400-Year Curse: A dramatic narrative of pride, diamonds, and a queen’s curse that still reverberates through the royal corridors of Karnataka took place four centuries ago, close to Mysore. Queen Alamelamma, whose deadly words are claimed to have cursed a whole dynasty, is at the center of this story.

Who is Alamelamma?

Tirumalaraja of Srirangapatna’s wife, Alamelamma, led a tranquil life till her husband became seriously ill and passed away in 1612. She defended her valuable jewelry, including a treasured pearl nose ring, fiercely and alone. But soon there were problems. The ambitious Mysorean king Raja Wadiyar instructed his troops to take her diamonds because he coveted them. Alamelamma fled to Talakadu with the other rings, but she gave up the nose ring.

She made the audacious choice to be pursued to the Cauvery River’s banks close to Malangi. Alamelamma hurled a terrifying three-part curse before plunging into the churning waters as the soldiers closed in:
“Let Talakadu become a desert, Malangi a whirlpool, and the Wadiyars never bear sons.”

Problems in the Royal Family:

Many believed Alamelamma’s curse took effect over the years. Dunes slowly swallowed Talakadu, once a lush and fertile region, burying centuries-old temples beneath ever-shifting layers. Meanwhile, Malangi earned a dark reputation for forming sudden, mysterious whirlpools that baffled even locals. Strangely, generation after generation of Wadiyars struggled to produce biological heirs and instead adopted successors to continue the royal line.

To seek forgiveness and perhaps undo the curse, the Wadiyar royal family installed a gilded statue of Alamelamma inside Mysore Palace. Every year during the grand Dasara festivities, they performed special rituals and worshipped her, hoping to appease her spirit. Then, in a stunning turn of events, Yaduveer Wadiyar, the family’s adopted heir, and his wife, Trishika, welcomed their first son in 2017. The moment sparked celebration across the region, as many believed the birth marked the end of a 400-year-old curse.

Does the curse exist?
Science places the responsibility on chance and nature. Locals, however, continue to discuss Alamelamma’s last words in whispers. This tale, which is more than just a myth, combines mystery, sorrow, and heritage into a single royal drama. You will walk through history that is still alive with legend if you ever visit Mysore or Talakadu.

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