Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma was born within the princely state of Travancore in South India. He was born because the second child to Regent Queen Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and Rajaraja Varma Koyithampuran of Changanasseri Palace. He had an elder sister Rukmini Bai and a younger brother Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma. His mother dies two months after the birth of the third child. Since Rama Varma was just 17 months when his mother died, his mother's sister, Gowri Parvati Bayi took charge of the state until Rama Varma turned the right age to handle the state. 14 years later, Ram Varma ascended the throne and took over as king. Since both his aunt and father were scholars and learned people, Rama Varma's education was taken special care of. He began learning Sanskrit and Malayalam at six years and English at seven. By the time he attained maturity, he was well-versed with several languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Hindustani, Telugu, Marathi, English, Persian, and Sanskrit. except for languages, Rama Varma took keen interest in grammar, poetry, and drama. As an excellent monarch, he facilitated art and music in his state.
Swati Tirunal was given an impetus in singing by Karamana Subrahmanya Bhagavatar, a well known musician of the palace. Subba Rao didn't only have theoretical knowledge of music, but was also quite skillful in its practical applicability. He got engrossed with singing and started to enjoy it. He even learnt to play the instrument swarabat, which could be a rare skill and is understood by hardly anyone. His immense love for music brought an outsized number of eminent musicians to the court, who, in turn, gave Swati a valuable insight into the sphere of Indian genre. A Maratha singer named Meruswamy alias Anantapadmanabha Goswami gave Rama Varma an introduction to Carnatic and Hindusthani music. He also gave him a deep understanding about the 'harikatha' tradition. Some scholars and musicians who worked in close association with Rama Varma include Irayimman Thampi (poet), Shatkala Govinda Marar (musician), Parameswa Bhagavatar (singer), Kilimannoor Koil (Sanskrit scholar cum poet) etc.
Swati Tirunal made a fantastic contribution to the sector of Indian music. He composed near about 500 songs, that he's admired even today. He had composed variety of musical plays moreover. His notable works include Varnams, Javalis, Padams, Swarajatis, Kritis, and plenty of more. As far as Hindustani music is worried, his praiseworthy compositions comprise of Dhrupads, Thumris, Tappas, Bhajans, Khyal, etc. For the Navratri festivity, he composed numerous kritis within the praise of Goddess Devi.
Swathi Thirunal had an early marriage but his wife died soon. Later, he was married a second time to Thiruvattar Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Narayani Pillai Kochamma of the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu family. His wife was a talented Carnatic singer and Veena player. The couple had a son named Thiruvattar Chithira Nal Anantha Padmanabhan Chempakaraman Thampi. In 1843, Swathi Thirunal had a 3rd marriage with Sundara Lakshmi Ammal, daughter of a Mudaliar, who migrated to Trivandrum. Sundara was better called Sugandhavalli, as she was a dancer. Legend has it that his second wife failed to approve the wedding and hence, Sugandhavalli was banished from Travancore. This proved traumatic for the Maharajah was believed to possess died thanks to broken heart in 1846.
This great patron of art left for the heavenly abode at an early age of 33 in 1846, leaving his subjects in distress at the loss of this great man. His elder brother, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma succeeded the throne and retained it until his death in 1860. Thereafter, his sister's children ascended the throne and ruled the dominion of Travancore.
Meitei Hindus
Meitei Hindus or Manipuri Hindus are the adherents of Hinduism and are native to Manipur kingdom and the South East Asian regions. Meitei Hindus speak Meitei language (Manipuri language), which belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and adhere to the Vaishnava section of their religion, Hinduism.
Though there were earlier Brahmin settlements in Medieval Manipur, the entire Meitei ethnicity remains to be ethno-religious to Sanamahism until the great historical event of the Puya Mei Thaba took place during the reign of , the then Emperor of Manipur kingdom, after which the entire ethnicity were forcibly converted into Hinduism.
In the past few decades, Meitei Hindu population is declining as the population of people following and practising the indigenous Meitei paganism (Sanamahism) is growing every year, which is inversely proportional to the Hindu population inside the Meitei ethnicity. Currently, Hindus account for 41℅ and the Sanamahists account for 8℅ out of the total population of Manipur according to 2011 census report. Presently, Sanamahists has approximately 2,40,000 officially registered followers.
Hinduism in Nepal
Hinduism in Nepal is the widely and most-followed religion. The Constitution of Nepal has called for protection of its old religions (mainly for Hinduism and Buddhism). Nepal and India are the world only countries to have Hinduism as majority religion. Nepal has the highest percent of population (i.e., 81.3%) and also has second largest population of Hindus, after India.
By 2008, Nepal was the only Hindu country in the world, after which it become a secular-state.
Meitei festivals
Across the year, Meitei people celebrate a diverse number of festivals and celebrations. The festivals typically celebrate events from Ancient Manipur and often coinciding with seasonal changes. Most of these have a historic significance to them and are rooted in rich cultural and traditional norms.
Every festivals which are indigenous to traditional Meitei culture have particular fixed dates according to the Meitei calendar (Manipuri calendar).
Some of these are listed according to alphabetical order.
Cheiraoba (ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯎꯕ), the new year festival of the Meitei ethnicity falls on the 1st lunar day of Sajibu month in the Meitei year. During the celebration, people worship Lainingthou Sanamahi inside the Sanamahi Kachin, by offering fruits and vegetables available during the season of the year.
Emoinu Eratpa (ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ), the sacred day for Emoinu, the goddess of wealth and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion, falls on the 12th lunar day of the Wakching month of the Meitei year.
Heikru Hidongba (ꯍꯩꯀ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯍꯤꯗꯣꯡꯕ), the annual royal boat racing festive event (a typical Hiyang Tannaba), falls on the 11th lunar day of the Langban month of the Meitei year. The event is mainly organized in the moat of the Sagolband Bijoy Gobinda in Imphal.
Kwaak Taanba (ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛ ꯇꯥꯟꯕ), the ceremonial freeing of the crow by the Meitei king, falls on the 10th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei year. Its main venue for celebration is the Sana Konung, the Royal Residence of the King of Manipur.
Lai Haraoba (ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ), the merrymaking festival dedicated to the Umang Lais and the Lam Lais of Sanamahism, has no particular dates of celebration according to Meitei calendar. Some are celebrated for a few weeks while some continue for more than a month.
Mera Chaorel Houba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯜ ꯍꯧꯕ), the onset of the Mera month is marked by the united gatherings of the Meitei people along with the tribesmen communities of Manipur on the 1st lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei year. It is during this event that devotees offer rice, fruits and vegetables to Lainingthou Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi in the sacred Sanamahi Temple of Imphal.
Mera Hou Chongba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯍꯧ ꯆꯣꯡꯕ) falls on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei year. Its main theme is the unity and love between the Meitei people and the tribesmen communities of Manipur.
Ningol Chakouba (ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ) falls on the 2nd lunar day of the Hiyangkei month of the Meitei year. It is on this day that the married ladies compulsory visit their parental house to dine with their paternal family members, especially brothers.