Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi
| Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi | |||||
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| Maharani of Travancore; Attingal Mootha Thampuran | |||||
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| Reign | 1931–1949, (1949–2008 Titular Maharani) | ||||
| Predecessor | Sethu Lakshmi Bayi | ||||
| Successor | Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi | ||||
| Born |
17 September 1916 Travancore |
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| Died | 8 June 2008 (aged 91) Thiruvananthapuram |
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| Spouse | Lt. Col. P. R. Godavarma Raja of Poonjar Royal House (m. 1934) | ||||
| Issue | LATE. Avittom Thirunal Rama Varma, Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi, Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma | ||||
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| House |
Venad Swaroopam Kulasekhara(Second Chera) Royal Dynasty |
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| Father | Pooram Nal Ravi Varma of Kilimanur Palace | ||||
| Mother | Amma Maharani Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi | ||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||
| Full name | |
|---|---|
| Sree Padmanabhasevini Vanchidarma Vardhini Raja Rajeshwari Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, Attingal Mootha Thampuran and the Maharani of Travancore |
Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi was the only sister of the last ruling Maharajah of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, as well as the titular Queen of Travancore. Born as the only daughter of Queen Mother Sethu Parvathi Bayi and Sri Ravi Varma Koyi Thampuran of Kilimanoor, she married Lt. Col. G. V. Raja. According to Oneindia online daily she was a witness to major events in pre-independent and independent India, was an accomplished dancer, singer and a linguist as well. In accordance to the tradition, she was also the Chief of Attingal Fiefdom, known as Mootha Thampuran.
Born as the only daughter of Sanskrit Scholar and aristocrat Sri Pooram Nal Ravi Varma Kochu Kovil Tampuran of Kilimanoor Kovilakam and Amma Maharani Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi Of Travancore, on 17 September 1916, in the matrilineal Royal House of Travancore. She was educated by selected tutors and scholars. She mastered languages like Malayalam, Sanskrit, English, French etc. From her childhood itself, Karthika Thirunal was deeply interested in dance and music. Recognizing her interests, her elder brother, Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal, appointed Harikeshanelloor Muthaiyya Bhagavathar as her music teacher. In 1933, at the age of 16, Karthika Thirunal became the first from her family to undertake a sea voyage with her mother, against the then prevalent superstitious belief related to crossing the sea. She also participated in the All India Women's Conference of 1935, held in Trivandrum.
As soon as Karthika Thirunal turned 16, it was decided to get her married. Usually, the Koyi Thampurans were chosen as bridegrooms for Travancore Princesses and Queens. According to Uthradom Thirunal, Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal and Sethu Parvathi Bayi ignored the superiority of Koyi Thampurans and got her married to a young aristocrat named P.R. Godavarma Raja of Poonjar Palace. The Maharajah felt that it was fine to make a different choice so as to find a suitable spouse for his sister and for the first time chose a bridegroom from the Poonjar Royal House. When P.R. Ramavarma Raja, (husband of Karthika Thirunal's maternal aunt), visited Kowdiar Palace, he put forward the name of his younger brother Godavarma Raja (Col.G. V. Raja) as a prospective bridegroom for Karthika Thirunal. Godavarma Raja who later attained immortal fame as the King of Kerala Sports and Tourism, at the time of the proposal was studying in Madras for attaining a Degree in Medicine. The couple met each other in 1933. Godavarma accepted the wedding proposal for Karthika Thirunal's hand and discontinued his education there. Karthika Thirunal's family too approved, and the wedding was thus announced. It was the first time a Travancore Princess married some one other than a Koyi Thampuran. Poonjar Royal Family is believed to be the descendants of Pandya Dynasty.
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