Thiruvananthapuram: Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma’s nephew Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the new head of Travancore Royal Family, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple trustee and heads other concerns of the Travancore Royal Family in accordance with Marumakkathayam – matrilineal inheritance system.
Rama Varma, 63, is the son of Marthanda Varma's sister Karthika Thirunal Gauri Lakshmi Bayi. His wife is Dr Girija Varma. They have no children.
Rama Varma is managing director of Aspinwall and Company in Mangalore, which was acquired by Travancore Royals from the English owners.
The anointing of the new head of the temple will take place with udavalkaimattam (transferring of sword) to be held 12 days after the death of the incumbent. It could be the 13th day or any other auspicious day and could be held either at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple or Navarathri Mandapam.
Later ariyittuvazhcha will be performed at Attingal Bhagavathy temple, which also has the family deity of the Travancore royal family. Usually the ritual would be performed at the next annual festival of the temple, said historian Sasi Bhooshan.
