 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Malayalam. (April 2022)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| Shakthan Thampuran | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Cochin | |||||||||
 His Excellency Raja Rama Varma Kunji Pillai Thampuran(Sakthan thamburan) | |||||||||
| Maharaja of Cochin | |||||||||
| Reign | 16 August 1790 – 26 September 1805 | ||||||||
| Coronation | 1791 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Rama Varma VIII | ||||||||
| Successor | Rama Varma X | ||||||||
| Born | 26 July 1751 Vellarapally Palace, Puthiyedam,Kaladi | ||||||||
| Died | 26 September 1805 (aged 54) Vadakkechira PalaceThrissur | ||||||||
| Burial | |||||||||
| Spouse | Chummukutty Nethyar Amma | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Malayalam | രാജാ രാമ വര്മ്മ | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Cochin royal family | ||||||||
| Father | Chennas Anujan Namboodiripad | ||||||||
| Mother | Ambika Thampurati | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||
Rama Varma Kunji Pillai Thampuran[1] (1751–1805), orRama Varma IX, popularly known asSakthan Thampuran (Sakthan meaning powerful), was the ruler of theKingdom of Cochin. The current southern Indian city of Kochi was part of the erstwhileprincely state ofKochi. He resided at Vadakkechira Palace inThrissur. The city ofThrissur is referred to as theCultural Capital ofKerala owing to its many traditional festivals and historic temples. Sakthan Thampuran was the planner of the city ofThrissur. The festivalThrissur Pooram was started by him.
Sakthan Thampuran was born on 26 August 1751 AD atVellarapally Palace to Anujan Namboodiripad of theChennamangalam Mana and Ambika Thampuratti of theCochin Royal Family.[2][1] His mother died when he was only three years old. The prince was brought up by his maternal aunt, famously known asChittamma (meaning mother's younger sister) Thampuran. His early education took place under the tutelage of scholars such as Kallenkara Pisharody. Sakthan Thampuran was considered the most powerful of the KochiMaharajas as his name indicates.[3][4]
Thampuran was married twice. His first wife came from the renowned “Vadakke Kuruppath” family ofThrissur, and he married her when he was 30. It is said that he had a daughter with his first wife. However, Nethyar Amma, the title given to the consort of the Cochin Rajah, died soon after the birth. The Thampuran then remained unmarried for several decades before marrying again at the age of 52. His second wife was Chummukutty Nethyar Amma, amusician anddancer from the Karimpatta family. She was 17 years old when she married the Thampuran. The Thampuran died four years after their marriage. As widowed Nethyar Ammas did not receive financial support from the state at the time, Chummukutty returned to her ancestral home at the age of 21.[3]
After his 55th birthday, Sakthan Thampuran fell ill and died on 26 September 1805, atThrissur City. He was cremated at Vadakkechira Palace, now renamedShakthan Thampuran Palace,Thrissur. There is a monument to him within the palace grounds. His palace inThrissur City is preserved as a state monument. He is credited with the development ofThrissur City and also making it theCultural Capital of Kerala.[3]
In 1762, tentehsils (Kovilakathum vathukkals) and twoEdavagas (semitehsils) were formed in theKochi Kingdom. But the previous feudal chieftains maintained their stronghold. After Thampuran ascended the throne ofKingdom of Cochin, he took over the land from the feudal chieftains and consolidated the royal power. At that time, theVadakkunnathan Temple andPeruvanam Mahadeva Temple were controlled by theNamboodiri community, calledYogiatiripppads. TheYogiatiripppads was elected from different temples in theThrissur District. Thampuran wrested the control of the temples and abolished the system of Yogiatiripppads. Thampuran's strict approach with criminals earned his name,Sakthan. During theBritish Raj,British authorities had good relations with Thampuran. He was also a personal friend ofDharma Raja ofTravancore.
The modern day city ofThrissur owes its origin to Sakthan Thampuran. The reason for his love of the town was because his two wives were both born here. They belonged to theKuruppath andKarimpatta families of Thrissur.[5] Sakthan Thampuran transferred his capital fromThrippunithura to Thrissur to found the city. He cleared the 60-acre (24 ha) teak forests around theVadakkunnathan Temple and developed theThekkinkadu Maidan, which is now at the heart of the city. After clearing the forest, he built a circular concrete road now known asSwaraj Round.
TheThrissur Pooram or "Mother of all Poorams", as it was known, was the brainchild of Sakthan Thampuran. At the time,Arattupuzha Pooram was the largest temple festival inKerala. Temples in and around the city of Thrissur were regular participants. Once, they were denied entry toArattupuzha Pooram because they were late. All the late participant temples went to Sakthan Thampuran, thenMaharaja of Cochin, and complained about the issue. Thampuran invited all the temples to bring their deities to Thrissur and pay obeisance to LordShiva, the deity of theVadakkunnathan Temple. Thampuran classified the participants into two groups, the Western and the Eastern. The Western group consisted of theThiruvambady,Kanimangalam,Laloor,Ayyanthole, andNethilakkavu temples while theParamekkavu,Karamukku,Chembukavu,Choorakottukavu andPanamukkamppilly temples came under the eastern group.[6]
Named after Shakthan Thampuran, the palace is spread over 6 acres (2.4 ha) of Thrissur and was earlier known asVadakkechira Kovilakam. It is one of the most historic cultural and architecturally relevant palace of the erstwhile Maharaja ofCochin, which has now been converted into a heritage museum. The palace is now a blend of traditionalKerala andDutch architectural styles following its 1795 reconstruction.
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Maharaja of Cochin 1790–1805 | Succeeded by |
