page_title: Thanjavur Maratha kingdom
section_title: Literature
hierarchical_section_title: Thanjavur Maratha kingdom / Literature
caption_attribution_description: English: en:Thanjavur Maratha palace, Darbar Hall. This media file was uploaded as a part of the TamilWiki Media Contest. English&#160;| বাংলা&#160;| Deutsch&#160;| हिन्दी&#160;| italiano&#160;| македонски&#160;| മലയാളം&#160;| Nederlands&#160;| தமிழ்&#160;| తెలుగు&#160;| اردو&#160;| +/−
context_page_description: The Thanjavur Maratha kingdom of bhonsle dynasty was a principality of Tamil Nadu between the 17th and 19th centuries. Their native language was Thanjavur Marathi. Venkoji was the founder of the dynasty.
context_section_description: The Thanjavur Maratha Rajas favoured Sanskrit and Telugu to such an extent that classical Tamil began to decline. Most of the plays were in Sanskrit. Venkoji, the first ruler of the Bhonsle dynasty composed a 'Dvipada' Ramayana in Telugu. His son Shahuji was a great patron of learning and of literature. Most of the Thanjavur Maratha literature is from his period. Most of them were versions of the Ramayana or plays and short stories of a historical nature. Sanskrit and Telugu were the languages used in most of these plays while there were some Tamil 'koothu' as well. Advaita Kirtana is one of the prominent works from this period. Later Thanjavur rulers like Serfoji II and Shivaji immersed themselves in learning and literary pursuits when they were dispossessed of their empire. Serfoji built the Saraswathi Mahal Library within the precincts of the palace to house his enormous book and manuscript collection. Apart from Indian languages, Serfoji II was proficient in English, French, Dutch, Greek and Latin as well.
caption: Interior of Durbar Hall, Thanjavur Maratha palace
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