A study on the Royal Contribution and patronage to Indian music, which happens to be the major theme of this volume is attempted perhaps for the first time now in a comprehensive manner. The period of study ranges from 2nd B.C. to the present century covering most of the regions of India, Contributions of more than seventy royal scholars and patrons have been taken up in this work like Chikkadearaja Wodeyar, Ettendra Maharaja, Govinda dikshita, Haripala, Krishnadevaraya, Mahendravarman, Rana Kumbha, Serfoji, Shahaji, Swati Tirunal, Somesvara, Tulajaji, Vidyaranya etc. Two separate chapters have been devoted to the works of king Shahaji and Swati Tirunal Maharaj of Travancore. A New theory on the identification of the much publicized Kudumiyamalai Musical inscription is attempted. Thus the stalwart kings of India have nurtured our music with tender care and have been its willing captives. In fact, musical training formed an indispensable item of royal education. Many were of rulers of India who were profound scholars in the theory and practice of this art. Several of them have perpetuated their names by bequeathing an imperishable legacy of scholarly musical treatises to posterity. Nowhere else in the world has royal patronage and encouragement to music probably been as continuous and rich as in India.
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