History of Thanjavur Maratha Royal Family-Part I

 

 

 

History of Thanjavur Maratha Royal Family-Part I

 

Shahaji Bhosle I, father of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj moved to Bengaluru where he was awarded a large jagir. He had another son named Vyankoji who grew up in Bengaluru, fought many wars with his father. Sent to help the Thanjavur Nayak in a battle, he captured the throne of Thanjavur.

 

During Vyankoji Raje’s time Samartha Ramdas Swami visited Thanjavur. Swami Ramdas established the first Math Thanjavur Sri Bheemaswami Shahapurkar Math. This Math is today run by Shri Ramachandra Keskar Maharaj who is currently Marathi Pandit at Saraswathi Mahal Library. The Nine days preceding Sri RamaNavami is celebrated with dedication and Devotion. Today is Sri Rama Navami.

 

Samartha Swami Ramdas was on his way to Rameswaram. Halting at Thanjavur as a royal guest, he established Maths. In Thanjavur Katha Kalkshepam was popular at all festivals. Swamiji introduced abhangs and simple bhajans and abhangs. Musical instruments were added and this parampara is popular to this day. This came to be known as Harikatha. The rich contribution of Marathi kirtans in Carnatic ragas is an important feature of this time.

Vyankoji Maharaja inherited a famine-ridden region where the citizens were in distress and battles were raging all the time. Now people were afraid that a ruler who speaks a different language is going to cause more trouble. But Vyankoji (or Ekoji I) spoke Telegu and Tamil. He did not change the official language, which was Telugu, nor did he make any changes in the administration. Instead, he rebuilt canals, repaired faulty irrigation and restored peace. Very soon Thanjavur began to prosper, and the people appreciated his efforts. Soon he shifted his family to Thanjavur.

Vyankoji Raje gave up his throne to his 12-year-old son Shahji II. Shahji was born in Bengaluru. He had two younger brothers Sarabhoji I and Tuljaji I who were born in Thanjavur. This branch of the Maratha Bhosle family grew up in the south, speaking Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada. They inherited love for poetry and interest in Shastras and spiritual literature. They were well-versed in Carnatic music. Though foreign invasions and petty politics continued to interrupt their lives, they remained focussed on their intellectual pursuits.

 

Shahji II named after his valiant grandfather, grew up to be the most revered of this dynasty. He fought wars, expanded his territory, and sheltered Shivajiraje’s son Rajaram who had to escape the clutches of the Mughals. He was a precocious child and displayed tremendous interest and talent in music and poetry. The musical dance theatre plays named yakshaganams, made popular by Vijayaraghava Nayak, impressed him. He studied Alankara Shastra, Natya Shastra, and Sanskrit literature. His book on ragas “Ragalakshanamu” compiles notes on ragas prevalent at the time.

Shahji Raje composed 20 Telugu yakshaganams, 20 in Marathi, 6 in Tamil, Vishnu Pallaki Seva and Sankara Pallaki Seva Prabandhams. besides several Tyagesa padams for dance. The Marathi play ‘Sankara Kali Samvadham is replete with Jatis, and Jakkini darus. He was a polyglot who was fluent in Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Persian. He authored two texts Sabda Ratna Samanvayam and Sabdarathan Sangraham. The entire list of works is too long for this brief blog.

                                  

Shahji II encouraged other poets and scholars and honoured them in the court. Performances by musicians and dancers were a regular feature of the palace. His generosity to his peers was appreciated and he was given the title ‘Abhinavabhoja’. He donated an entire village named Shahjirajapuram (Tiruvisainallur) to 45 Brahmin Pandits so they could continue their philosophical works and ceremonial activities without disturbance. That Sridhara Ayyaval, the revered saint, has written Shahji’s biography in Sanskrit ‘Sahendra Vilasam’ shows us he was held in high esteem for his scholarship, talent, and religious faith.

Marathi theatre has a long-distinguished reputation for excellence and artistry. Do you know that Shahji II (1684-1711) was  the first Marathi playwright and is known as the Father of Marathi Theatre? When a troupe of Bhagavat Mela artists performed for the king of Sangli, he commanded his Minister Visnudas Bhave to produce similar natakams. Bhagavata mela was a composite performance with dance, music, and dialogue. The actors, all male, were trained dancers. Bhave quickly put together a drama ‘Sita Swayamvaram’ with the Brahmins in the palace kitchen. It was greatly appreciated but the songs and dialogue were impromptu and not written down. There was no dance as there were no trained dancers. Bhave’s play was staged in 1843.

Shahji II wrote all his works in Telugu script. The language is Marathi but written in Telugu script. While this was easy for local scholars to appreciate his work, later scholars needed to be fluent in three languages, Sanskrit, Telugu and Marathi. Telugu Pandit (late) N.Viswanathan (d 2006) learnt Devnagari script, and Marathi. He then spent 25 years of his career rewriting the Telugu script into Devanagari so Marathi scholars can now read them. Therefore, today the world has access to Shahji’s yakshaganams, padams and Prabandhams. My current project on Marathi yakshaganams is dedicated to this great Pandit. Any scholar who has done research on Thanjavur would have come across this modest Pandit who  shared his knowledge on the history of this vibrant city.

Shahaji II did not have any heirs to his throne. He is known to be dejected because of this. He prayed fervently at the #Tyagesa temple at #Thiruvarur and performed his religious duties diligently. He sat down for his midday meal only after the service at this temple was completed. Then a relay of bells will ring from the temple to the palace. When the last bell reaches his ears, he would sit down for his meal. He renounced the world and became an ascetic. His passing away at the young age of forty left the royal household and his followers in anguish.

Sarabhoji and his brother Tulaja were born in Thanjāvur. The three brothers grew up in this city. Sarabhoji sat on the throne and continued the good work left behind by his brother. Scholars like Giriraja Kavi and saints like Sadashiva Bodhendra were honoured in his court. He had no heir so the next in line was the younger brother Tulja ji I. He was the third son of Vyankoji I and was also known as Tukkoji.

Key Words

#ThanjavurMaratha  #ThanjavurSaraswatiMahalLibrary#Marathinatak #VisnudasBhave #SitaSwayamvar

#BhagavataMela #ShahjiIIFatherofMarathiTheatre #BhagavataMelaMyTrystwithTradition #AuthorIndumatiRaman #SwamiSamarthRamdas #SaraswathiMahalLibrary