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| Raja of Ramnad BHaskara Sethupathy,sethupathikingdom. blogspot.com |
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| 2004 issue. Raja of Ramnad, TN. Bhaskara Sethupathy stampgallery.com |
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| Commemorative stamp, Raja of Ramanathapuram, pinterest.com |
The Estate of Ramnad was actually a permanently settled Zamindari Estate established by Raghunatha Kilavan in the late 17th century. It included the Ramnad, a subdivision of the Madura district later came to be known as Ramnad district of the erstwhile Madras Presidency in the colonial India from 1801 to 1949. The seat of power being Ramanathapuram, in 1803 , the small Kingdom was converted into a Zamindari Estate by the British. Reason: It covered a small area-Ramanathapuram, not good enough to recognize as the kingdom. "Ramnad Kingdom" which was also called as "Maravar Kingdom" by the British.
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| Ramanathapuram Dist. TN, .gismaps.in |
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| front part, Ramnad palace, Ramanathapuram TN wikiwand.com |
The male rulers of Ramanathapuram carried the hereditary title of Sethupathi or "protector of the bridge", referring to the legendary passage across the sea from Ramanathapuram to Sri Lanka. The appellation - Sethupathi is connected to the holy bridge in Tamil called Ramar Palam (also called Rama's Bridge, or Adam's bridge). Mythologically, it is purported to have been built by Lord Sri Rama and his retinue. The rulers, being staunch Hindu, had a Linga (Ramalinga) built at Rameswaram and are the caretakers of a huge temple dedicated to Ramanatha swamy.
Today Many rationalists in Tamil Nadu consider the creation of the Rama Sethu as a myth and it has caused resentment among the devout Hindus. For several centuries the Sethupathy rulers of Ramnad, are known as the guardians of the Sethu (hence the name Sethupathy Rajas) and the sanctity of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram) and the holy temples, there.
Their contribution to the Ramanathapuram temple is vast, as much of the long roof-covered (with stone slabs) corridors (Prakarams or ambulatory path) with huge, tall ornate stone pillars were built by them. The outer icorridor is the longest one in the world. An important pilgrimage center, lots of Hindus across India visit the Shiva temple for pithru karyam and other rituals. As for female rulers of Ramnad, they were referred to as "Nachiyar".
During the colonial rule, in 1790 the rulers paid an annual tribute of Rs. 3.75lakhs to the Presidency government for the Zamindary estate. In 1790, Ramnad came under the British rule (East India company) because of misrule by the head, an excuse often used by the British to seize the land and the ruler was deposed in 1795 . The British then deprecated the kingdom to a Zamindari status and the king's sister became the head in 1803 by a permanent Sanad (title). Since that time on until India's freedom in 1947, Ramnad had been ruled by the queen and her descendants.
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| Raja of Ramnad, TN. Bhaskara Sethupathy en.wikibedia.ru |
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| Swami Vivekananda and Raja Bhaskara Sethupathy |
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| Raja Sethupathi and Swami Vivekananda, Facebook.co |
It is interesting to note that for thousands of years, there has been a royal family in South India near Rameshwaram, known as the Sethupathi Rajas or the guardians of the Sethu. Like the Maharajas of Kashi in North India, the specific task of these kings was to guard the sanctity of Rameshwaram and the temples there. They are also patrons of Goddess Rajarajeshwari and Thiruppullani Venkateswara.
Present day Indians, across India are not aware of an historical fact about the ruler and his close relationship with Swami Vivekananda. When Swamiji was invited to attend the World Congress of Religion held in Chicago, USA on 11 September 1893, it was Raja Bhaskara Sethupathy who not only encouraged Swami to attend the conference but also helped him attend it. Swamiji there gave a spell-binding speech on the salient facts of the Hindu religion which was widely appreciated by the huge audience.
In 1892 Swami Vivekananda visited Madurai and stayed with Raja Bhaskara Sethupathy as his guest. On January 23 1897, he was instrumental in arranging for a rousing reception to the Swamiji upon his successful speech at the world conference. Not to be content with this, he had a monument built in the place where he landed with inscriptions ''Satmameva jayathe''. Swami Vivekananda, on his part, conferred the title Rajarishihad (Ascetic king) on Bhaskara Sethupathy for his services to the Hindu religion and for his selfless public services.
Bhaskara Sethupathy evinced keen interest in Tamil literary works and held the 4th Tamil Sangam during the later period. The unexpected demise of Swami Vivekananda, his mentor, made him grief-stricken and this forced him to lead a life of an ascetic in a Mutt on the banks of the river Thamirabarani in Kallidaikurichi
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| vivekanandaallquotes.blogspot.com |
near Tirunelveli Town. He died on 27 Dec. 1903 at a young age of 35, but in that short period, the ruler of Ramnad, made a niche for himself in the history of South Tamil Nadu. The legacy of the Ramnad rulers, including that of Bhaskara Sethupathy continues even today. The massive Rameswaram temple is a lasting testament to the pious rulers of past and their descendants who continue their convictions and tradition.
.jfif)
