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Mavelikara
—  town  —
Mavelikara Location of Mavelikara in Kerala and India
Coordinates	9°16′01″N 76°33′00″E / 9.267°N 76.55°E / 9.267; 76.55Coordinates: 9°16′01″N 76°33′00″E / 9.267°N 76.55°E / 9.267; 76.55
Country	India
State	Kerala
District(s)	Alappuzha
Population	28,440 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Website	alappuzha.nic.in

Mavelikkara is a town and municipality in the Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located in the southern part of the district on the banks of the Achankovil, and is one of the oldest municipalities of the state^{[citation needed]}. It also has a very strong historical and cultural background; Chettikulangara Devi Temple, known for its famous Kumbha Bharani festival, is located there, and it is home to one of the 108 Shiva temples of Kerela created by Lord Parasurama, Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple (popularly known as Dakshina Kashi). It was also a major place of trade and commerce in ancient Kerala and the erstwhile capital of the rulers of Onattukara.

Demographics[link]

According to the 2001 Indian census,^[1] Mavelikara has a population of 28,440. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. The average literacy rate is 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 87% and female literacy is 85%. Approximately 10% of the population is under 6 years old.

Economy[link]

Some of the industries in and around Mavelikkara are:

• ALIND Switchgear (near Mannar)
• Travancore Oxygen (near Kunnam)
• Sangrose Laboratories (in Mavelikkara), which specialises in the manufacture of soft-gelatin capsules. It is also one of the only companies in the world to manufacture clofazimine^{[citation needed]}.

Politics[link]

Lok Sabha[link]

Mavelikkara has its own constituency in the Lok Sabha.^[2] Until the 2002 Lok Sabha Delimitation took effect in 2008, the constituency consisted of Chengannur, Mavelikkara, Kayamkulam, Pandalam, Thiruvalla and Kallupara. Since then, the assembly constituencies have comprised Changanassery, Kuttanad, Mavelikara(SC), Chengannur, Kunnathur(SC), Kottarakkara and Pathanapuram. The constituency is now reserved for a scheduled caste candidate.

Kodikunil Suresh of the INC has represented the Mavelikkara constituency since 2009.

State Assembly[link]

R.Rajesh from the CPI(M) is the representative of Mavelikkara in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Culture[link]

Mavelikara was once part of the principality of Onattukara and has been a centre of religious harmony, culture and arts for several centuries.^{[citation needed]}

As a testament to its link to that flourishing centre of Buddhist culture, Mavelikkara is one of the rare places in Kerala where one can find the Statue of Buddha in Seated Position, which dates back to the 9th century AD.^[3]

Eminent personalities from Mavelikkara[link]

• The current line of the Travancore Royal Family. Raja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi Nal Bhageerathi Amma Thampuran (Kochu Pangi) of the Royal House of Mavelikkara, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, Kerala Varma, born in 1876, went missing in 1912 and was never heard from again. Their second son Rama Varma (b. 1879), was an artist who studied at the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, and married Srimathi Gowri Kunjamma, sister of Dewan PGN Unnithan. Raja Ravi Varma's elder daughter, Ayilyam Nal Mahaprabha Thampuran, appears in two of his prominent paintings and was mother of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore. His second daughter, Thiruvadira Nal Kochukunji Thampuran, was grandmother of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharajah. His descendants comprise the Mavelikkara Royal House, while two of his granddaughters (including the aforementioned Sethu Lakshmi Bayi) were adopted to the Travancore Royal Family, the cousin family of the Mavelikkara House. Well known among his descendants are writer Shreekumar Varma (Prince Punardam Thirunal), artists Rukmini Varma (Princess Bharani Thirunal) and Jay Varma and classical musician Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma among others.
• P. G. N. Unnithan, the last Diwan (Prime Minister) of independent Travancore. hailed from the Edassery Pattaveettil family of Mavelikkara which had a history of high military service to the Travancore Royal Family. He succeeded Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer on 20 August 1947 following the latter's resignation (subsequent to the attempt on Ramaswami's life at the Swathi Thirunal Music academy on 25 July 1947). He chaired the Travancore Constitutional Reforms Committee. He relinquished office on 24 March 1948 when a people's government led by Pattom Thanu Pillai as Prime Minister took over. Unnithan Lane at Sasthamangalam in Thiruvananthapuram is named after him.
• C. M. Stephen Leader of Congress and of the INTUC, and the former Indian Union Cabinet Minister for Home as well as Communications in Indira Gandhi's Government. He also served as the opposition leader when Mrs Gandhi lost the 1977 election.^{[citation needed]}
• Archbishop Aboon Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, OIC, Servant of God, founding father of the Syro–Malankara Catholic Church and founder of Bethany Ashram, who was the Archbishop of Trivandrum and established many major educational institutions in South Kerala.^{[citation needed]}
• Abu Abraham, cartoonist and writer
• Yesudasan, cartoonist
• Chellappan Pillai, Kathakali artist
• Sivaraman Cheriyanadu, novellist
• Vishnu Prakash, actor
• Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma, carnatic singer
• Mavelikkara Krishnankutty Nair, carnatic mridangam player
• Ramesh Chennithala, President of the KPCC
• Professor R Narendra Prasad, actor, author and college professor
• Mavelikkara S. R. Raju, carnatic mridangam player
• Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair, carnatic mridangam player.
• P. C. Alexander, Principal Secretary to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, ex Governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.^{[citation needed]}
• Mavelikara Ponnamma, actress
• Ramesh Menon, systems biologist
• Chunakkara Ramankutty, lyricist
• Eravankara Unnithan Brothers, Neelakandan Unnithan & Kochunnithan - Famous Kathakali Singers

Cultural Events[link]

Chettikulangara Kumbabharani[link]

Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha, conducted every year on the Bharani Nakshathram in the Malayalam month Kumbham, is a cultural spectacle in Kerala similar to the Thrissur Pooram.

The event is an offering of the people of Chettikulangara to their beloved deity known for her spontaneous blessings on true devotees as a mark of gratitude for their devotion and unflinching faith and for showering prosperity and protection on their lives. Kettukazhcha displays sculpted and decorated forms of six temple cars known as Kuthiras (Horses), five Therus (Chariots) and icons of Bhima and Hanuman. All the temple cars, chariots and icons are gigantic in size and many times larger than any other similar Kuthiras and Therus built during the festivities at other temples in the Central Travancore region.

Padanilam Sivarathri[link]

Padanilam is a developing small town situated in the Mavelikkara Taluk of the Alappuzha district. The famous Padanilam Temple is situated in Padanilam. The temple is famous for its festivals, the main one being the Sivaranthi, which is usually celebrated in the month of February or March. During the day, thousands of devotees, including those from other districts come to the temple to see the massive Kettukazhcha. On Sivaranthi day morning there is a Kaavadiyaattam for Lord Murugan. Thousands take Kaavadi and come to the temple in large groups. On the evening of the day, the most beautiful part of the celebration is held: Large kettukazhchas of bulls (which are the vehicle of Lord Siva) come to the temple. The crowd dances to the rhythm of Kerala,The Sinkaarimelam.

Other festivals celebrated in Padanilam include the Vrischikamahotsavam in the Malayam month of Vrischikam. The celebration last for 41 days^{[citation needed]}, although the majority of the celebrations take place in the first 12 days.

Vettiyar Pathamudayam[link]

Pathamudayam is a famous temple festival conducted at Vettiyar Palliyarakkavu temple. The 1000-year old temple has 7 Karas (territories). Pathamudayam is held in April. The highlight of the festival is the Kettukazhchas. The preparation for Pathamudayam begins several days before the festival day which itself is usually the day of Vishu. Meanwhile, the people from 7 Karas of Vettiyar will arrange for the construction of Kettukazhcha to the temple. People from each area will pull the Kettukazhcha from the construction sites to the temple to present them before the Devi and after having darshan the parties take up their respective position in the ground lying east of the temple.

Eravankara Shivarathri[link]

Eravankara is a small village in Mavelikkara. Anandeshwarathu Mahadevadeva temple in Eravankara is famous for its Shivarathri Mahotsavam and Kaavadiyaattam, which are celebrated during the month of February or March. The temple is more than 1000 years old. Eravankara is derived from the concept of Mahabharatha as the land of Eravaan ( Eravaan kara) who is the son of Khadotghaja (Bheeman's son who is born in Hidumbi)...

Mother Teresa Trophy Boat Race[link]

The Mother Teresa Trophy Boat Race is held during Onam along the stretch of the River Achankovil.

Demand for Mavelikkara district.[link]

Mavelikkara was the central hub pivotal to administrative affairs during the days of the Travancore monarchy.

The demand for a new Central Travancore district with Mavelikkara as its headquarters is being raised once again.^{[citation needed]}

Main Places[link]

• Kottakkakam, or "Fort Mavelikkara" is located at the heart of Mavelikkara. Old palaces were situated in this region and the government offices are located in this area. Sreekrishna swamy temple is also to be found in Kottakkakam.
• Padanilam is located in the eastern part of Mavelikkara Taluk. It is famous for the Padanilam Parabrahma Temple, which is known for its Sivarathri festival.
• Bharanikavu and Pallickal is located on the Mavelikkara-Kurathikadu-Kayamkulam road. Bharanikavu is famous for its Devi Temple and its swarna jeevitha, and houses one of the four Buddha Statues. The famous churches of Kattanam add to the glory of this calm and peaceful panchayat. Government School Bharanikkavu, Pope Pius XI High School and CMS High School are some of the major educational institutions. The panchayat was awarded the Best Grama Panchayat Award by the President of India.^{[citation needed]}
• Chennithala is located in the northern part of Mavelikkara. Chennithala Panchayath shares its border with the municipal boundary of Mavelikkara.
• Cherukunnam is a village five kilometres away from Mavelikkara Town.
• Chettikulangara is located about five kilometres southwest of Mavelikkara. It is famous for the Chettikulangara Devi Temple, at which the Kumbha Bharani Festival is conducted during February or March. The important festivity associated with this utsavam is Kettu-Kazhcha, which resembles the Chinese festival celebrated on the birthday of Buddha. Kuthiyottam is also another important festivity. This is the second-largest temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board. Chettikulangara Amma is considered the mother goddess of Onattukara.
• Chunakara is a village in the eastern part of Mavelikkara, approximately 11 kilometres away from Mavelikkara Town. It is best known as the home of the Chunakara Mahadevar temple.
• Kallumala, which roughly translates as "mountain of stones", is on an elevated terrrain made of stony laterite substrate. Educational institutions in the area include Bishop Moore Vidyapith and Bishop Moore College. The Mavelikkara railway station is located in Kallumala and main market also functions on its streets.
• Kandiyoor is a place of historical importance. It was there that the Travancore Raja gained the decisive victory over Kayamkulam Raja. The Mahadeva temple contains the sub-shrines considered to have been made especially sacred by the presence of all the gods of the Hindu pantheon. It contains ancient inscriptions and it is noted for stone sculptures.
• Thekkekkara Panchayath lies between Chettikulangara, Bharanicavu and Thazhakkara Panchayaths of Mavelikkara Taluk.
• Vallikunnam is situated in the southern part of Mavelikkara.
• Varenickal is a village situated in Thekkekara Panchayat in Mavelikkara which is home to the Shree Parabhramodya and Kunnam Kuzhi temples. The festival at the temples is held during the Mandala season.
• Vathikulam is located about seven kilometres south of Mavelikkara and is surrounded by temples. Two schools are located there: Vathikulam LP School and Alummoottil LP School. Bethel Marthomma Church and Vathikulam Martomma Church are also found there, together with Vathikulam, Changeth and Alampeth temples.
• Vazhuvady is a village, approximately four kilometres away from Mavelikkara Town. Three sides of the village are surrounded by the Achankovil river. The famous malankara orthodox church, commonly known as "Vazhuvady Pally", is located in the heart of the village. The church has got the Holy relic of His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II, Third Catholicos of the East in Malankara. The village, like Kirathankavu, is also home to several temples, including Siva Temple, Panayannarkau Devi Temple and Sri Muruka Temple. There are two schools.
• Vettiyar is located about seven kilometres east of Mavelikkara, on the banks of the Achenkovil river. Green paddy fields stretch to acres of lands with rubber plantations, cashew trees, coconut trees and bettel leaves, as well as other plantations. Vettiyar is a small village which has not yet been urbanised. Pathamudayam, the famous temple festival, is conducted at the Palliyarakkavu temple.
• Kurathikadu is located approximately six kilometres away from the Mavelikkara town. The old name of Kurathikad was "Vallat". The place is in the Thekkekkara panchayath of Mavelikkara taluk. The major Hindu worship centre in Kurathikad is the Malimel Devi temple, which is also home to a Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and a Mar Thoma Church in

Religion[link]

Temples[link]

• Chettikulangara Devi Temple, founded in AD 823, is a famous, Bhagawathy Temple. This temple was consecrated by Padmapadacharyar, a disciple of Adi Shankara. The festival season is February and March.
• Kandiyoor Temple, also known as Dakshina Kashi, is the oldest historical evidence of the rich heritage of Mavelikkara.^{[citation needed]} The Kandiyoor Temple is one of 108 temples dedicated to Shiva. Saint Mrikandu, the father and guru of Markandeya, got an idol of Kiratha Moorthy, while taking a bath in the Ganges. He heard a divine voice telling him to put the idol in a holy place. Mrikandu travvelled far and finally reached Kandiyoor (whose name derives from "Kandathil Nalla Ooru" meaning "the best place ever seen"). Thus, the temple was established and renamed Kandiyoor.
• Sree Krishna Swami Temple is managed and owned by the Travancore Devaswom board. The main festival is held during Meenam. The Statue of Buddha at the Buddha junction in front of the temple has been recovered from the Achankovil River.
• Chunakara thiruvairoor mahadevar temple is the oldest historical temple located in chunakara, which is 11 km from Mavelikkara. Its festival season is in January and February.
• Vettiyar Palliyarakavu Temple, Vettiyar.
• Padanilam Parabrahma Temple, Nooranad.
• Shree Parabhramodya Temple, Varenickal. There is no building structure for the Shreekovil as the God has forbidden any construction at the site. The festival at the temple held during the December–January Mandala season.
• Shree Saraswati Temple is situated at Thattarambalam dedicated to Saraswati Devi. Recent donations have led to better developments of the temple structure.^{[citation needed]} Its main festival is held during the Navarathri Festival period dedicated to Durga Devi. *Ponnaramthottam Devi Temple, located near Power House and District Court.
• Dhanwanthari Temple, Prayikkara.
• Subramanya Swamy Temple, Thazhakkara.
• Ganapathy Temple, Aalthara, Padinjare Nada.
• Sree Durga Devi Temple,Karazhma.
• Ulachikkadu Sree Mahavishnu Temple,Karazhma.
• Mannoor Madhom Siva Temple.
• Mattom Narasimha Swamy Temple is situated in the north of Thattarambalam. It is one of the oldest temple in Mavelikara,^{[citation needed]}, situated near Achankovil river. The festivel of the temple takes place during Vrichikam (November–December).
• Mannalil Temple is situated to the south of Aranoottimangalam. The festival day is Makaram 28, famously known as "Irupathettam Ucharam".
• Tharamel Devi Kshethram is another Bhagavathi temple situated in the central part of Aranoottimangalam. This temple originally belonged to the Kalaykkattu Family, but has been handed over to the NSS Karayogam №66 by the family's heads, Nalayyathu Chellappan Nair and Thattarethu Damodara Panicker. It is now owned and managed by the NSS Karayogam, №66, and renovation work has just been completed.
• Ammancheril Devi Kshethram is also in Aranoottimangalam.
• Eravankara Anandeshwarathu Mahadeva Temple, Eravankara.

Churches[link]

• St.Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Founded in 943 AD.
• St. Kuriakose Orthodox Church at Arnoottimangalam is a church dedicated to the lesser known Saint St. Kuriakose.
• C.S.I. Christ Church is the oldest Protestant church in Mavelikara built by CMS missionary Reverend Joseph Peet and dedicated in 1839. <re>W.S. Hunt. ‘’The Anglican Church in Travancore & Cochin’’ 1816–1916. Pub. C.M.S. Press, Kottayam. 1918. p. 166</ref>^[4] and rededicated on 3 April 1850.^[5]

C.S.I. Christ Church

• C.S.I. Ascension Church, Cherukunnam is 150 years old. It belongs to the Central Kerala Diocese of Church of South India. It has 88 families and about 500 members.^{[citation needed]}
• Church of God in India, is a Pentecostal church in Chettikulangara.
• Marthoma Church Thazhakara is 110 years old, and now has a parish with over 335 families.^{[citation needed]}
• Mar Baselios Orthodox Church commonly known as "Vazhuvady Pally".
• St. Mary's Syro-Malankara Catholic Cathedral is a suffurgan diocese of the Major Archiepiscopal Eparchy of Trivandrum.^[6] with 94 parishes and 37,000 worshipers.
• St. Mary Roman/Latin Catholic Church, Prayikkara.
• Pentecostal Church of God in India was established in 2004 in Erezha South, Chettikulangara.
• Assemblies of God Bethal Hall, established in 1924.
• St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, Valiyaperumpuzha, Thattarampalam
• St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India, Thazhakara is 50 years old.

Educational Institutions[link]

Colleges[link]

• Bishop Moore College, Kallumala, Mavelikkara
• Raja Ravivarma Fine Arts College, Mavelikkara
• High School and Teachers' Training Institute, Chettikulangara
• Sri Vellapally Natesan College Of Engineering, Pallickal
• Sree Buddha College Of Engineering,Pattoor, Padanilam
• College of Applied Sciences(IHRD), Mavelikkara
• Peet Memorial Training College, Mavelikkara
• Archana College of Engineering, Nooranad

Schools[link]

• Bishop Moore Vidyapith, Kallumala, Mavelikkara
• Seventh Day Adventist English Medium High School, Mavelikkara
• Infant Jesus ISC School, Mavelikkara
• Bishop Hodges Higher Secondary School, Mavelikkara
• Higher Secondary and Training School, Kaitha North, Chettikulangara
• Govt. Boys' Higher Secondary School, Mavelikkara
• Govt. Girls' Higher Secondary School, Mavelikkara
• Govt. V.H.S.S. Chunakara
• N.S.S.U.P.S. Chunakara
• Sree Buddha Central School, Pattoor, Padanilam
• Sree Narayana Central School, Cherukunnam, Mavelikkara
• M.S.S High School, Thazhakara
• St. Mary's Cathedral Public School
• Crossland Public School, Kunnom
• A.V.Sanskrit UP School, Thazhakara
• S.V.L.P School,Thazhakara.
• Vidhyadhiraja Vidya Peetom Central School, Ponnaramthottam
• Vidyadhiraja Vidyapeedom LP School
• Vijnana Santhayani Sanskrit High School (VSSHS) Koypallikaranma
• Thekekkara Government UP School, near the major Koypallikaranma Temple
• TMVMHS, Vettiyar
• Pope Pius XI Higher Secondary School, Kattanam
• Govt. Higher Secondary School, Chettikulangara
• TTI School
• Mahatma Higher Secondary School for Boys, Chennithala
• Mahatma Higher Secondary School for Girls, Chennithala
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chennithala.
• Cherupushpa Central School, Chunakkar
• St.John's M.S.C.U.P.School,Kurathikad (Pallickal East)
• Amala LP School, Erezha
• Vathikulam L P School
• Mar Ivanious School,Kallumala
• CNPPM Vocational HS, Kattachira
• NSS High School, Kurathikad
• Govt. LP School Kurathikad
• S.N. Central School, Cherukunnam.
• A.G.R.M.H.S.S Vallikunnam
• Govt. UP School, Varenickal
• A.O.M.M. L.P.School
• Vikram Sarabhai I.T.E.
• St.Mary's Central School, Vettiyar
• Erezha U.P School, Chettikulangara
• Govt. L. P School, Kandiyoour
• K.K.M. Govt. V.H.S.S. Elippakulam
• Govt L.P.S. Elippakulam
• PADANILAM HSS. Nooanad

See also[link]

• Alappuzha
• Kayamkulam
• Chengannur
• Mannar
• Pathanamthitta
• Mavelikkara (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Onattukara
• Vettiyar
• Padanilam

References[link]

External links[link]

• Information about Mavelikara
• MavelikaraNews - Online News portal
• Open Website for mavelikara(Users contributing the Content)
• Official website of Mavelikkara taluk
• Syro-Malankara Diocese of Mavelikara

Raja Ravi Varma
Born	April 29, 1848 (1848-04-29)[1] Kilimanoor, Travancore
Died	October 2, 1906 (1906-10-03) (aged 58) Kilimanoor, Travancore, India
Occupation	Painter
Signature

Raja Ravi Varma (Malayalam: രാജാ രവി വർമ്മ) (April 29, 1848 - October 2, 1906) was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore (presently in Kerala) who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. His paintings are considered to be among the best examples of the fusion of Indian traditions with the techniques of European academic art.

During his life-time Varma is most remembered for his paintings of beautiful sari-clad women, who were portrayed as shapely and graceful. Varma's paintings became an important motif in kitsch of the time, reproductions being found in almost every middle-class home.^[2] His exposure in the west came when he won the first prize in the Vienna Art Exhibition in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma died in 1906 at the age of 58. He is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art.

Early life[link]

The studio used by Raja Ravi Varma during his stay at the Laxmi Vilas Palace

Raja Ravi Varma was born as Ravi Varma Koil Thampuran of Kilimanoor palace, in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore (Thiruvithankur) in Kerala. His father Ezhumavail Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad was an accomplished scholar, and his mother Umayamba Thampuratti (died 1886) was a poet and writer whose work Parvati Swayamvaram was published by Raja Ravi Varma after her death. His siblings were C. Goda Varma (born 1854), C. Raja Raja Varma (born 1860) and Mangala Bayi Thampuratti, who was also a painter.

At a young age he secured the patronage of HH Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore (a relative) and began formal training thereafter.^[3] He was trained in water painting by Rama Swami Naidu and later in oil painting by Dutch portraitist Theodor Jenson.

Raja Ravi Varma High School at Kilimanoor was named for him. There are many cultural organizations throughout Kerala in his name. His palace is nearly six kilometers from Ponganadu, 7.7 kilometers from Pazhayachanda and 36 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala.

Art career[link]

Raja Ravi Varma received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in 1873. Raja Ravi Varma's paintings were also sent to the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and he was awarded two gold medals.^[4] He travelled throughout India in search of subjects. He often modeled Hindu Goddesses on South Indian women, whom he considered beautiful. Ravi Varma is particularly noted for his paintings depicting episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, and Nala and Damayanti, from the Mahabharata. Ravi Varma's representation of mythological characters has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics. He is often criticized for being too showy and sentimental in his style. However his work remains very popular in India. His many fabulous paintings are available at Laxmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara.

The Maharashtrian Lady

The Lady in the picture is Mahaprabha Thampuratti of Mavelikara, the artist's daughter and mother of HH Sethu Lakshmi Bayi.

The demi-god vulture Jatayu is struck down by the demon Ravana, as Jatayu attempted to intercede in the demon's kidnapping of Sita.

Honours[link]

In 1904 Viceroy Lord Curzon, on behalf of the King Emperor bestowed upon Raja Ravi Varma the Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal. At this time his name was mentioned as "Raja Ravi Varma" for the first time, raising objections from Maharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore and besides, as per the Marumakkathayam tradition, the name of the maternal uncle (Raja Raja Varma) was prefixed to the name. Thereafter he was always referred to as Raja Ravi Varma.^[3]

In 1993, art critic Rupika Chawla and artist A Ramachandran jointly curated a large exhibition of Raja Ravi Varma's works at the National Museum, New Delhi. Considering his vast contribution to Indian art, the Government of Kerala has instituted an award called Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram, which is awarded every year to people who show excellence in the field of art and culture. Awardees include:

• K.G. Subramanian (2001)
• M.V. Devan (2002)
• A Ramachandran (2003)
• Vasudevan Namboodiri (2004).
• Kanai Kunhiraman (2005)
• V.S. Valliathan (2006)

The renewed interest in Raja Ravi Varma has spilled into the area of popular culture as films and music videos have started using his images.

A college dedicated to fine arts was also constituted in his honour at Mavelikara, Kerala. Raja Ravi Varma High School at Kilimanoor was named after him. There are many cultural organizations throughout Kerala in his name.

Personal life[link]

Raja Ravi Varma was married to Pururuttathi Nal Bhageerathi Amma Thampuran (Kochu Pangi) of the Royal House of Mavelikara and they had two sons and three daughters.

Their eldest son, Kerala Varma, born in 1876 went missing in 1912 and was never heard of again. Their second son was Rama Varma (born 1879), an artist who studied at the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai, married to Srimathi Gowri Kunjamma, sister of Dewan PGN Unnithan.

Raja Ravi Varma's elder daughter, Ayilyam Nal Mahaprabha Thampuran, appears in two of his prominent paintings and was mother of Maharani Pooradam thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore. He had another daughter, Thiruvadira Nal Kochukunji Thampuran, grandmother of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharajah. His third daughter, born in 1882, was Ayilyam Nal Cheria Kochamma Thampuran.

His descendants comprise the Mavelikara Royal house while two of his granddaughters, including the said Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, were adopted to the Travancore Royal Family, the cousin family of the Mavelikara House, to which lineage the present Travancore Maharaja Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma belongs. Well known among his descendants are writer Shreekumar Varma (Prince Punardam Thirunal), artists Rukmini Varma (Princess Bharani Thirunal) and Jay Varma, classical musician Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma and others.

List of major works[link]

The following is a list of the prominent works of Ravi Varma.

Popular Culture[link]

• Bollywood film maker Ketan Mehta Directed a Movie Rang Rasiya on the life of Raja Ravi Varma in 2008 in which actor Randeep Hooda played the role of the artist.
• Indian director Lenin Rajendran made a Malayalam movie named Makaramanju(The Mist of Capricorn) in 2010, which narrates Raja Ravi Varma's life at a certain stage in his life. Indian director/cinematographer Santhosh Sivan played the lead role as Raja Ravi Varma.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Asthasidhdhi Ganesh

• 

  Lakshmi

• 

  Murugan

• 

  Saraswati

• 

  Gangavataranam

• 

  Rama breaking the bow, Raja Ravi Varma

• 

  Raja Ravi Varma Painting – 'Rama Conquers Varuna'

• 

  Ravi Varma's Shakuntala, a character in the epic Mahabharata

• 

  Shakuntala despondent

• 

  Bharata (Sarvadamana)

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  Yashoda decorating Krishna

• 

  Radha Madhavam

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  Bhishma Pledge

• 

  Krishna and Balarama meet their parents.

• 

  Arjuna and Subhadra

• Ravi Varma-Draupadi carrying milk honey.jpg

  Draupadi carrying milk honey

• 

  Draupadi's |Humiliation

• 

  Simhaka Sairandari

• Raja Ravi Varma’s painting of Draupadi being harassed by Kirata while disguised as an attendant (sairandhri) in the Pandavas’ 13th year of exile.jpg

  Raja Ravi Varma’s painting of Draupadi being harassed by Keechaka while she was disguised as an attendant (sairandhri) during the Pandavas’ 13th year of exile

Bibliography[link]

English[link]

• Raja Ravi Varma: Painter of Colonial India by Rupika Chawla, Pub: Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, March 2010, ISBN 978-0-944142-41-7
• Raja Ravi Varma - Oleographs Catalogue by Dr. D.Jegat Ishwari, Pub: ShriParasuraman, Chennai, 2010, Isbn:9788191002614
• Ravi Varma Classic -2008, Pub: Genesis Art Foundation, Cochin-18;45 clour plate with text by Vijayakumar Menon.
• Raja Ravi Varma - The Most Celebrated Painter of India: 1848-1906, Parsram Mangharam, Bangalore, 2007
• Raja Ravi Varma - The Painter Prince: 1848-1906, Parsram Mangharam, Bangalore, 2003
• Raja Ravi Varma and the Printed Gods of India, Erwin Neumayer & Christine Schelberger, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2003
• Raja Ravi Varma: The Most Celebrated Painter of India : 1848 - 1906, Classic Collection, Vol I & II. Bangalore, Parsram Mangharam, 2005
• Raja Ravi Varma: Portrait of an Artist, The Diary of C. Raja Raja Varma/edited by Erwin Neumayer and Christine Schelberger. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2005
• Divine Lithography, Enrico Castelli and Giovanni Aprile, New Delhi, Il Tamburo Parlante Documentation Centre and Ethnographic Museum, 2005
• Photos of the Gods: The Printed Image and Political Struggle in India by Christopher Pinney. London, Reaktion Book, 2004

Malayalam[link]

• Ravi Varma - A critical study by Vijayakumar Menon, Pub: Kerala Laitha Kala Akademy, Trissur, 2002
• Raja Ravi Varmayum chitrkalayum, Kilimanoor Chandran, Department of Cultural Publications, Kerala Government, 1999.
• Chithramezhuthu Koyithampuran, P.N Narayana Pillai.
• Raja Ravi Varma, N. Balakrishnan Nair.

Marathi[link]

• "Ravi Varma", a novel by Marathi novelist Ranjit Desai.

See also[link]

• Hindu mythology
• Indian art
• Rang Rasiya (Hindi film)
• Anandabhadram

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Raja Ravi Varma

• http://ravivarma.org (Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery)
• http://www.ravivarmaoleographs.com
• Ravi Varma's Paintings
• High Resolution Pictures
• Largest collection of the Lithographs from the Ravi Varma Press
• A Large Collection at Kamat.com
• The Hindu: The royal artist by K.K. Gopalakrishnan
• Chandigarh Museum: Nine Masters
• Early 20th century Ravi Varma postcards
• 1000 Oleographs from Raja Ravi Varma Press shown as Slide show