KAILASA

British Occupation

During the British rule, the land of Swargapuram was slowly annexed by the British. Under the guise of building alliances, the British strategically seized power from the Hindu Kingdoms of Kochi and Travancore, which came under Swargapuram.

• Initially, they were recognized as “princely states” separate from the British but still owing taxes to the Empire

• In 1799, all sovereignty and privileges were usurped, leaving kings as glorified landlords

• With the loss of sovereignty, the enlightenment ecosystem of Swargapuram began to degrade, losing touch with its roots.

After 2015, the flag of Shaiva Siddhanta was flown high once again in the Kingdom of Swargapuram with the Coronation of The SPH as the next successor.

History

The spiritual kingdom of Swargapuram came to prominence under the Chola and Chera Dynasty with abundant lands, food banks (anna daan), educational institutions, charity organizations, felicitation of scholarly poets, and spreading the teachings of Saiva Siddhanta. It served as a guiding force, shaping the spiritual landscape of the region for many centuries.

The modern-day descendants of the Chera Dynasty are the Travancore Royal family in the State of Kerala. They were well known for their devotion, patronage, and protection of Hindu institutions and communities in the region.

In 1746, they rose to power after their famous victory against the Dutch in the Travancore Dutch war, the earliest recorded triumph of a power from Asia over a European power.

Forced Cessation of Charity

The Travancore Kings (rajas) undertook 16 major charitable events known as mahādanams, which are a point of pride for Hindu rulers. Through these acts, they supported the priest and pundit community by distributing gifts en masse. These offerings were considered an integral part of their devotion to the Divine. Over the course of Hindu history, mahādanams have played a crucial role in circulating wealth among all communities within the kingdom. In 1848, the Governor of the Madras Presidency threatened the King of Travancore that if this practice did not cease, the kingdom would be seized by the British. This ultimatum led to the cessation of mahādanams and the subsequent loss of an essential Hindu tradition.

Annexation of the Travancore Kingdom

Before 1947 when India gained independence, the King of Travancore declared his intention to form an independent State. He was strong in his position until July of 1947 when the Kerala Socialist Party attempted to assassinate him. Under threat, the Travancore King acceded and became a part of the Indian Union. The forced annexation of the Travancore Kingdom and other Hindu political kingdoms gravely affected the spiritual kingdom of Swargapuram which drastically declined after 1947.

2006: Trivandrum King Shri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Maharaja requests THE SPH to grace the Travancore Palace in Kerala and offers numerous gifts on the auspicious occasion.

The SPH in an administrative meeting with the Mahrajah of Travancore, the last living descendant of the lineage of the Chera Sāmrājyam