Ramnad king Kumaran Sethupathi passes away

MADURAI: Kumaran Sethupathi, king of erstwhile Ramnad kingdom and patron of Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, passed away in Ramanathapuram on Tuesday morning. He was 56.
He had been suffering from a prolonged illness and confined to bed for the last one year. He passed away due to a cardiac arrest.
Kumaran Sethupathi was survived by his wife Rajarajeswari Nachiyar, the queen and the only daughter of previous king Ramanatha Sethupathi, a son and a daughter.
AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran took to Twitter to condole the death. “I am saddened by the death of Ramanathapuram king and patron of Rameswaram temple N Kumaran Sethupathi. I extend my condolences to the grieving family and relatives,” he tweeted.
Sethupathis were the chieftains of erstwhile Ramnad kingdom and the title was reestablished during the Madurai Nayaks. They were entrusted to rule the Sethu coast and protect pilgrims visiting Rameswaram. They declared independence from the Nayak rule during the rule of Kilavan Sethupathi who reigned from 1670 to 1708. They were reduced to zamindars during the British Raj. The titular rulers continue to live in Ramnad palace and act as the patrons of various institutions including Ramanathaswamy temple.
Rajarajeswari Nachiyar is the titular queen of the kingdom at present.