Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma: Quotes about family

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma was Maharaja of Travancore. Explore interesting quotes on family.
Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma: 44 quotes0 likes

“It is nice to see that the royal family of England has easily adapted to the changed times. They are well-trained to retain their memories, updated their knowledge and live according to the new conditions.”

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

In "When 'Maharaja of Travancore' met Queen Elizabeth II (8 July 2012)".

“Sri Chithira Tirunal Maharaja was a visionary. Gandhiji came here after the Temple Entry Proclamation was made by my brother, throwing open the temples to all the castes. The Mahatma said it was not a trip but a pilgrimage. The carpet on which he sat is now a prized possession of the family.”

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

In "Royal vignettes: Travancore - Simplicity graces this House (30 March 2003)"

“From the age of eight, I have grown up in an atmosphere pervaded by religion. The State was surrendered to Lord Padmanabhaswamy in 1750 by my ancestor whose name I bear. Nothing is greater than this concept and since that day, every morning, the ruler has the tradition of rendering an account of the previous day's administrative events to the lord. Whether I can communicate this attachment and devotion to others — the younger people in the family — is what worries me. Are they in attendance at the right time at the temple? This alone bothers me.”

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

In "Royal vignettes: Travancore - Simplicity graces this House (30 March 2003)"

“If my knowledge is correct, the government in the United Kingdom even took away the tax concessions given to the Royals. But the British royal family seems to have no complaint about that. It is a rare quality," he said.”

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

In "When 'Maharaja of Travancore' met Queen Elizabeth II (8 July 2012)".

“We are the Cheras, one of the four erstwhile royal families of South India and have a long and dynastic family tree. By 1750 Travancore had become rich and big. So my ancestor, the then king, made a unique spiritual and historical contribution. He decided to surrender all his riches to the temple - Padmanabhaswamy is also our family deity. He said our family would look after that wealth, the temple and the kingdom forever. But he did want the ego that comes with possessing it. He was influenced by Emperor Ashoka's catharsis in the killing fields of Kalinga. So he declared our family to be Padmanabha's 'dasas', devotees. A servant can resign his job, but a dasa can do so only when he dies.”

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

On his family links with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in
The riches belong to nobody, certainly not to our family, 2009

“I am what I am because I was the son of a princess. Women have always been very educated and progressive in my family.”

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

On the matrilineal system of inheritance in vogue among the royal family, in "Royal vignettes: Travancore - Simplicity graces this House (30 March 2003)"