Maharajah Bala Rama Varma, during whose reign Travancore confronted a series of internal and external issues, revolts and needless battles and conspiracies, including Velu Thampi Dalawa's most effective revolt, died in 1811. Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, Attingal 's senior Rani, was barely 20 years old at the Maharajah 's death. There were no eligible male members in the family which meant that she was going to have to take over Travancore and rule it as a regent until such an heir was born.
One of Regent Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 's earliest acts was to cast off the existing Dewan or Premier, Ummini Thampi. Ummini Thampi has been accused of squandering money and gaining all the properties of Velu Thampi Dalawa and others, the defeated rebel freedom fighter. He was disqualified, and he was jailed and punished after being found guilty of conspiracy against the Regent Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi when he tried to cause further trouble.The Maharani was now asked to nominate some individual for Dewan 's post, to whom she said she did not find an eligible individual and would like to nominate Resident Colonel John Munro as their Dewan. In 1811, therefore, Munro became Dewan of Travancore.
The Maharani married the Changanassery Royal Family to a Koil Thampuran, Prince Rajaraja Varma Avargal. Gowri Lakshmi Bayi had issue from this marriage, with two sons and a daughter. Maharani Gowri Rukmini Bayi was born in 1809 and her daughter was. Her eldest son, the famous King Swathi Thirunal who was a musician and artist and ruled independently from 1829-1846, was born on 16 April 1813.He married a lady who was a member of the Ammaveedu family Thiruvattar. In 1814 the next Maharani had a son, Maharajah Uthram Thirunal, who ruled from 1846 -1860. After giving birth to Uthram Thirunal the Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi began to lose her health and died in 1815. Her niece, Gowri Parvati Bayi, succeeded She as Regent Maharani.