 Portrait of Sir T. Madhava Rao, a Thanjavur Maharashtrian of 19th Century | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~70,000 (2001) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India (Tamil Nadu region of Chennai, Dharmapuri district, Kerala) | |
| Languages | |
| Thanjavur Marathi, Tamil | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Marathi people, Deshasta Brahmin, Tamil people |
Thanjavur Marathi people (colloquially called Rayar), are a Thanjavur Marathi-speaking ethno-linguistic group, who reside in the central and northern parts of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are the descendants of Marathi administrators, soldiers and noblemen who migrated to this region during the rule of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. Thanjavur was a Maratha kingdom in Tamil Country, until the British East India Company dethroned the last Thanjavur Maratha king, Shivaji of Thanjavur. It was founded by Maratha Warrior King Chatrapati Shivaji's half-brother, Ekoji alias Venkoji Rajē Bhonsalē.[1][2] The Kshatriyas use Maratha, while the Brahmins use the surname Deshastha.[3]
- ^ "The Maharashtrians of TN". The Hindu. 7 July 2003. Archived from the original on 28 October 2003. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ "Marathi identity, with Tamil flavour". The Indian Express. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Ramesh N. Rao; Avinash Thombre (23 April 2015). Intercultural Communication: The Indian Context. SAGE Publications India. p. 221. ISBN 9789351505075. Retrieved 23 April 2015.