Vaiṣṇavization of the Woḍeyars of Mysore

Kingship, Devotion, and Genealogy in the Reign of Rāja Woḍeyar

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of kingship in medieval South India through the case of the Woḍeyar dynasty of Mysore, focusing on the reign of Rāja Woḍeyar (r. [1578–] 1610–1617 CE). It argues that kingship in this period transcended mere political and military dominance, requiring rulers to forge a devotional and genealogical alliance with divinity to legitimize their authority. Rāja Woḍeyar’s rise coincided with the decline of the Vijayanagara empire, and his bid for regional supremacy involved two key strategies: (1) shifting his dynasty’s devotional allegiance from a local goddess to Śrī Vaiṣṇavism, adopting Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa of Mēlukōṭe as the royal tutelary deity, and (2) constructing a Purāṇic genealogical past linking the Woḍeyars to the Yādava lineage. By integrating his rule within a cosmic framework, Rāja Woḍeyar positioned himself as an earthly analogue of Viṣṇu, mirroring the divine hierarchy in his political administration. Through an analysis of inscriptions, literary sources, and royal rituals like the Mahānavamī festival, this article demonstrates how the Woḍeyars’ Vaiṣṇavization and Purāṇicization redefined their kingship, aligning it with broader South Indian imperial traditions. The study highlights the enduring interplay between devotion, genealogy, and political power in medieval South India.