#AuthorIndumatiRaman
Today is the 243rd birth anniversary of Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji
II . My humble and grateful homage to this dynasty of erudite scholars whose
rule saw the Golden Era of Carnatic music, Classical Bharata Natyam, Bhagavata
mela, Literature, Painting, Sculptures and monuments.
#ThanjavurBhoslerajas,#SerfojiII,#Thanjavur,#BhagavataMela,#SaraswatiMahalLibrary,#BrihadeeswaraTemple,#BhagavataMelaMyTrystwithTradition,#Melattur,#PratapsinhRajeBhosle,
#ShahjiII, #EkojiII,
An
appreciation of the contribution of the Maratha kings of Thanjavur to music,
dance, opera literature, science , temples
and monuments.
(Image courtesy serfojimaharjamemorial museum)
Every now and then, the subject of Maratha
rule in Thanjavur, in the deep south of India, pops up in connection with the
once magnificent palace, temples and monuments which are now in ruins, the one-off
reports about Bhagavata Mela natakams or
dance compositions. There is more to this dynasty than is commonly known.
Ekoji I, son of Shahaji Bhonsle, was sent to
Thanjavur to aid the Nayaks who were fighting to retain their hold but he
established his own supremacy and Maratha rule in Thanjavur. In 1676, the
Maratha kings gained control over the rich, fertile and culturally active
Thanjavur region and till 1855 contributed prolifically to the dance, drama and
literature of classical languages, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi. The
region was comparatively well-protected from Mughal and foreign invasions, so
hundreds of artistes sought refuge in these lush lands.
Maratha soldiers had earned a fine reputation
in the armies of the Deccan as they specialized in military tactics, cavalry
and administration. They were dependable and fearless.
Thanjavur was then the richest region in the
south at that time. The Kaveri delta ensured that the granaries were
overflowing and water was available in plenty. The kings left the
administration of the land to their elected representatives while they indulged
in their scholastic and artistic pursuits. Deeply religious, they regularly went
on pilgrimages. Towards the end of their life, Ekoji II and Shahji II renounced
the world.
Ekoji I did not introduce any major changes in the
administration and Telugu continued to be the court language. Tamil, Telugu and
Marathi were common languages spoken and understood by most of the population. Even
today, Thanjavur is the cultural crucible of Tamil, Telugu and Marathi culture which
flow freely in the region.
Literature,
poetry, music and musical dance-theatre became the focus of the artistic
activity during the Maratha regime.
Maratha kings were patrons and were themselves multilingual scholars who
contributed to the corpus of the arts. The kings welcomed artistes of all
languages. Western music and new instruments were introduced by the royal
scholars.
Shahji II is revered by the theatre
fraternity in the country as the first to write and stage a formal Marathi play
and is honoured as pioneer of Marathi theatre. He gifted land to musicians and
Brahmins where they could continue to practice and teach their art and
knowledge. He wrote on the science and theory of music. He was a staunch
supporter of Brahmin Bhagavata Mela. A chatram
in the name of his wife Muktambal, in the form of a chariot, is well-preserved
even today.
Tulaja I
was a master in astrology and ayurvedic medicine besides being a prolific
composer of music and plays. He built a temple to the Varaha or Boar, the third
incarnation of Vishnu. Tulaja I’s great contribution to the musical history of
our country is the text on musicology, Sangita
Saramritam. Tulaja I’s eldest son
Ekoji II succeeded him to the throne. Although he ruled for just a year, he
earned everlasting fame and honour with his Marathi Bhagavata Mela natakams
like Sakuntala and Kamalambal Parinayam. Ekoji’s wife Sujanbai, who ruled after his death, gifted
them a village Ekojirajapuram where the Bhagavatars could live in comfort.
Tulaja I’s son Pratapasimha’s composed twelve
dramas on mythological characters. His son Tulaja II continued the good work by
his predecessors.
Amarasimha
was a composer of plays in Marathi, and although he was embroiled in the
political wars as a ruler, he continued his forays into literary
accomplishments.
Sarabhoji
II, or Serfoji II, had the benefit of education in western languages and
culture. He set up a printing press with
Devnagari font in 1805. Printing paper was manufactured in Kumbhakonam,
Pandanallur, Tirukattupalli and Mannargudi. Astrology was high on the interest list of the Maratha kings. An
almanac was printed every year by the palace. The printing press maintained the
special symbols and signs used by astrologers in a separate trunk. The material
for the binding and the cloth cover came from the court.
Their inclusive nature and catholic attitude was demonstrated during
Moharram for the Muslim population to order a series of bells to ring hourly
during the night. This served as an alarm to help the religious followers rise
early.
A University was started where students could be taught Arts and fine
arts like painting, sculpture and music. Astronomy, Philosophy, and languages
like Persian, Arabic, Telugu, Sanskrit and English were introduced. All these
came under the common umbrella institution named Nava Vidya.
Sarabhoj II was
fascinated by the western violin and introduced it to Indian music for the
first time. He studied western music from a London School which sent him
lessons regularly. He became adept at composing pieces for the music band which
had musicians play rare western instruments.
Classical music and dance was at all time
high during this time when artistes were welcomed and honoured at his court. He
encouraged sports like wrestling. He encouraged and allotted lands for the
sport in the eastern and western suburbs of the region. He enjoyed the trust
and faith of the local population and could have easily raised an army to oust
the British.
Sarabhoji II was sensitive to the cultural
treasures he had accumulated in the Library. They would have been the first
targets of the inimical armies and they would be lost to posterity. His love
and respect for the arts, native science and literature overruled thoughts of
war.
His most significant achievement was the
expansion of the Saraswathi Mahal Library, the largest collection of medieval
manuscripts and books acquired from all over the world. The Library was the
centre of knowledge dispersal and the staff were highly qualified and trained
to develop their departments. One section of the staff specialized in law and
justice. A formal court dealt with four levels of hearing beginning from the
petty cases to the Supreme court for serious cases.
Medical studies were a favourite with
Sarabhoji II who was an expert healer of eye infections and diseases. He ordered for books on the subjects from all
over the world and preserved them in the Library. His payments were mostly
through barter of his gold and ornaments as he had no princely funds to pay for
them.
Tulaja established a Dhanvantri Mahal to
manufacture and preserve native medicines. Unani and Ayurvedic systems of
medicine were followed. The best quality camphor was manufactured for the use
of temples which funded and supported the factory.
Veterinary
specialists oversaw the healing and health of horses and elephants.
Effective
water management by building dams to save water and open them at regular
periods ensured that the farmers never suffered drought.
As a vassal of the British, Sarabhoji II
built a small fort to commemorate the victory of the British at Waterloo in
1815. The Bhonsle rajas built new temples and renovated
old ones. The entire pilgrimage route from Thiruvaiyaru to Rameswaram is lined
with chatrams or choultries which are rest houses for pilgrims and provided
health care facilities. Pigeon-house towers dot the landscape. The
pigeon houses were cleaned every day and the droppings were collected as rich
manure material.
The
splendid royal palace at Thanjavur was built during the previous Nayak’s reign.
Spread over a hundred acres, the unique architectural features of the buildings
reflect the Nayak’s sensibility with a touch of Roman influence. The Maratha
kings expanded the structure, modifying it to suit their needs.
A
richly decorated palace at Thiruvarur was built for the royal family’s convenience
during their frequent visits to the temple. The kings applied a scientific bent
of mind to fine arts and native medicine.
The last
Maratha king of his dynasty, Sivaji II, encouraged Tamil and Telugu poetry. He
was attracted to Lavanis, a Marathi folk form with catchy rhythms. He honoured
artistes and was a talented composer. Besides chatrams, Sivaji
II built four road bridges across the river Kaveri which are in use today.
The
Thanjavur court had become the nucleus from which Bhagavata Mela, Sadir
(classical dance), vocal and instrumental music reached the pinnacle of
excellence. Literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, bronzes dance and
music were of the highest standards and have been nurtured in this region from
the times of the Cholas, the Nayaks and the Marathas.
