Sethupathi

The title Sethupathi is a Sanskrit term meaning "Lord of Sethu",{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OpxeaYQbGDMC|title=The New Cambridge History of India: Vijayanagara|last=Stein|first=Burton|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521266932|pages=135|language=en}} where Sethu refers to Ram Setu,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=laIPgMQF_XsC|title=A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary with Transliteration, Accentuation, and Etymological Analysis Throughout|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|date=2004|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=9788120820005|pages=359|language=en}} a chain of limestone shoals from Rameswaram Island in India to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka.{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Adams-Bridge|title=Adam's Bridge {{!}} shoals, India|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}} The Maravar clan from 5th century CE were patrons of the Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is also known as Sethu and thereupon assumed the title Sethupathi. According to Jennifer Howes, while inscription evidence about Sethupathis is available only since early 17th century; two manuscripts collected by Colin Mackenzie attribute first coronation of Sethupathi in puranic past by none other than Ramayana-Rama himself.{{Cite book |last=Howes, . 2003. |first=Jennifer |title=The Courts of Pre-Colonial South India: Material Culture and Kingship. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2003 |isbn=9781135789961 |pages=71,72 |chapter=Pantings in the Ramlinga Vilasam}} Howes says as per the manuscripts true rulership of South India was in the hands of Sethupathis during Pandya period and that the Cholas had dispossessed Sethupathis of their territories.

The title "Sethu Kavalar" meaning "Guardian of Sethu" was a title used by the Aryacakravarti dynasty of Jaffna Kingdom, who also used the term "Sethu" on their coin on account of being related to the Sethupathis.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kj_aWm4DeFEC|title=The Sri Lanka Reader: History, Culture, Politics|last=Holt|first=John|date=2011-04-13|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0822349822|pages=83–84|language=en}}

The rulers of Ramnad and Sivaganga region of early 17th century were called Sethupathis. The Nayak ruler Muthukrishnappa Nayak reestablished the ancient line of Sethupathys who were the chieftains under the pandyas in the beginning of 17th century as protector and guardian of the pilgrims to Sethusamudram and Rameswaram. The protector of Sethusamudram was called as Sethupathy. Sadaikkathevar was a loyal subordinate of the Nayaks. He emerged as the chief of the poligas. Sethupathis were maravas of Ramnad, Madurai and Tirunelveli. They had Ramnad as their official headquarters. Sadaikkathevar and his son KuttanSethupathi acted as Sethupathis and extended protection to the pilgrims who visited Rameswaram. Apart from giving protection two Sethupathis did religious services to the Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram. The Sethupathis also issued copper coins until they became Zamindar in the 18th century, the coins depict horses and peacocks with deity on the obverse and the name Sethupathi in Tamil on the reverse.11

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• Sadaikka Thevar Sethupathi (1590–1621)
• Kootan Sethupathi (1621–1637)
• Dalavai Sethupathi (1637–1659)
• Raghunatha Thirumalai Sethupathi (1659–1670)

The independent kings were:

• Raghunatha Kilavan Sethupathi (1670–1708)
• Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi I (1708–1723)
• Sundaresvara Raghunatha Sethupathi (1723–1728)
• Kumara Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi (1728–1734)
• Muthukumara Raghunatha Sethupathi (1734–1747)
• Rakka Thevar (1747–1748)
• Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi II (1748–1760)
• Muthuramalinga Sethupathi (1760–1794)
• Ruler of princely state under the paramountcy of the British Raj
• Interregnum (1795—1803){{Cite book |author=A. Ramaswami |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3390/page/n115/mode/1up |page=98|title=Tamil Nadu District Gazetteers: Ramanathapuram |date=1972 |publisher=Director of Stationery and Printing}}

The zamindars are as follows:

• Mangaleswari Nachiyar (1803–1807)
• Annaswami Sethupathi (1807–1820)
• Ramaswami Sethupathi (1820–1830)
• Muthu Chella Thevar Sethupathi (1830–1846)
• Parvatha Vardhani Ammal Nachchiyar (1846–1862)
• Muthuramalinga Sethupathi II(1862–1873)

Court of Wards (1873–1889)

• Bhaskara Sethupathi (1889–1903)
• Dinakara Sethupathy
• Raja Rajeswara Sethupathi (1903–1929)
• Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi(1929–1967)
• Ramanatha Sethupathi (1967–1979)
• Rajeswari Nachiyar (1979–present)

{{main|Raghunatha Kilavan}}

File:Kilavan Sethupathi.JPG

Kizhavan Sethupathi (1671 AD to 1710 AD) was the greatest ruler among the Tamil kings. He was the seventh king of Ramnad.{{cite web|title=Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu|url=http://financeminister.gov.in/sivaganga.html|publisher=financeminister.gov.in}} He was helpful to Chokkanatha Nayak. The Nayak king conferred him a title Para Rajakesari (Lion to alien kings). He annexed some territories of Madurai Kingdom. Aranthangi, Thirumayam, Piranmalai. He opposed the spread of Christian missionary activities. Kizhavan Sethupathi liberated the Marava country from the control of Madurai Nayak. After defeating Rani Mangammal's army, he declared independent Marava country in 1707. He shifted his headquarters from Pughalur to Ramnad.

Kilavan Sethupathi established the Nalcottal palayam (later Sivaganga) and appointed Udaya Thevar as governor. He served well for the development of Hinduism. 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. His rule was marked as the golden age of the Maravas. Kilavan Sethupathi was succeeded by Bhavani Shankarathevar and Thandathevar.

File:Bhaskara Sethupathy of Ramnad.jpg

Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi became the 8th King of Ramnad in 1710 after the death of Kilavan Sethupathy.{{cite news|title=Crumbling Glory|url=http://www.hindu.com/lf/2003/08/04/stories/2003080406750200.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125190506/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2003/08/04/stories/2003080406750200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|author=Suresh Kumar P S|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 August 2003}} After Kilavan Sethupathi the kingdom was divided into two new Sivaganga Kingdom emerged. During the later period of Sethupathi's rule, the Ramnad was reduced to a zamin level. Then it was brought under the control of the Britishers. Finally it became a part of the Indian Union. Among the later Sethupathis, Bhaskara Sethupathy was an exceptionally enlightened zamindar. And his brother Raja Dhingara Sethupathi were English educated rulers.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

File:Ssthupy.jpg

Raja Dhinagara sethypathy become the zamindar after Bhaskara Sethypathy died from 1903. He honored Swami Vivekananda who attended the parliament of Religion at Chicago. on return of Swami Vivekananda both zamindars maeda great agenda on that day, for this they made a memorial pillar on Sigil Raha Street, Now the street is named after the "Swamy Vivekanandga Salai". The social life under Sethupathi's rule was good.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

• Ramnad Kingdom
• Maravar, community to which Ramnad / Sethupathi kings belonged
• Thanjavur Nayak kingdom, once an 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

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Category:Lists of Indian monarchs