhūpayoḥ sahajātābhavallakṣmīriti khyātā satāṃ matā || In the year 1047 M.E. Sir. T. Madhava Rao, who was responsible for all the progress of Travancore was retired from service. His retirement and the appointment of the new Devan have been alluded to in three verses[5]. In his 22nd year of age Srimulam Tirunal took a consort from the Nagercoil Ammavidu. The lady was named Anatalakshmi, to be identified with Anantalaksmi Ponnamma. That was been indicated in the following verse[6]. atha dvāviṃśati................ The marriage took place on 3rd Medam 1055 M.E. within six month after that Ayilyam Tirunal, at whose instance the marriage was arranged left his mortal coils. Visakham Tirunal succeeded to the throne, and in turn Srimulam Tirunal became the heir-apparent. On 20th Menam, 1057 ME, Anandalakshmi, Srimulam Tirunal’s lady, gave birth to a son and passed away the same night. On the death of Vishakham Tirunal, Srimulam Tirunal became Maharaja. Then he was 28 years old. Under his orders, the Minister Rama, to be identified with Dewan the honorable V. Ramayyangar, conducted a general survey and settlement of lands in the state. The Vyavaharasabha or the judicial court was re-organized what is meant here is the separation of the executive and the judiciary. A text was introduced for the Nyayavadins. On the retirement of Ramayyengar, Dewan Peshkar Rama Rao had been longing for the position. As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria many programmes had been organised in the state capital. Important among them was the felicitation meeting held under the presidentship of princess Parvati Bayi Bharani Tirunal, who read out a paper on the life of Victoria. An address of felicitation was sent to Victoria from its meeting. The Maharaja donated Rs. 10,000/-to the imperial institute, London, set up at the jubilee memorial. Also, an amount of Rs. 2,000/-was denoted to the Victoria technical institute, Madras at TVM, the Victoria jubilee town hall was built, and at Quilon, a High School and a hospital for women and children were started. A number of works of art in gold and ivory were sent to Victoria. The heir apparent of Cochin paid a visit to him in TVM. At Tvm Srimulam Tirunal established what is called the prakasavyakhyanasubha (prakāśavyākhyānasabhā) or the public lecture committee, the members of which were paid Rs. 1000/-per annum. Mr. Cannimora, Governor of Madras visited the state in the next year. To commemorate the visit, a panyavithika (paṇyavīthikā) was built in TVM. Panyavithika stands for market, and it may be identified with the Cannemora market, Tvm. In 1063 M.E., the girls school was re-organised and placed under mukhyopadeśikā or head-mistress. The Laksadipa was celebrated with great pomp. In the month of Makaram, 1063 M.E. he undertook a tour to Bombay via Poona. Afterwards, the king, with the help of the Dewan, introduced many reforms. Seeing the neglected state of Sanskrit education in the state, he started a skt college, and appointed Kerala Varma Valiya Koyittamuran as its inspector. Seeing the popular interest in Ayurveda he started the āyurvedapāṭhaśālā at TVM and sanctioned a scheme for grants-in-aid, to be paid to private practitioners in Ayurveda. Then, he instituted the niyamanirmāṇasamiti to be identified with the legislative council. In the year 1064 M.E. Queen Victoria bestowed in him the title of G.C.S.I. The ivory carving centre started by Visakham Tirunal was developed into the school of arts. Stamp papers of lower denominations were issued. In Makaram 1065 M.E. the Maharaja undertook a tour to upper India and visited places like Varanasi, Delhi and Culcutta. At Culcutta, he met the victory Lord Lansdowne. Qualified persons were recruited to the Vanabhaga, to be identified with the forest department. Also, many Prakasakaryasthanas and Vidyagrahas, to be identified with public officers and scholars respectively, were started. Qualified persons were appointed to the Vaidyavibhaga, to be identified with the Medical Department. In Tulam 1066 ME he went to Ramesvaram on a pilgrimage. In the next year prince Asvati Tirunal Martanda Varma passed the B.A. Degree examination. About this the following has been said in the Kavya. atha bīe -parīkṣāyāmavāptavijayassatāṃ mānyo mārtāṇḍavarmā naḥ kṣmāvāsavam anūmudat | caturbhujaṅga prāvāra birudaprāptireva sā asya prācīkaṭacchṛddhānadhītāvadhikanprabhoḥ na kevalaṃ bhāratīyāḥ āṅgalāśca vipaścitaḥ āślādyantatamāṃ rājasūnorvijayamasya taṃ bhāratīya kṣamāvāsyeṣvasyetaṃ prathamo jayaḥ ślāghyo'sau vañcivāstavyān ānandabharitān vyabhāt svānandadyotakathayā svaśrīyāya kṣamādhavaḥ dve ratnakarṇike prādāt grantharatnāni cādarāt || >From this, it is known that Srimulam Tirunal, nephew Martanda Varma Asvati Tirunal passed the B.A. examination and became the first graduate prince of India. His great distinction was cheered not only by eminent Indians, but also by European Scholars. The Maharaja in due appreciation of the meritorious success of his nephew presented him a pair of ear -studs made of gems in addition to a gift of books. Then he celebrated the Painkuni Arat, performed the Tulapurusadana and issued the Tulabharakkasu bearing the conch-mark on one side and it legend Sripadmanabha on the other. The establishment of the juvenile delinquency school is referred to in this verse. atha dhīmān parihartuṃ durvṛttamaparādhināṃ bālānāmatra mulendro vidyāśālāmatiṣṭhipat || This was followed by the retirement of Rama Rao from Dewanship. In 1088 Sankara Subhha Iyer was appointed Dewan. Hannyngton was substituted by Grigy in the residency. Sankara Subba Iyer and Grigy jointly tried to re-organise the education Department. The construction of the Pechchippara dam was completed in the year. Princess Parvati Bayi passed away in the same year. Sometime after that the Maharaja performed the Padmagarbha ceremony. Then, he constructed the Krsnavilasam palace. He started the normal school, at the expense of one lakh of rupees, and also the law college at Tvm. The five major towns, Tvm, Nagarcoil, QUilon, Kottayam and Allappey were declared conservancy towns. The vaccination Department was placed under a new head, the svasthyadhikarin to be identified with the sanitary commissioner. The opening of the Agricultural Demonstration Farm[at Trivandrum has been alluded to in the following verse. kṛṣikṛtyabhivṛdhyarthaṃ matimānatra maṇḍale akalpayadathāsmāka bhūpo ramyaṃ kṛṣisthalaṃ navarītya kāryamāṇā kṛṣistatra virājate atratyanāṃ karṣakānāṃ bahūnāṃ mārgadarśikā || In 1071 M.E. the Maharaja went to Madras to meet the viceroy Lord Elgin. About that time prince Revati Tirunal Kerala Varma met with an untimely death. In 1072 M.E. the Diamond Jubilee of Victoria was celebrated with great enthusiasm. In order to commemorate the event the Maharaja established a Library (The Tvm Public Library), a poormen’s asylum, and a hospital for women and children placing the hospital under the charge of a lady doctor, a measure adopted for the first time in the state. Some of the prisoners were released. In Tulam 1073 M.E., the Madras Governor, Sir Artur Havelok, visited the state capital and in consequence the Maharaja paid a return visit to Madras. The other benevolent deeds of the Maharaja included the establishment of a leprosy sanitorium, institution of chatravrtti or Sircar scholarship for medical students, grants to Bhasajasalas (Hospitals), reorganization of the patraropanavibhaga (Registration department) formation of a Sabha(Committee) for purapariṣkārakārya (Town improvement) and starting the scheme of rājanirdeśarakṣābhoga (Government life insurance). Special mention has to be made of the opening of new schools for children of the depressed castes. tadanvavarajātānāṃ vidyābhyāsāya nītimān pāṭhaśālāstatra tatra samadṛṣṭirakalpayat || The expression samadṛṣṭiḥ. applied to Srimulam Tirunal is very significant. He is often pictured by adverse critics as a conservative Hindu, adamant to social reform and opposed to progressive changes. But the fact remains that he was the patron of the malayālīsabhā that labored for the social advancement of the Nairs. He was also the patron of the Citrasabha which rendered excellent Service for the uplift of the toiling Pulayas. He declared open all public roads for all castes of perople, including the untouchable outcasts. He removed the restrictions on the admission of children of the lowcastes to public schools. And, it was he who granted vast tracts of land to the Ezhava organisation, the SNDP Yogam. Therefore the appellation Samadrsti applied to Srimulam Tirunal is quite appropriate. Krsnasvami to be identified with Dewan Bhahadur Krishnaswami Rao, CIE, succeeded to Dewanship. He had thirteen years of service in the state, and even held the high place of chief justice, a fact not known from other sources. He completed the project of Vatakadipa or gas -light. A new coin, the Tamracakra (copper cakra) was issued. An important event in the private life of the Maharaja wa his taking a second consort. After along time from the death of his first lady, he took another spouse whose name has not been specified. vyatītaṃ kāryamuddiśya paścāttāpo nirarthakaḥ na hi patnīsamaḥ kaścit sahāyo dharmasaṃgrahe | iti sañcintya matimān anurūpā matātmanaḥ kāścit sīmantinīmaṅgīcakāra sahadharmiṇām || (VI-14-15) A few days after his return to Tvm he appointed Anantarama Iyer as the Fouzdari commissioner. About the event and Anantarama Iyer, the author says. athātithe katipaye divase madraśāsanāt sthanamudrā kāpyanantarāmāya prahitādarāt asau dhīmān kṣamājānerāśritatrāyako'sya naḥ ārabhya bālyād vyalasat dvitīyamiva jīvitam idameva sthanamudrādānamasmaddharāśitūḥ asminnakṛtrimaṃ snehaṃ nivadayati tādṛśam || (VI-62-63) Inthispassage madraśśāsanā means order of the Madras Government. sthanamudrā stands for appointment. The references to the appointment of Anantarama Iyer alias Saravana is very important for history, because this is perhaps the only known mention of his in a historical composition. Generally he thrives in the tongues of adverse critics. The ‘mesmeric influence’ of Saravana on the Maharaja and his indue importance in the state provoked biting criticism not only from the vernacular press but also from the English newspapers of Madras and elsewhere. G. Parameswaran Pillai violently criticized his misdeeds. He wrote extensive in English papers burning articles and reports craving for the expulsion of Saravana whom he called the ‘ICB’ or to ‘illiterate cook boy’. The main charge against him was that, though he was an unworthy poet, a menial in the palace kitchen, he made the Maharaja dance to his tune. The facts behind this “mesmeric influence” on the ‘slavish’ Maharaja has not been revealed by any author. The Vancidravilasa gives us a peep, though delicate into the circumstances in which the illiterate sub-took became the ‘real king’ of the state. The text tells us that Saravana and the Maharaja were attached to each other from their very childhood. The mind of a child cannot distinguish the catagories of men. To the Maharaja, Saravana was not a soul different from his own. This piece of scanty information is grand eloquent and speaks the truth behind the slavish attachment of the Raja to Saravana. In Tulam 1079 ME, Sir. A. Seshayya Sastri, formerly Devan of Travancore passed away, and the Maharaja sent a Vidyut Sandesa or telegraphic message to the friends of the deceased expressing his great. In Makaram 1079 M.E. the ruler of Cochin paid a visit to the Maharaja at Tvm. The retirement of Krishnasvami Rao, on payment of a handsome pension, is indicated thus : sumatimati kṛtajñāmeva kṛṣṇaṃ hyamitavasūni vitīrya bhavamaṃsta In this verse, Krsna stands for Krishnaswami Rao. The usage amitavasūni indicates the handsome amount of pension sanctioned to him. The important historical information contained in the last line cantos are the following. (i) In Medam 1079 M.E. V.P. Madhava Rao was appointed Dewan. Before that he was counsellor to the Maharaja of Mysore. He set apart a large amount to the time of six lakhs of rupees for the advancement of education. (ii) Under orders of Srimulam Tirunal, the Dewan established the state legislature known as the Srimulam popular assembly. atha prajāsabhāṃ dhīman śrīmūlapadabhūṣaṇaṃ śrīmūlendranideśena samadiṣṭipadādarāt (iii) The tax in terms of paddy was stopped and in its place the system of tax payable in cash (ie. the rupee) or the Mudrika was introduced. (iv) In Medam 1080 M.E. the Maharaja went to Madras. (v) In Kumbham 1080 ME, the Rajah of Benaras visited Travancore. (vi) In 1081 M.E. the people of Travancore celebrated the 20th anniversary of Srimulam Tirunal coronation. Mahadeva Rao left Travancore service and assumed the Dewanship of Mysore. His immediate successor was Rajarama Rao, to be identified with Vellimisa Rajarama Rao (the silver-bearded Rajarama Rao) In Medam 1081, Puradam Tirunal Lakshmi Bayi was married to Rama Varma Koyittampuran. Rajarama Rao’s acting service to a close as S. Gopalachariar assumed charge as Devan in Cingam 1082 M.E. In Medam 1082 M.E. Mulam Tirunal Setu Parvati Bayi was married to Ravi Varma Koyittampuran. In Kanni 1083 M.E., R.C. Dutt visited Travancore. He spoke very high of the Maharaja. Gopalachariar was relieved and the place filled by P. Rajagopalachari in Tulam 1083 M.E. Before that, he was Devan of Gosripura (Kochin) on 12th Dhanu 1085 M.E. Jagadguru Sri. Sankaracharya visited Tvm on his way to Kalady. The Maharaja’s daughter, to be identified with Bhagavatipilla Coccamma, born in Panappilla Kartyayani Pilla Ammacci of Vadasseri Ammavidu was given in marriage to Godavarman Tirumulpadu. In Cingam 1086 M.E., the silver jubilee of the coronation of Srimulam Tirunal was celebrated. In Vrscikam 1087 M.E. the coronation of George V.as king emperor was celebrated at Delhi, and Srimulam Tirunal was present in the grant Durbar. On 22nd Tulam 1088 ME, Parvati Bayi gave birth to Sri Utram Tirunal Rama Varma. In Medam 1089 M.E. Rajagopalachari was retired from Dewanship, and was succeeded by Sir. M. Krishnan Nair who was then chief Justice of Travancore. The new Devan established the panchayath court. Srimulam Tirunal attained his 60th year of age and the ṣaṣṭyabdapūrti was being celebrated in the whole of the state and state capital with great joy and public enthusiasam, when Sankara Subrahmanya Iyer composed the Vancidravilasa. In conclusion it has to be observed that the Vancidravilas is essentially a historical chronicle in verse. The author is scrupulously particular in giving only the exact facts. He has said nothing ambiguous. The dates, with a few exceptions, are correct. His allusions are, as a whole, specific. In short, the Vancidra-vilasam is a unique composition on history, not equalled by the Visakhavijayam in the abundance of details and pointed references[12]. [2]:His other works are Bharata kaumudi, Kerala kalidasa carita (pub. by the author)—Vidhi vilasam (pub), Laksadweepa prasamsa, Narada naipuni (pub), Samskrita chandrika, Jagadgunastava, Vivahamangalasamsa and Gadyaramayana [5]:atha vañcidharāsampadabhivṛdhyādihetukaḥ svamantrivṛttervyaranmanīṣī sa hi mādhavaḥ | ameyaguṇadhāmaiṣā āśleṣakṣitivajriṇaḥ sacivyamadbhutaṃ tanvan khyātaśloko vyabhāttamām || satīrthyo mādhavasyātra sa śeṣastatpadaṃ mahān abhūṣayan vañciviśvambharāhariharājñayā || I-41-43 [6]:atha dvāviṃśati samāssamadṛk sammatassatāṃ ayaṃ svamātulāśleṣakṣamā parivṛṭhājñayā nāgālayapurakṣmāpavaṃśābdhi kamalāyitām upāyanstāmantalakṣmīṃ jitalakṣmīṃ tanuśriyā || I-57-58 [7]:cirādabhipsitasthanalābhātha saṃhṛṣṭamānasaḥ sa dhāmānājñayā yajñaḥ prajākṣemaṅkaro abhavat || (III-2) END OF PART 19 14824 15824 KR IRS ------------------------------------------ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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