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Mysore
The Yadu or Wodeyar dynasty ruled over Mysore from 14th century onwards for nearly six centuries. The The rise of Wodeyar dynasty in Mysore was romantic. The small temple of Kodi Bhyraveswara at the Southern gate of the Mysore Palace is of historical significance as it saw the emergence of the Wodeyar dynasty. In this temple, a dramatic turn of events took place way back in the year 1399 A.D. There is a story attached to the emergence of Wodeyar dunasty. Two young men, Vijaya and Krishna of the Yadu dynasty of Dwaraka in Gujarat came to Mysore, on their pilgrimage. The two royal princes took shelter at the Kodi Bhyraveswara Temple, which was close to the Doddakere, a nearby pond, from where people of then small city of Mysore fetched water for drinking and daily chore. At dawn, they heard some women, discussing the distress situation of the young Princess Devajammanni. After death of her father, Chamaraja, the local ruler, had landed her and her mother, the queen, in trouble. Taking advantage of the situation, the neighbouring Chief of Karugahalli, Maranayaka, began demanding the kingdom and the princess in marriage. Taking the help of a Jangama Odeya, a Shaivite religious man, the two chivalrous brothers came to the rescue of the distressed Maharani and the Princess. Mobilising troops, they killed the Karugahalli Chief and his men and saved the Mysore royal family and their kingdom. A happy princess married the elder brother, Vijaya, and he became the first ruler of the Yadu dynasty. He assumed the name Yaduraya. Thus the traditional founding of the Wodeyar dynasty took place in 1399 with Yaduraya. Since then, 24 rulers have succeeded in the dynasty, the last being Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. It is during his period, India won freedom and later monarchy was abolished. With that the reign of the Mysore Maharajas came to an end.
Raja Wodeyar emerges as the first powerful ruler in the Mysore royal family. Till his emergence, Mysore was a small feudatory kingdom under the Vijayanagar Kingdom. Taking advantage of the fall of Vijayanagar kingdom in 1565 A.D., Raja Wodeyar defeated the Vijayanagar representative of Srirangpatnam in a battle at Kesare near Mysore, shifted his capital from Mysore to Srirangapatna in 1610 and acquire the famous throne and ascended it. However, he continued the traditions of Vijayanagar and revived the famous Dasara festival, celebrating it for the first time in Srirangapatna with pomp and grandeur. After Chamaraja Wodeyar (1617-1637) and Raja Wodeyar II (1637-1638), the next powerful ruler to ascend the throne of Mysore was Ranadhira Kantirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638-1659). A courageous ruler, he successfully fought back the efforts of Bijapur Badsha to acquire Srirangapanta twice, fortified the Srirangapatna and Mysore forts with arms and weapons, and began minting coins with his seals. Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar (1659-1673), who ruled next, further expanded the kingdom by acquiring areas of Keladi Shivappa Naika and Palegars of Madurai and Thiruchinapalli. Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1673-1704) emerges as the next celebrated
ruler. Besides further expanding the kingdom and strengthening the
forts, he introduced modern administration with a lot of reforms
in his vastly expanded kingdom. He appointed staff for specific
jobs, fixed wages for different works, built several canals to provide
water for irrigation, introduced weights and measures and also postal
system, imposed taxes to improve revenue, constructed storehouses
to store produces, and set up 18 departments (Chavadis) in the administration.
During his 31 years of reign, Mysore saw peak of its glory. Kannada
literature flourished under him, the Maharaja himself making significant
contribution. Kantirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1704-1714), Dodda Krishnaraja
Wodeyar (1714-1732) and Chamaraja Wodeyar (1732-1734) succeeded
Chikka Devaraja. It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar
II (1734-1766), Hyder Ali Khan and his celebrated son Tipu Sultan
became the virtual rulers of Mysore. They were in total command
till 1799 when the British Army killed Tipu in the 4th Mysore War
in Srirangapatna. Nanjaraja Wodeyar (1766-1770), Bettada Chamaraja
Wodeyar (1770-1776) and Khasa Chamaraja Wodeyar (1776-1796) continued
as rulers in the Mysore dynasty during the interregnum. With the
death of Tipu, the capital was shifted back to Mysore. Five-year-old
Prince Krishnaraja Wodeyar III was installed on the throne of Mysore
in 1799. He ruled till 1868. He revived the Dasara celebrations
on a grand scale in Mysore. The old Mysore Palace was rebuilt. During
his period, steps began to be initiated for developing Mysore into
a modern township. New Agraharas and temples were built outside
the Palace Fort. Kannada literature saw a new dimension. Krishnaraja
Wodeyar was the longest ruler and Chamaraja Wodeyar, during whose
period Mysore saw further progress on modern lines, succeeded him.
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV became the 24th ruler of Mysore in 1895.
His mother, Maharani Kempananjammanni of Vanivilasa Sanndihana was
Regent during his minority from1895-1902. The 38-year rule of the
Maharaja saw an all-round progress in his State, including Mysore.
Ably assisted by two Dewans, Sir M.Visvesvaraya and Sir Mirza Ismail,
Mysore emerged as a modern city and State. It earned the encomium
'Ramarajya'. After his death in 1940, Jayachamaraja Wodeyar became
the 25th and the last ruler of the Mysore royal family. |
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