Shivaji II of Thanjavur
Encyclopedia
Raja Shivaji IIwas the son of Raja Serfoji II
and ruled the fortress of Thanjavur and its surroundings from 1832 to 1855. He was the last Raja of Thanjavur known to wield any authority.
Raja Shivaji II was the only surviving son of Serfoji II when the latter died in the year 1832. The missionary Heber describes the young Shivaji II as a 'pale and sickly child'. However, his health seemed to have got better as he grew up for he is known for his physical and mental attainments. He contributed to the expansion of the Saraswathi Mahal Library and gave many useful books. One Varahappaiyar prepared the catalogue for all the manuscripts in the library.
Akhilandeswari in the Jambukeshwarar Temple was replaced with new ones in 1843-44. So, the Kanchi mutt, then based in Kumbakonam
, shifted to Trichy with all the retinue in order to conduct a Tatanka-Pratishta ceremony for consecration
of the earrings. But a legal suite delayed the ceremonies and the court case along with the rituals that followed incurred great debts on the part of the Mutt that they were unable to shift the Mutt back to Kumbakonam.At this juncture, the administrator-in-charge of the ceremonies, a young Brahmin
, went to court of Shivaji II and requested that the retinue
should be allowed to stop at Thanjavur to receive donations from the people. But the Raja staunchly refused.
However, as the palanquin of the Shankaracharya
and his retinue were making their way to Kumbakonam they were stopped on the banks
of the Cauvery at Thiruvaiyaru
by the sepoys of the Raja
who surrounded them and respectfully escorted into the city of Thanjavur. At Thanjavur, they were accorded a royal reception by Shivaji II and the citizens of Thanjavur. It was later said that the Raja had had a dream a few nights before in which Lord Shiva had appeared and ordered him to render due honors to the Mutt. This incident is often referred to as the 'Arrest
' of the Kanchi Mutt.
Raja Shivaji II died in the year 1855 after a reign of 22 years.
On the death of Shivaji II, due to the absence of a legitimate heir to the throne, the kingdom was annexed by the British East India Company
as per the Doctrine of Lapse
.
Serfoji II
Serfoji II was the last ruler of the Maratha principality of Tanjore to exercise absolute sovereignty over his dominions. His descendants, however, have managed to thrive as titular Maharajahs of Thanjavur to the present day...
and ruled the fortress of Thanjavur and its surroundings from 1832 to 1855. He was the last Raja of Thanjavur known to wield any authority.
Raja Shivaji II was the only surviving son of Serfoji II when the latter died in the year 1832. The missionary Heber describes the young Shivaji II as a 'pale and sickly child'. However, his health seemed to have got better as he grew up for he is known for his physical and mental attainments. He contributed to the expansion of the Saraswathi Mahal Library and gave many useful books. One Varahappaiyar prepared the catalogue for all the manuscripts in the library.
'Arrest' of the Kanchi Mutt
But Shivaji II is mostly known for the incident related to the 'arrest' of the Kanchi mutt. The earrings (tatankas) of the GoddessGoddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
Akhilandeswari in the Jambukeshwarar Temple was replaced with new ones in 1843-44. So, the Kanchi mutt, then based in Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
, shifted to Trichy with all the retinue in order to conduct a Tatanka-Pratishta ceremony for consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
of the earrings. But a legal suite delayed the ceremonies and the court case along with the rituals that followed incurred great debts on the part of the Mutt that they were unable to shift the Mutt back to Kumbakonam.At this juncture, the administrator-in-charge of the ceremonies, a young Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, went to court of Shivaji II and requested that the retinue
Retinue
A retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite of "retainers".-Etymology:...
should be allowed to stop at Thanjavur to receive donations from the people. But the Raja staunchly refused.
However, as the palanquin of the Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
and his retinue were making their way to Kumbakonam they were stopped on the banks
Bank (geography)
A geographic bank has four definitions and applications:# Limnology: The shoreline of a pond, swamp, estuary, reservoir, or lake. The grade can vary from vertical to a shallow slope....
of the Cauvery at Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru
-External links:**...
by the sepoys of the Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
who surrounded them and respectfully escorted into the city of Thanjavur. At Thanjavur, they were accorded a royal reception by Shivaji II and the citizens of Thanjavur. It was later said that the Raja had had a dream a few nights before in which Lord Shiva had appeared and ordered him to render due honors to the Mutt. This incident is often referred to as the 'Arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
' of the Kanchi Mutt.
Raja Shivaji II died in the year 1855 after a reign of 22 years.
On the death of Shivaji II, due to the absence of a legitimate heir to the throne, the kingdom was annexed by the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
as per the Doctrine of Lapse
Doctrine of lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the British in India between 1848 and 1856...
.