Raja Ravi Varma Temple of Art

 

Raja Ravi Varma Temple of Art, from the Royal House of Kilimanoor, is an organisation avowed to stand for the cause of art, culture and heritage. It aims at upholding and preserving the sacred artistic legacy of Raja Ravi Varma through manifold activities. It represents the sanctum sanctorum of art throbbing and pulsating with the hallowed memories of a great legend, his siblings and their descendants who belong to the Royal House of Kilimanoor. It is a channel of blessings from the emperor of art Raja Ravi Varma, his younger brother Raja Raja Varma, and his younger sister Mangala Bayi who left their footprints in the sands of time as extraordinarily talented artists. The legacy of the family demonstrates the immense and uncanny power of art in shaping the course of the cultural output of India.The organisation which is an extension of the Ramavarma Foundation for Art and Culture (2020) is founded by Shri Ramavarma Thampuran, famous musician and descendant of the legendary artist.

There is an array of artistic and literary luminaries hailing from the Kilimanoor royal family who began their tryst with art well ahead of Ravi Varma's time. Ravi Varma Koil Thampuran (author of Kadhakali plays like 'Kamsavadham' and 'Rukmini Swayamvaram'), Kilimanoor Umadevi Thampuratti (author of Vishnu Mayacharitam Ottan thullal), Anizham Thirunal Raja Raja Varma Vidwan Koil Thampuran (Kareendran Thampuran, accomplished Sanskrit poet and composer in the court of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma), Bharani Thirunal Raja Raja Varma Koil Thampuran (Raja Ravi Varma's uncle, muralist and mentor), Makayiram Thirunal Umamba Thampuratti (Ravi Varma's mother), and Kerala Varma Koil Thampuran (author of the Sanskrit dictionary 'Amara Padardha Prakashika') are a few of such flag bearers of the rich artistic tradition. Like burnt incense, the fragrance of their unearthly talents fills every nook and corner of Kilimanoor Palace, the magnificent temple of art.