The story of Wodeyars, who ruled Mysore for nearly six centuries, is incomplete without a mention of the significant role played by three queens. Sreekantswamy B chronicles the lives and achievements of these queens.
![]( "Grand heritage: The magnificent Mysore palace was planned and built by Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhana (Kempananjammanni).")
In the history of the Wodeyars, the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, three queens have played significant roles. Each time the kingdom was on the verge of slipping away from the grasp of the Wodeyars, it was the courage and intelligence of these queens that helped keep a hold of it. Devajammanni is given credit for helping the founding of the Wodeyar dynasty, Lakshmammanni waged a relentless battle from behind the purdah to reclaim power and Kempa- nanjammanni ruled as regent while her son Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was still a minor.
The book 'Mysoorina Rajyalakshmiyaru' chronicling the lives of the three queens written by M Ramarao was converted into a text book for middle school students, by the order of the Director of the Education Department of the State of Mysore, from the year 1942-44.
Some changes were made by Text Book Committee to make the book more interesting for students; rare photographs which were not in the first print of the book were included.
Story of Devajammanni
Devajammanni was the wife of the incumbent king Chamaraja, a feudal king of the Bhoja Vamsha, who ruled Mysore. After the king's death, Devajammanni was left alone with her daughter Chikkadevarasi. Devajammanni knew that the head of her husband's army, Maranayaka, was planning to marry her daughter and take over as king. She spent many sleepless nights agonising about the future and even contemplated suicide. But she decided to live for the sake of her daughter and threw herself into keeping the kingdom from falling into Maranayaka's hands.
Legend goes that the queen dreamt of a man in saffron who told her of two men who would rescue her. They were Yaduraya and Krishnaraya, believed to come from a royal family in north India.
In the meanwhile, Yaduraya dreamt of a goddess who told him of a town called Mahishooru (Mysore) and of the role he would play in freeing the royals from Maranayaka's clutches. Later, Yaduraya defeated and killed Maranayaka and married princess Chikkadevarasi; he was the first Wodeyar king and founder the Wodeyar dynasty. If it hadn't been for Devajammanni's courage, the Wodeyar dynasty would not have existed. She is hailed as 'Prathama Rajyalakshmi'.
Lakshmammanni was the third queen of Immadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. After her husband's death, Nanjaraja Wodeyar, the four-year-old son of Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar and his second wife Cheluvajammanni was coronated. But the boy died four years later.
Another Wodeyar, the 10-year-old Doddadevaraja Wodeyar was crowned, but he also met the same fate.
Lakshmammanni was in a fix. She needed to adopt someone as heir to the throne, but needed the consent of Hyder Ali.
Hyder Ali chose a three-year-old boy, Khasa Chamaraja Wodeyar who was related to the Wodeyars, but doubted the queen's treatment of the boy after the adoption. He ordered the boy taken away and confined the queen to the palace. Thus began the cold war between HyderAli and the queen.
Subsequently, the queen engaged lawyers, Thirumala Raya and Krishna Raya, to go to the then Madras and seek the help of the British. The queen even wrote letters directing the lawyers on how to negotiate with the British. Even when the governor was recalled, she didn't give up. She began fresh negotiations with the new governor.
The queen was determined to reclaim power and eventually the Wodeyars reclaimed their lost power after the British swooped down on Srirangapatna.
Kempananjammanni's tale
The third and most well-known Rajyalakshmi is Kempananjammanni, wife of Chamarajendra Wodeyar X. The king died early and the heir to the throne, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, was only 10 years old. Despite her grief, the queen ruled the State from 1894 to 1902, till the prince turned 18.
The queen who was aware of the troubles the Wodeyars had faced in the past, was loth to transfer power to the British and proposed that she rule till her son came of age. The British encouraged her and she earned the praise of those around her. She was an unstoppable force. When the old wooden palace was gutted in a fire, Kempanjammanni didn't lose heart. She thought up another magnificent palace - the palace which now stands in Mysore and celebrates its centenary year, according to the grihapravesham held in 1912.
She was also instrumental in the establishment of Vani Vilasa Water Works (bringing water from river Kaveri to Mysore), encouraging women's education and the founding Victoria Hospital in Bangalore among other notable achievements.
She was popularly known as Vani Vilasa Sannidhana. She died 78 years ago on the July 7, 1934 after a brief illness.
Recently, Ramsons Kala Prathishtana brought out a journal - Mysore Palace, celebrating a century 2012, and dedicated it to Vani Vilasa Sannidhana.
In the history of the Wodeyars, the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, three queens have played significant roles. Each time the kingdom was on the verge of slipping away from the grasp of the Wodeyars, it was the courage and intelligence of these queens that helped keep a hold of it. Devajammanni is given credit for helping the founding of the Wodeyar dynasty, Lakshmammanni waged a relentless battle from behind the purdah to reclaim power and Kempa- nanjammanni ruled as regent while her son Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was still a minor. The book 'Mysoorina Rajyalakshmiyaru' chronicling the lives of the three queens written by M Ramarao was converted into a text book for middle school students, by the order of the Director of the Education Department of the State of Mysore, from the year 1942-44.
Some changes were made by Text Book Committee to make the book more interesting for students; rare photographs which were not in the first print of the book were included.
Story of Devajammanni
Devajammanni was the wife of the incumbent king Chamaraja, a feudal king of the Bhoja Vamsha, who ruled Mysore. After the king's death, Devajammanni was left alone with her daughter Chikkadevarasi. Devajammanni knew that the head of her husband's army, Maranayaka, was planning to marry her daughter and take over as king. She spent many sleepless nights agonising about the future and even contemplated suicide. But she decided to live for the sake of her daughter and threw herself into keeping the kingdom from falling into Maranayaka's hands.
Legend goes that the queen dreamt of a man in saffron who told her of two men who would rescue her. They were Yaduraya and Krishnaraya, believed to come from a royal family in north India.
In the meanwhile, Yaduraya dreamt of a goddess who told him of a town called Mahishooru (Mysore) and of the role he would play in freeing the royals from Maranayaka's clutches. Later, Yaduraya defeated and killed Maranayaka and married princess Chikkadevarasi; he was the first Wodeyar king and founder the Wodeyar dynasty. If it hadn't been for Devajammanni's courage, the Wodeyar dynasty would not have existed. She is hailed as 'Prathama Rajyalakshmi'.
Lakshmammanni was the third queen of Immadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. After her husband's death, Nanjaraja Wodeyar, the four-year-old son of Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar and his second wife Cheluvajammanni was coronated. But the boy died four years later.
Another Wodeyar, the 10-year-old Doddadevaraja Wodeyar was crowned, but he also met the same fate.
Lakshmammanni was in a fix. She needed to adopt someone as heir to the throne, but needed the consent of Hyder Ali.
Hyder Ali chose a three-year-old boy, Khasa Chamaraja Wodeyar who was related to the Wodeyars, but doubted the queen's treatment of the boy after the adoption. He ordered the boy taken away and confined the queen to the palace. Thus began the cold war between HyderAli and the queen.
Subsequently, the queen engaged lawyers, Thirumala Raya and Krishna Raya, to go to the then Madras and seek the help of the British. The queen even wrote letters directing the lawyers on how to negotiate with the British. Even when the governor was recalled, she didn't give up. She began fresh negotiations with the new governor.
The queen was determined to reclaim power and eventually the Wodeyars reclaimed their lost power after the British swooped down on Srirangapatna.
Kempananjammanni's tale
The third and most well-known Rajyalakshmi is Kempananjammanni, wife of Chamarajendra Wodeyar X. The king died early and the heir to the throne, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, was only 10 years old. Despite her grief, the queen ruled the State from 1894 to 1902, till the prince turned 18.
The queen who was aware of the troubles the Wodeyars had faced in the past, was loth to transfer power to the British and proposed that she rule till her son came of age. The British encouraged her and she earned the praise of those around her. She was an unstoppable force. When the old wooden palace was gutted in a fire, Kempanjammanni didn't lose heart. She thought up another magnificent palace - the palace which now stands in Mysore and celebrates its centenary year, according to the grihapravesham held in 1912.
She was also instrumental in the establishment of Vani Vilasa Water Works (bringing water from river Kaveri to Mysore), encouraging women's education and the founding Victoria Hospital in Bangalore among other notable achievements.
She was popularly known as Vani Vilasa Sannidhana. She died 78 years ago on the July 7, 1934 after a brief illness.
Recently, Ramsons Kala Prathishtana brought out a journal - Mysore Palace, celebrating a century 2012, and dedicated it to Vani Vilasa Sannidhana.