SANSKRIT IN THE REIGN OF TRAVANCORE SAMSTHAN

 

          The history of Modern Travancore starts with the king Martanda-Varman who ascended the throne in 1729 A.D.  Though he was not known to have write any work, he was certainly a generous patron of literature, and in his court flourished many of the scholars and poets of Kerala at that time.  Among them, the scholar poet Ramapanivada, Devaraja of Asramam and poet KrshnaSarman etc., were highly renowned.

          RamaPaniVada was a great scholar and prolific writer both in Sanskrit and in Prakrt. He has many credits by authoring several works of outstanding merit covering almost all branches of general literature.  His Vithi - street play named Candrika Vithi was written on the occasion of the Sivaratri festival at Triprangot temple.  Being patronised by Martanda-Varman the maker of Modern Travancore, he wrote a drama called SitaRaghavam.

                             

          The poet Devaraja was the author of a historical play titled Bala-Martanda-Vijayam in five acts which deals with the king’s dedication of the entire realm to Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha of Trivandrum temple.

          Another protégé of the king MartandaVarman, poet KrshnaSarman was the author of Sri Padmanabha Carita Campu dealing with the story of the origin of the Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha Svami Temple at the city Trivandrum.