Raja Wodeyar I

Raja Wodeyar I (2 June 1552 – 20 June 1617) was the ninth Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the oldest son of Chamaraja Wodeyar IV, the seventh Maharaja of Mysore. Following the death of his cousin, Chamaraja Wodeyar V, he reigned from 1578 until his death in 1617.^[1]

Raja Wodeyar I
9th Maharaja of Mysore
Reign	1578–20 June 1617
Predecessor	Chamaraja Wodeyar V (first cousin)
Successor	Chamaraja Wodeyar VI (grandson)
Born	(1552-06-02)2 June 1552
Died	20 June 1617(1617-06-20) (aged 65)
Issue	Yuvaraja Narasaraja, Raja Wodeyar II
Names Maha Mandalaswara Birud-antembara-ganda Raja Raja Wodeyar I
House	Wodeyar
Father	Chamaraja Wodeyar IV

Expelling Vijayanagara envoys

Raja Wodeyar I maintained his father's policy regarding Vijayanagara ambassadors. During the reign of Sriranga II, who faced internal conflict within his family, Raja Wodeyar expelled most Vijayanagara emissaries from his kingdom, retaining only one in Srirangapattana. Although Mysore declared independence from the Vijayanagara Empire and removed its representatives, it continued to recognize the empire and the emperor.^[2]

Mysore Dasara

Main article: Mysore Dasara

The initiation of the Mysore Dasara celebrations in 1610 is attributed to Raja Wodeyar I, marking the kingdom's independence from the Vijayanagara Empire. This involved offering prayers to the banni tree, located near the current Mysore Palace. His only surviving son died a day before the commencement of Navaratri. However, the king decreed that the ceremonies should continue uninterrupted.

Raja Wodeyar was a devout follower of Vaishnavism and donated a bejeweled crown to the Lord Cheluvarayaswami Temple at Melukote. This crown is still used in the Raja Mudi carnival. During the Indian Emergency of 1975, the crown was confiscated by the Government of Karnataka. Legend states that Raja Wodeyar, upon entering the garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Cheluvarayaswami Temple on 20 June 1617, became one with the deity (aikya; died). An idol (bhakthi vigraha) of the king is located inside the temple, and another can be found in the Lakshminarayanaswami temple, part of the Temple inside the Mysore Palace Fort.

See also

• Mysore Dasara
• Wodeyar dynasty
• Maharaja of Mysore