Thanjavur Marathas of the
Bhonsle dynasty were the rulers of Thanjavur principality of Tamil Nadu between
the 17th to the 19th century C.E. Their native language was Marathi. Venkoji
was the founder of the dynasty. He is the younger brother of the first Maratha
emperor, Shivaji Maharaj (although some sources claim him as the son of the
emperor). He began the Thanjavur, or Tanjore, dynasty which ruled the state
until 1855.
Mostly the Thanjavur marathas issued coins in Devanagari legend and also a few coins with tamil legend. The coins with Tamil legend are rare and very few coins of this variety were published so far.
Mostly the Thanjavur marathas issued coins in Devanagari legend and also a few coins with tamil legend. The coins with Tamil legend are rare and very few coins of this variety were published so far.
Coins of Thanjavur Maratha kingdom
Obv: Siva and
Parvati seated facing, Siva holding Damaru and mriga or
deer
Rev: maha raja
in Nagari
Obv: Parvati
seated with flowers in hand
Rev: maha raja
in Nagari
Obv: Elephant facing left with
moon above it. Within dotted circle.
Rev: maha raja
in Nagari
Obv: maha raja in Nagari
Rev: maha deva in Nagari
Obv: mudra in Nagari
Rev: maha raja
in Nagari
The city itself is one of
India's oldest, with a history which reaches back into the Sangam period.
During the rule of the later Cholas, it served as their capital, subsequently
being ruled by the Pandyas, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Madurai Nayaks, and
the Thanjavur Nayaks, before the arrival of the Marathas. The city is now in
Tamil Nadu state in south-eastern India.
The Thanjavur Maratha Rajas
favored Sanskrit and Telugu. Most of the plays were in Sanskrit. Venkoji, the
first ruler of the Bhonsle dynasty composed a 'Dvipada' Ramayana in Telugu.
His son Shahuji was a great patron of learning and of literature. Most of the Thanjavur Maratha literature is from his period. Most of them were versions of the Ramayana or plays and short stories of a historical nature. Sanskrit and Telugu were the languages used in most of these plays while there were some Tamil 'koothu' as well.
Tanjore was annexed by the
British in India in 1855, after the last maharaja died without a son to succeed
him.
