{{Use Indian English, date=July 2018
Vira Varma was the second ranking prince of
Kottayam
Kottayam () is a municipal town in the Indian state of Kerala. Flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west. It is the district headquarters of Kottayam district, located in south- ...
and last Raja of
Kurumbranad
Kurumbranad (Kurumbuzhai Nadu or Kurumbiathiri Swaroopam) was a kingdom, located in present-day Kerala state, South India, on the Malabar Coast. Once a powerful kingdom, it had important commercial centres such as Mapayil, Puthuppanam and Vatakara ...
. He is more famous as the uncle of his better known nephew
Pazhassi Raja
Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...
. Vira Varma and his nephew Kerala Varma (
Pazhassi Raja
Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...
) rose to prominence in turbulent days that followed
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali ( حیدر علی, ''Haidarālī''; 1720 – 7 December 1782) was the Sultan and ''de facto'' ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born as Hyder Ali, he distinguished himself as a soldier, eventually drawing the at ...
's invasion of Malabar in 1774.
Described as a wicked and scheming person, Vira Varma also had vengeful and jealous disposition and was always at loggerheads with
Pazhassi Raja
Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...
. In 1792, he surrendered his kingdom to the British and agreed to collect and pay tribute fixed by British officials. In 1793, he was adopted by Rama Raja of Kurumbranad as successor.
His cruel revenue policy led to a peasant rebellion led by his nephew, Pazhassi Raja. This rebellion turned into a full blown war between the British and Pazhassi Raja. In 1797, Pazhassi Raja won the war and one of his terms was for the British to recognize his claim that Vira Varma must not be permitted to rule Kottayam, since being Raja of
Kurumbranad
Kurumbranad (Kurumbuzhai Nadu or Kurumbiathiri Swaroopam) was a kingdom, located in present-day Kerala state, South India, on the Malabar Coast. Once a powerful kingdom, it had important commercial centres such as Mapayil, Puthuppanam and Vatakara ...
had removed his right to his native home. Britain accepted his claim and thus, ended Vira Varma's dream to rule Kottayam and Kurumbranad together.