Ammachi Panapillai Amma

Ammachi Panapillai Amma was the title held by the consort of the ruling Maharajah of Travancore as well as those of other title-holding male members of the Travancore Royal Family.[1]

Ammachee, wife of His Highness the Maharaja of Travancore in 1868
Ammachi Panapillai Amma Shrimathi Radhadevi Pandalai - The consort of Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

Its literal translation is 'consort' since as per the formerly existent matriarchal system in Travancore, the Maharajah's sister was the Maharani, and not his wife. Thus the wife, a non-royal, took the title of Ammachi Panapillai Amma.[2]

The Ammachis were mostly from families of the Nair nobility. The Maharajahs married these ladies through the Sambandham form of wedlock known as Pattum Parivattavum.

  1. ^ Travancore State Manual Vol ii 1940 by TK Velu Pillai and TSM Vol II 1906 by V Nagam Aiya
  2. ^ Dr. Ivy Peter, Dr. D. Peter (November 2009). Liberation of the Oppressed a Continuous Struggle- A Case Study (since 1822 A.D). Nagercoil: Kanyakumari Institute of Development Studies. pp. 24–26.