Swarabath Instrument (Art work done by Shreya Dongre) CHAPTER 5 Impact on the Current Scenario 5.1 The Demise of the Maharaja “An artist among the Princes and A Prince among the Artists’’ very aptly quoted by K. S. Ramaswami Sastry perfectly describes his personality. His profound knowledge of literature, music and administrative intelligence made him popular all over the country. His fame was not limited to the region of Travancore. He filled art music with sacredness and sacred music with art. During his reign the royal court seemed like a festival everyday and the artists too performed with great dedication and humility. To perform and be with the Maharaja was a blessing for them. But as it is observed always, change is the only constant in this material world and each and every one has to accept it. Here the Maharaja was busy in his court routines; unpleasant waves began to enter the doors of Travancore Royal Fort. It all began with the entry of Krishna Row, a Telugu Brahmin who was a close associate of General Cullen the then resident of Travancore in 1840. Krishna Row was interested in a government job but Travancore that time didn’t have any vacancy or requirement for a post. But simply to please the general as he had a friendly bond with him The Maharaja went out of his way and created a new post of a Dewan Peischar in the huzur office and appointed Krishna Row on a monthly salary of Rs. 300/- which was very handsome indeed by the -------------------------------- ( 230 ) ---------------------------------- then standards. But Krishna Row began to work with a view of overthrowing Subba Rao, who was the Dewan as well as the teacher of the Maharaja. Krishna Rao’s tactful deeds and influential approach towards the general worsened the relations between the Maharaja and the Resident. Shunnogunny Menon records, “The extraordinary interference of the resident irritated the Maharaja and the misunderstanding between His Highness court and the Residency became stronger and stronger.’’ The Maharaja was a young man of 29 years of age. He felt that his authority was challenged by the Resident and he began to feel disheartened. The unfavourable comments by the Madras Government on his administration and even by the court of directors pushed him gradually into an abyss of depression. It was after much drama where the Maharaja firmly informed the Resident that they need not interfere into his domestic affairs. The acts of Krishna Row became intolerable to the Maharaja and he decided to remove him from service. As an act of vengeance General Cullen took measures to expel Subba Rao from Travancore. The decision of the Madras Government which compelled to expel Maharaja’s own teacher and Dewan affected the Maharaja very much. Being a very intelligent, sensitive and a learned monarch, Swathi now began to devote -------------------------------- ( 231 ) ---------------------------------- more of his time to religious activities than to anything else. He spent time in monthly prayers, meditations and long hours in the pagoda of Sree Padmanabhswamy. Such was his detachment that even the Dewan of the state wasn’t allowed to see him during his fasts, vows etc. One more reason that could have been responsible for the Maharaja’s disinterest in administrative activities is he must be holding himself responsible for the appointment of not a very right person in the state. Just to maintain healthy relations with the General he appointed Row. As history says the State of Travancore was always very cordial in maintaining relations with the British, what could have been the reasons for the Maharaja to take an impulsive step of creating a new post for Krishna Row? If the relations with the Resident were always respectful why was the need of pleasing General Cullen in favour of Krishna Row? The country was going through a phase of change during that time. New ideas, reformations were giving birth to resentment in the British. Similarly the other parts of the country had sensed by then that the British are not here for mere trade but they have come to rule the country. The Maharaja must have sensed all these fears of losing his state to the British so he was very careful with them. The appointment of Krishna Row which became the primary cause of his downfall, was an act of fear and precaution. During this period, a series of painful and heartbreaking events invaded the palace beginning with the demise of his -------------------------------- ( 232 ) ---------------------------------- th father Raja Raja Verma on the 17 of December 1844. His father’s demise proved to be an irreparable loss to him as his father was his greatest strength and guide in all matters be it rd domestic or public. On the 3 February 1846 Swathi lost his closest friend, the poet laureate of his court “Vidwan Koil Tampuran” of Kilimanur Palace. His run of misfortunes did not stop here. The Maharaja had two sons and a daughter of which one son and the lone daughter died a few years prior. st On the 21 of May 1846, he lost his only remaining son, Ananthpadmanabhan Tampi, which was a source of great th agony to him. Adding to this on the 18 of July 1846, Swathi Thirunal lost Vadivelu, one among the famous Tanjore Quartet. Thus four great losses of dear ones in the span of nineteen months really took a heavy toll on his physical and mental well being. His Highness was being well taken care of by his brother Eliah Raja who had good knowledge of medical sciences and who was like his personal physician. But he too could not go to attend his brother without special permission during his last days. Dr. K Rajashekaran Nair in his recent article in the Samakaleena Malayam Varika has opined that Swathi Thirunal was suffering from stress related disease. His conclusion is that the death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. Before his demise the Maharaja called his brother and informed him of his wish to hold a fresh trial for Krishna Rao to see what effect that will have in General Cullen’s mind. Krishna Rao was immediately summoned and told by the -------------------------------- ( 233 ) ---------------------------------- Maharaja that he has forgiven and forgotten events of the past and so he should honestly start working for the advancement of the state. Krishna Rao, speechless and teary eyed could only proclaim to be the Maharaja’s ‘servant and slave’. This was the last commission of appointment signed by the th Maharaja. It took place on the 26 Vrichingum 1022 M.E ( th 10 December 1846 ). The Maharaja’s health now began to sink day by day, but he maintained his seclusion from his attendants as well as th th his family. On the 25 of December 1846, (12 Dhanu 1022 M.E) His Highness did not wake up at his usual time and there was no movement either. This raised an alarm and gradually all his family members and his attendants gathered by his bedside. The news reached his aunt, Her Highness Parvathi Bayee, and she rushed to his palace. Around 10 PM there was a light whisper in the room. The Maharaja got up but had become so weak that it was with great difficulty that he got up. As soon as the attendant tried helping him, the Maharaja refused his help stating that he will not fall just yet. Boldly, he walked outside and asked his aunt whether she had taken her breakfast. His family realised that he was trying to put on a brave face for their sake and that his end was near. All of them went away and from that point, sorrow struck. His Highness did his morning ablutions in an adjacent room. He ordered his head cook to prepare a very light meal and similarly he had little liquid food. Having sipped a little of it he dismissed his attendant from the room. Towards morning around 3 AM one -------------------------------- ( 234 ) ---------------------------------- of the attendants looking in on the Maharaja found him to be lying motionless. One of the attendants then rushed to Eliah Raja’s palace to inform him. By that time the Maharaja had th already left for his heavenly abode. The date was 26 of December 1846 (M.E 1022). In the words of R.P Raja in his book “New Light on Swathi Thirunal”, “ The meteor of the Travancore Royal family had flashed through th efirament of 5 history and had gone.” 5.2 The Legends Surrounding His Demise The Periyar Nambi, the chief priest of Sree Padmanabh- swamy temple reached the single stone platform as usual in the early hours of the morning of His Highness’ demise to open the doors and begin the morning rituals. When he unlocked the massive door and opened it, he was petrified as he saw Maharaja Swathi Thirunal sitting before the deity in deep meditation. While he gazed at the vision stunned, frightened and in sweat he saw the apparition slowly fading into the idol of Sree Padmanabha. He ran down the steps of the platform to inform others about the strange vision he had seen, when some officers of the temple came running towards him to inform that Maharaja Swathi Thirunal had passed away. And then they heard the slow toll of the bells proclaiming the demise of the Maharaja. From that moment on, the legend had started that the soul of Swathi Thirunal 6 found its abode in its own Lord Sree Padmanaba. -------------------------------- ( 235 ) ---------------------------------- 5.3 The Condition of Travancore Soon after the news of the demise of the Maharaja broke, Her Highness The Ranee was inconsolable with grief as was His Highness Eliah Raja, who was said to be crying like a child by those who witnessed the sad scenes after the fact.