MAHARAJAH TULAJA RAJAH II

After the death of a great King Pratap Singh, his son H.H. Cholasimhasanathipathi Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Tulaja Raja II Saheb Bhosle succeeded to the Throne of Thanjavur. He ruled Thanjavur from 1763-1787 A.D.

King Tulaja II like his forefathers was well versed in all arts and he obtained training under his warrior and scholar father, King Pratap Singh. He patronised Sanskrit, Telugu, Marathi, and Tamil scholars of these one Telugu court poet of rare merit Alluri Kuppanna was conferred the title of Andra Kalidasa. He wrote Acharya Vijayaru, Panchanada Sthalapurana, Padma Bhagavatha Charitram, Indumathi Parinaya, Karmavipaka etc. To his spiritual Guru Nanagosavi Advaitagaresara of Sethubhava Swami Mutt is attributed several Marathi works on Advaita philosophy. Neelakanta Kavi wrote Sanskrit sringara Satakam. Some of the Maratha poets who adorned his court were Rama Pandita author of Atma Vidya Vilasa tika, Krishna Avadhutha author of Guru Gopya Prakasa, Shesha Kavi author of Panduranga Mahatmya, Virupaksha Gangadhara author of Kamathantrasara, Mahadeva Kavi author of Bhagvat, Karaputla Ratnakara author of Stripurashanchasara, Rasamanjari etc.

Outstanding personalities in Carnatic music who brought in upheaval in textual changes and codification in music and dance adorned his court, and many of them survived to flourish during the reign of Serfoji the second. Persons who are now considered to be authority on the Lakshiya and Lakshana (theory and practice) of music were patronised by Tulaja II and his son Serfoji II. Three names are household names in modern times in the sphere of dance and music.

Arunachala Kavi Rayar the famous playwrite and musician,Sama Sastri one of the trinities of the south, Subbaraya Nattuvan the father of Bharatanatyam, famous Mahadeva Annavi a favourite dance expert of Tulaja II, Avadai AppaIyer, Sonti Venkataramanayya, Guru of Thiaga Brahmam, Muthuswami Dixitar, another musical trinity of the south and several others flourished in the court of his son Serfoji II. Tulaja Raja II died on 31-1-1787.