Ettaiyapuram (Zamindari)

Information

Dynasty	Nayak
State	Madras Presidency (Tinnevelly Dist.)
Accession	26^th September 1954
Revenue	₹ 415,000
Villages	422
Area	1,675.73 km²
Population	154,000 (1901)
Religion	Hinduism
Hindi Name	आगोरी बरहार
Last Updated	12^th Apr, 2016

Present Head/Ruler

The Raja of Ettayapuram (Ettayapuram, Tinnevelly District, Madras, India)

Short History

The Zamindars of Ettayapuram claim descent from an ancient family originally resident near Chandragiri, in present day Andhra Pradesh. During an invasion of Alauddin Khilji, Kumaramuttu Nayak the founder of the dynasty migrated from Chandragiri to Tirunelveli where he was granted the region comprising the later-established Ettayapuram estate. Ettayapuram was located in the north-eastern corner of Tinnevelly district. The estate covered an area of 647 square miles or 415,428 acres approximately; and 422 villages and in 1901, had a population of 154,000. The headquarters of the estate was the town of Ettayapuram (established 1567). The Ettayapuram Zamin estate was notified under Act (XXVI of 1948) with effect from 3^rd January, 1951. The Zamindar moved the High Court by a writ petition challenging the validity of the above Act. His petition failed. He carried the matter in appeal to the Supreme Court. There too he failed. The Government took over possession of the estate on 26th September, 1954. At present, it would suffice to mention that the ‘gifts’ were completed under formal documents, dated 22^nd January, 1800 and 12^th September, 1801. Subsequently, however, as part of the Permanent Settlement Proceedings started and completed under the Madras Permanent Settlement Regulation XXV of 1802, the estate of Ettayapuram was permanently settled.

Predecessors

Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA KUMARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, Raja of Ettayapuram, he built the town of Ettayapuram in 1567, and also the Shiva temple there.
….
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA KUMARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan,
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA I Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 22^nd Raja of Ettayapuram -/1636, he died 1636.
Sri VEERAPPA RAM KITCHUSA [alias Edavankai Ketchulappa Nayakar], 23^rd Raja of Ettayapuram 1636/1659, he died 1659.
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA EDAVANKAI Nayakar Aiyan, 24^th Raja of Ettayapuram 1659/1680
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA KITCHULA I Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 25^thRaja of Ettayapuram 1680/-, married and had issue.
- Sri Jagavira Rama Sura Kitchula II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan (qv)
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA SURA KITCHULA II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 26^th Raja of Ettayapuram -/1710 (son)
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA VENKATESWARA II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 27^th Raja of Ettayapuram 1710/1725. He very religious and also said to be well-skilled in magic and witchcraft.
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 28^th Raja of Ettayapuram 1725/-
Sri VENKATESWARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 29^th Raja of Ettayapuram -/1783
Sri MUTHU KURUMALI DURAI, 30^th Raja of Ettayapuram 1783/1784
Sri MUTHU JAGAVIRA RAMA KUMARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 31^st Raja and 1^st Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1784/1816, demoted to a hereditary zamindari in 1801. He was widely known for his piety, generosity and other good qualities. He married and had issue. He died 1816.
- Sri Jagavira Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal (qv)
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA VENKATESWARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 2^nd Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1817/1839, born 1761. He erected a temple dedicated to Subramanian Swamy and allotted two villages yielding annually Rupees 900 for its up-keep and maintenance. He erected a choultry and sank a well at Ettayapuram. A stone mantapam of exquisite workmanship was erected by him at a cost of Rupees 30,000, in honor of Calugachala Murti (a Hindu God). A palanquin and jewels of the value of Rupees 20,000 were presented to the same idol. He married and had issue. He died 1839.
- Sri Jagavira Rama Kumara Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal (qv)
- Sri Jagavira Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal (qv)
- Sri Muthuswami Jagavira Rama Kumara Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal [Muthuswami Pandian] (qv)
- Sri Ramaswami Pandian
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA KUMARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 3^rd Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1839/1852, married and had issue. He died 1852.
- Sri Raja Jagavira Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Bahadur (qv)
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA VENKATESWARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 4^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1852/1858
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA MUTHUSWAMI KUMARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 5^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1858/1868, married and had issue. He died 1868.
- Sri Jagavira Rama Kumara II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal (qv)
- Sri Jagavira Rama Venkateswara II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal (qv)
Sri JAGAVIRA RAMA KUMARA II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 6^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1868/1890, married and had issue. He died 1890.
- Sri Jagavira Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal (qv)
Sri Raja JAGAVIRA RAMA VENKATESWARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan, 7^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1890/1915; born 1878, succeeded his father in May 1890, installed in December 1899, this Rajah of Ettayapuram too was a product of the Court of Wards and is well known in musical history as the benefactor who funded the printing and publication of Subbarama Dikshitar’s “Sangeeta Sampradaya Pradarshini” on the earnest appeal of Chinnasvami Mudaliar. He died sp in 1915.
Sri Raja JAGAVIRA RAMA VENKATESWARA II Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Bahadur, 8^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1915/1928, born 1868, educated at Newington College, Madras; he had made extensive tours in India, and also maintained a High School for boys, and a girl’s school at his headquarters; married and had issue. He died 1928.
- Raja Jagavera Rama Kumara III Ettappa Naicker Aiyyan Avergal [aka Thangasami Pandian] (qv)
Sri Raja JAGAVIRA RAMA KUMARA III Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 9^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1928/1934, died 1934.
Sri Raja MUTHU KUMARA VENKATESWARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 10^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1934/1941 or 1942
Sri Raja JAGAVIRA RAMA MUTHU KUMARA VENKATESWARA Ettappa Nayakar Aiyan Avergal, 11^th Zamindar of Ettayapuram 1942/(1954), the zamindari was abolished on 26th September 1954. He died after 1962.