Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman I was born on 25 August 1713 to Thirumalai Raya Tondaiman Sahib, the heir-apparent of Pudukkottai and his wife, Nallayi Ayi Sahib and educated privately. On the death of his father in 1729, Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman I was made heir-apparent by his grandfather, Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman, the Raja of Pudukkottai.
