
Sriman Hiranyagarbha Ravikula Raja Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Raja Raghunatha Deva Kilavan Setupati (r. 1671–1710) was the first king of
Ramnad Kingdom which is also known "
Maravar
Maravar (also known as Maravan and Marava) are a Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. These people are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy. Members of the Maravar community often use the honorific title ''Thevar''. T ...
Kingdom".
[Lists of Inscriptions, and Sketch of the Dynasties of Southern India By Robert Sewell, Archaeological Survey of Southern India] He ruled from 1673 to 1708 and oversaw the growth of the feudal chieftainship of Ramnad into a powerful ''"Ramnad Kingdom"'' which is known as ''"
Maravar
Maravar (also known as Maravan and Marava) are a Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. These people are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy. Members of the Maravar community often use the honorific title ''Thevar''. T ...
Kingdom"''. He rescued the Nayak of Madurai from the tyranny of Rustam Khan and also successfully campaigned against the King of
Thanjavur
Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the ...
, who later ceded all his territories. It is recorded in the Sethupati copper plates that he belonged to the
Surya
Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a ...
kulam and
Kashyap
The Kashyap Rajput or Kashyap are a caste in India. They are sometimes called the Koshyal or Kanshilya.
History
''Kashyap'' is originally one of the eight primary gotras (clans) of the Brahmins, being derived from Kashyapa, the name of a rishi ...
gothram.
Personal life
He fell in love with Kathali, a girl from the
Kallar caste, later married her and then appointed his brother-in-law as the chief of Pudukottai for the military provided by
tondaiman. He christened him ''Ragunatha Tondaman'' in lieu of his former chief ''Pallavaraya Tondaman'' whom he had replaced. Ragunatha Tondaman would later go on to spawn the
Thondaman Dynasty of
Pudukottai
Pudukkottai is the administrative headquarters of Pudukkottai District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a large city located on the banks of the Vellar River. It has been ruled, at different times, by the mutharaiyar dynasty , Chola ...
.
Also, history states that he had many wives (more than 45) and when Kilavan Sethupathi expired, all of them committed
Sati ("Udankattai").
Reign
He was a loyal vassal of
Chokkanatha Nayak, a
Nayak king who conferred him the title of Para Rajakesari ("lion to alien kings"). He helped the Nayaks by defeating the Muslims under Kutbkhan and the poligar of Ettapuram around the time when
mughal
Mughal or Moghul may refer to:
Related to the Mughal Empire
* Mughal Empire of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries
* Mughal dynasty
* Mughal emperors
* Mughal people, a social group of Central and South Asia
* Mughal architecture
* Mug ...
s under
Aurangzeb
Muhi al-Din Muhammad (; – 3 March 1707), commonly known as ( fa, , lit=Ornament of the Throne) and by his regnal title Alamgir ( fa, , translit=ʿĀlamgīr, lit=Conqueror of the World), was the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire, ruling ...
were also waging campaigns in South India. In appreciation of Kilavan's help the Nayak ruler gave the privilege of celebrating Navarathri festival at the capital city. The Nayak ruler also granted places like Thirubhuvanam, Mannar Koil Tiruchuli to Kilavan. He helped Thirumalai Nayak in his war against Mysore army. Thirumalai Nayak recognized the valuable military services of Raghunatha Sethupathi and conferred the title Thirumalai
Sethupathi
The Sethupathis are a Tamil clan of the Maravar community native to the Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, India. They were from the 17th century considered independent kings who ruled the Ramnad kingdom, also known as '' M ...
on him. Sethupathis loyalty towards the Nayaks was over with Thirumalai Nayak. Raghunatha Sethupathi recaptured all the forts and places from the Nayaks and became an independent ruler.
Raghunatha annexed some territories of
Madurai Kingdom.
Aranthangi
Aranthangi is a town chola Nadu in Pudukkottai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. As of 2011, it had a population of 40,814. And this is one of the part in Chettinadu.
Geography
The town lies 10 degrees north in latitude and 70 degr ...
,
Thirumayam,
Piranmalai. He opposed the spread of Christian missionary activities. Kilavan Sethupathi liberated the
Marava country (area around Rameswaram) from the control of Madurai Nayak. After defeating
Rani Mangammal
Rani Mangammal (Mangamma)(died 1705) was a queen regent of the Madurai Nayak kingdom (in present-day Madurai, India) during the minority of her grandson Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha in 1689—1704. She was a popular administrator and is still wide ...
’s army, he declared independent Marava country in 1707. He shifted his headquarters from
Pugalur to
Ramnad
Ramanathapuram (), also known as Ramnad, is a town and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanathapuram district and the second largest town (by population) in ...
. Kilavan
Sethupathi
The Sethupathis are a Tamil clan of the Maravar community native to the Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, India. They were from the 17th century considered independent kings who ruled the Ramnad kingdom, also known as '' M ...
established the Nalcottal palayam (later Sivaganga) and appointed Udaya Thevar as governor. He endowed villages to a temple at Thiruvadanai and Kalaiyar Koil. He constructed a fort around the Ramanathapuram, the capital city. He constructed a dam across the Vaigai.
It was during his reign, that the capital was moved from
Pogalur to
Ramnad
Ramanathapuram (), also known as Ramnad, is a town and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanathapuram district and the second largest town (by population) in ...
. He was succeeded by his adopted son
Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi I.
Death and war of succession
Bhavani Shankar revolted against Raghunatha Kilavan in 1720, after securing the help of the
Thanjavur Maratha king
Serfoji I and
Raja of Pudukkottai, invaded Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi's seat at
Aranthangi
Aranthangi is a town chola Nadu in Pudukkottai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. As of 2011, it had a population of 40,814. And this is one of the part in Chettinadu.
Geography
The town lies 10 degrees north in latitude and 70 degr ...
. While defending the city, Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi fell victim to plague and died. Just before his death, Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi nominated
Tanda Deva, a great-grandson of Raghunatha Kilavan's father to succeed him but before he could acceded to the throne, Bhavani Shankar overthrew him with the support and influence of one of Kilavan's concubines.
See also
*
Ramnad Kingdom
*
Sethupathi
The Sethupathis are a Tamil clan of the Maravar community native to the Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, India. They were from the 17th century considered independent kings who ruled the Ramnad kingdom, also known as '' M ...
, title of Raghunatha Kilavan and his descendants
*
Maravar
Maravar (also known as Maravan and Marava) are a Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. These people are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy. Members of the Maravar community often use the honorific title ''Thevar''. T ...
, community to which Ramnad / Sethupathi kings belonged
*
Thanjavur Nayak kingdom, once and ally and later adversary of Sethupathis
*
Madurai Nayak dynasty, once and ally and later adversary of Sethupathis
*
Marava War of Succession, war of succession after Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi
References
{{reflist
History of Tamil Nadu
1710 deaths