Arayar Araiyar Bharatava Valaiyar (Paratava Valayar) Kavalgar Kannappa Kula Muthuraja Muthuraja Naidu Muthiriya

Muthiriya Naidu (Gavara) Muthiriya Naicker Muthiriya Moopar (Shanan) Moopanar (Parkava Kulam) Muthiriya Urali Gounder Muthiriya Rao Pillai

Palayakara Palayakkaran Palayakkarar Palayakara Naiker Poosari Servai Servaikkaran Talaiyari

Valaiyar Valayar Vazhuvadiyar Vedan Vetan Vetar Vanniyarkula Muthuraj

[edit] Eymology

• Muthu means " Pearl" and Raja means "King", so Mudhiraj means king of pearls; they used to collect pearls from sea.
• Koli means a spider (One who spins a web or one who weaves a net, and hence the fisherman, who weaves the net, is also called a Koli. It also means fisherman, presumably because the fisherman makes and uses a net to catch his prey as a spider his web).
• Bil means bow, which describes their superiority in archery.

[edit] History

The ancient King Mandhata, whose reputation spread far and wide throughout India and whose stories of valor and yajna were described in the stone carvings of Mohenjo Daro, belonged to this tribe. The king was a great warrior ( Mahan joddha )and the city's original name " Mahan-Joddha-Oor" seems gradually modified to Mohenjodaro. The author of the Ramayana, Valmiki, is from this community. This is way they are known as Valimikis in some parts of India. Shabari, who offered Sri Rama and Sri Laxmana half-eaten 'ber' when they were searching for Sita Devi in the forest was a Bhil. Sri Rama appears in a Bhil myth where there has been a flood that wiped out humanity and Rama suggests how it can be repopulated [1]. Veda Vyas, the writer of great epic Mahabharata was son of Satyavathi of Koli community and a Brahmin Rishi. The first wife Ganga Mata and the second wife Satyavathi of Shantanu of Mahabharata were the daughters of Kolis chiefs. Thus the great warrior Bheeshma, Pandavas and Kauravas were part Bhil. This was the hidden reason why Arjuna could hit a fish with his arrow to win Draupadi in swayamvara. Ganga and fish are the symbols that are related to Kolis. The Mahabharata tells the story of Eklavya, a Bhil who surpassed the skill of Arjuna only to be suepressed by his guru. Lord Gautama Buddha's mother and wife belong to Koli community. Maharishi Matanga was another Hindu sage that became a Brahmana. Sant Kabir, a weaver by trade, ended several of his 'bhajans' as 'kahet kabir kori' was a self-confessed Koli. Purandara das, who was one of the greatest Carnatic singers and poets of Karnataka, was from Kabbaliga caste. The Kabbaligas claim that they are Mudiraj people settled in Karnataka. Their main profession is fishing and are also known as Bestha / Gangaputra. They are a variant of Kolis of Karnataka / Maharashtra. The story of Purandara Das reveals that he migrated from Maharashtra to Hampi and belonged to Koli (Naik) community.

[edit] Vanara

The Bants of Andhra Pradesh and Bunts of Karnataka are one and the same people. There are several common surnames among Mudiraju, Tuluva bunts and Balija giving rise to speculation that balijas were an integral part of Mudiraju bantlu during medieval times. The Bants of AP and the Bunts of Karnataka have the same Vanara ancestry, the race of Hanuman, Vali, and Sugreeva & Jambavanth of Kishkinda region of Bellary districts of Karnataka. Hanuman is affectionately known as "Rama Bantu" among Telugu speaking people. Because of Hanuman, the word "Bantu" became synonymous to word "Servant". The Bants are highly loyal in their soldier duties and hence they were specially preferred to be interior guards in Royal palaces. They were also known for their dare devil do or die mentality. Bant or Bunt word was a gradual modification of the word Bantara/ Banjara. All the Banjara Gypsies were from the same genetic pool of Tribal Vanaras. The Vanaras were once spread all over India from Kanyakumari to Rajastan deserts and further up to river Sindhu. Vanaras became well known due to their association with Sri Rama and Valmiki through his epic Ramayana. Vanaras had a powerful kingdom of their own in Rayalaseema & Bellary regions with Kishkinda as their capital.

Kishkinda was the same place where Hampi was built by Hakka Raya & Bukka Raya, the descendants of the same Bant/Bunt/Vanara origin. The Bants or Vanaras were highly loyal in their services and known for creating temples and bridges. It was also on the record of Ramayana, that the Vanaras built Adam's Bridge between Srilanka and India at Rameswaram to rescue Sita from Ravana.

[edit] Kalabhras

It is believed that the Mudiraja or Muthuraja kings were the descendants of Kalabhra Kings of South India, who conquered the Cholas, Pallavas, and the Pandyas and ruled from 300 AD to 600 AD.

Kalabhra interregnum is called as 'dark period' by earliest Pallava and medieval Pandya sources as Kalabhra rule paved the way to put an end to the primacy of Tamil culture and language. The Kalabhras were anti-Brahmins and anti-Sanskrit, believed to have been Buddhists and helped spread their religion in their newly acquired state. In Buddhist writings mention a certain Achyuta-Vikranta of Kalabhra-kula who is referred to as "ruling the earth." It describes at length his works, the prosperous cities of Kaveripattanam and Bhutamangalama in Chola-ratha in each of which there is said to have been a great monastery. By about the end of the sixth century A.D. the Kalabhras seems to have been driven out of the Tamil land, and the Pallava and Pandya copper-plate grants speak of the re-establishment of their power under Simhavishnu and Kadungon respectively. The Pallava rule was revived by Simhavishnu, a scion of the Pallava ruling family and was firmly established at Kanchi. The area round Thanjavur was under the sway of chieftains known as the Muttaraiyuar whose inscriptions are found at Sendalai and Niyamam, who ruled either independently or as vassals of the Pallavas. One such chief was Kataka-Muttaraiyan mentioned in theVaikuntha-Perumal temple inscriptions at Kanchipuram as a Pallava subordinate in the reign of Nandivarman II. No. 18 of the "Pudukkottai Inscriptions" refers to a Muttaraiyar chief called Videlvidugu Muttaraiyan as a feudatory under Dantivarman.

[edit] Cholas

Muthurajas and Cholas both originated from fishing and hunting background to become warriors. They were integrated into a ruling class in Tamil nadu by having matrimonial alliances among them. Muthurajas also had matrimonial alliances with Pandyas, who were also known as Maha Rayas. Karikala Chola was one of the great kings of the Chola dynasty who belonged to the Valavan fishing community. The Valavans are a sub caste of Muthuraja in Tamil Nadu today. It is widely believed by Muthurajas that both these groups had the same origins. The matter of identifying and establishing common roots of Muthurajas and Cholas back to the Vanara king of Sugreeva is a subject of research by Chola-Mutharayar Research Center, Thanjavur. Cholas of Sangam age were Tamils and claimed descent from different castes at different times. The earlier cholas emperor karikal cholan belongs to Vellala from Uraiyur and later Cholas were Pallars. Mutharayars are Vellalas and the Kalabhra kings were also Vellalas. Later Cholas married Kodumbalur Vellala's sons and daughters. Kodumbalur Vellalas are believed to be either Mutharayars or a branch of Mutharayars. Pallars are today considered as untouchbles.

[edit] Kakatiyas

Kakatiyas were believed to belonging to bhil fishing community. Their ability to hunt fish with arrows made them skilled archers, like Ekalavya. Even today a large population of Mudirajs dependent on fishing profession. Kakatiya seems to descend from Kaikadis, a branch of Maharastrian Erukalas. Gaikwad (gaikawala) is one of the surnames of Kaikadis in Gujarat. Kaikadi word itself seems to be a modification of the word Gaikwadi, as these eruklas were once employed by royal courts of Gujarat to look after their cow (gaai) herds. Erukalas are a branch or a variant of bhil dravidians. Their clan name and Goddess name seems to be derived from Kaikadi. For more details, see webpage on kingdoms in Mudiraja research website.

In the north many Bhil were employed by the Rajputs as warriors and hunters ( shikari ) because of their knowledge of the terrain leading to expertise in guerilla warfare. They were in the army of Maharana Pratap Singh and Shivaji against the Mughals. There is still a 'Mewar Bhil Corps.' The erukalas of Gujarat, Rajastan and elsewhere are also known as paradhis. There are only three surnames among them paradhi erukalas of Gujarat and Rajastan and they are Chauhan, Pawar and Solanke. These paradi erukalas claim their descent from Rana Pratap and Prithwiraj Chauhan and original home in Gujrath and Rajasthan.

Naik was a title by Koli kings and by some community people even today in Maharashtra. Several Koli uprisings against Moslem rule were recorded around 1327 AD all over Maharashtra. Naga Nayak, the ruler of the Kolis, puts up a heroic resistance against the Moslems from the great hill of Kondanna (Sinhagad of later times, conquered by the great Tanaji)

[edit] Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar-II

One the famous kings of South India who ruled his kingdom with Tanjore as his capital city. He was a vassal under Pallavas. After Vijayalaya Chola conquered Tanjore defeating the Muttarayar chieftains around 850, the Pandyas went into a period of decline. Vijayala Chola defeated Perumbidugu Muttarayar and captured Tanjavur. As a result of this defeat of Muttarayar chiefs, Cholas became so powerful that Pallavas were also wiped out from Thanjavore region at a later stage.

There is a reference to Perumbidugu - Muttaraiyan II who attended the coronation of Nandivarman Pallavamlla. One of the titles of the Muttaraiyar was Lord of Tanjore. The Mutharaiyars were known to build some famous Shiva temples in and around Tanjavur. They were also known as the first builders of forts in Thanjavoor.

The city name " Thanjaur" seems to be derived from the name of a Mutharayar king "Thananjay" or "Dhananjaya". "Thananjayarayar" is one of the surnames of Mutharayar clans as per the research paper published by chola-Mutharayar research center, Tanjore. The original name "Thananjaya Ur" might have gradually modified to "Thanjavoor". The legend which says that city was named after a demon "Tanjan" seems to be a cooked up story by Hindu Vaishnava high class priests, who were most probably anti-buddhist & anti-Mutharayars. For more details, please visit web page on "cities" at Mudiraja on-line research website

[edit] Erikal Mutthuraju

There is an evidence that a Mudiraja king by name Erikal Mutthuraju ruled over parts of Rayalaseema and surrounding areas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Historians have recovered a rock edict written in Telugu language from Chennakeshava temple complex located at Erragudi Palem of Kamalapuram Taluk in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh. This was the first rock edict available to historians which was written in Telugu language and according to this rock edict, Erikal Mutthuraju ruled his kingdom in 575 AD.

[edit] Sripurusha Muttarasa

Sripurusha was a Western Ganga Dynasty king. He assumed the title of Muttarasa and ruled from 726 - 788 C.E. Dr. Nagaswamy, in his Mutharayar - defines them as Ganga Kings of kongani belonging to Tamil Mudhu Velir kudi. According to the Javali inscription, Sripurusha Muttarasa ruled for 62 years. He had marital relations with the Chalukyas and used titles Rajakesari, Bhimakopa and Ranabhajana. He is known later by the title "Maharajadhiraja" and "Paramesvara". The territory he ruled over coincided more or less with the south eastern portion of what is now Mysore State; it was technically known as the "Gangavdi 96,000" i.e., a province of 96,000 villages; his capital was Talakad, a sand buried city on the banks of the Kaveri near Kollegal. A warrior and a scholar, he authored the Sanskrit work Gajasastra.

The rule of Sripurusha seems to have been filled with conflicts with the Pallavas of Kanchi, Pandyas, later the Rashtrakutas. Sripurusha Muttarasa won the victory over the Pallava Nandivarman and assumed a title Permanadi. He had good relations with Chalukyas and had helped them fight the Pallavas during the rule of Vikramaditya II and later he fought the Pandyas during the rule of Chalukya Kirtivarman II but suffered reversal at Venbai. Sripurusha had many victories against Krishna I and occupied some Ratta territories. This resistance to Rashtrakutas continued for some time before the Gangas normalised their relationship with Rastrakutas through martial alliances.

It appears that Muttarasa had two sons, the elder Sivamara II and the younger Rana-vikrama. The Talakad Gangas appear to have enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity under Rana-vikrama (son of sripurursha-Muttarasa) and his son Rajamalla (c.840-871.) The latter commented an alliance with the Nolambas by giving his daughter Jayable to the Nolamba king Nolambadhiraja, son of Pallavadhiraja. The Gaigantic statue of Bahubali was installed at Sravanabelagola during the rule of Rachamalla by one of his generals.

[edit] Veera Pandya Katta Bommana

A Palayakar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Katta Bommana of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Katta Bommu was an adopted son of an issueless Pandya king. Palayakars come under subcaste of Muthuraja in Tamilnadu at present. He is known to be one of the first kings who revolted against the British in India. He is one of the first freedom fighter of India who was hanged by the imperial British government.

[edit] Soldiers, commandos & administrators

In medieval times there was only a very small standing army of any kingdom. Most of the armies mustered belonged to the feudatories and subordinate nobles and Dukes. These soldiers were basically farmers. Then there were the retainers of the many land holders, the "camp followers" who assisted in transport and logistics. But a section of the kingdom's official army was specialised professional infantry. These groups were exclusively concerned with techniques of warfare, and here too one section were called Ekattalu, or Ontari (individual hand to hand fighters). In a sense they were commando type soldiers. Among the Mudiraju are these sections. They were usually in the service of Velama kingdoms. Today also the Mudiraju farmers are found today in the vicinity of old Velama controlled areas.

It is said a section of the old Mudiraj were interior palace guards "suicide squads" i.e. the last line of defence of the Velama castles. While they mostly have a connection with the Velamas they are a distinct community, and it is likely they were active in earlier times too. In the Kakatiya times they used to spend most of their time developing Marital arts. Similar martial arts tradition is found in Orissa, Tamil Nadu and of course the well known Kalaaripayat of Kerala.

In some places the Mudirajus acquired large properties and were "Zamindars" in Tamil Nadu. There is a tradition that Mudirajus were kings under Pallava emperors in Tanjore area of Tamil Nadu, until Vijayalaya Chola took over the area. Even long afterwards, some of them retained large estates. In fact one of them set up a college during early English times. But on the whole Mudirajus today are middle and small farmers.

The word "Mutharacha" was a professional designation for those people who used to administer "Muthass" in Dravidian Tribal Society since prehistoric times. The Mutha system of administration continued till British people imposed their system of administration in British India.

• Mutha: is a Koya word. It means a cluster of villages equal to a Mandal / Taluka, which formed the smallest administrative unit in tribal society.
• Racha (Raja): Racha is also a Koya word. Racha indicates the people of ruling class who used to administer the Muthas in Dravidian tribal society. The powers were transferred from one generation to another.
• Thus the Mutharachas were born administrators having warrior qualities as they were like sub kings with all military and judicial powers to administer Muthas. They were directly answerable to their King.

The word Muthracha lost its value in the society as the system of Mutha died down and the Mutharachas became jobless. A large population of Mutharachas became farm laborers and coolis. They became one of poor backward class people.

[edit] Great Builders

It was well recorded that Kolis built Mumbai (Bombay), the great commercial capital of India on the West coast (Arabian Sea). Many people do not know that the fishing community built the cultural city of Madras (Chennai) on the East Coast (Bay of Bengal) of South India. The Founder of the city was a Chieftain of the Mudiraj fishing community and his name was Mudiraj Chennayya. The city was named after Chennayya (Chennai).

[edit] Thirumaiyam Temple

Located in Tamil Nadu. This cave temple was established by Kuvavan Mutharayar during his rule at Thanjavur from 610 AD – 649 AD. There stands a statue of Kuvavan Mutharayar in the form of Twara Balaga (Dwara Palaka = Gate keeper = Security guard) on the right side of temple door. It is believed that Kuvavan was brought from Renadu (Rayalseema) as a step son by his ancestor Nalladi alias Bhima Solan. Mahendra Pallavan took over Kanchi from Bhima Solan.

On the left side of temple entrance, there stands another Twara Balaga, which is said to be the statue of Kuvavan's younger brother Punniakumaran. At the time of Kuvavan's rule Punnia Kumaran was the Yuvaraja. That is why the Dwara Palaka on left entrance is seen without crown. At that time his father was on the seat of power in Renadu. The elder brother Kuvavan was crowned as king at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The younger brother was serving his elder brother faithfully by staying with him. The elder brother Kuvavan honored his younger brother for his love and faithful services by installing his statue along with him as Dwara Palaka in Thirumaiyam temple in Pudukottai Temple.

[edit] Pazhiyilli Siriyanangai

Another rock-cut cave temple, dedicated to Siva, opposite to the Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram temple, about 30 feet south of Samanar-kudagu.

This Siva cave temple was excavated in the seventh year of the Pallava king Nripatunga (862 AD.) by a Muttaraiyar chief, Sattan-pazhiyili, son of Videl-vidugu Muttaraiyan, which is where the temple gets the name. An inscription on the basement, states that the temple was excavated by Pazhiyili. It also states that his son built the front mandapam and installed a nandi, while his daughter Pazhiyili Siriya-nangai made a gift of land to the temple.

[edit] Religion

The Kolis who worship the Souls of their warrior ancestors were known as "Veerkars". The Mudiraj also worship the Souls of their ancestors and the call the function as "Veerla Kolupu". The Kolis who worship the God / Goddess were known as "Devkars". The Mudiraj people also worship the God/ Goddess and the function is known as "Devara Kolupu". The Mudiraj are Shiva worshipers with vibhoothi (ash) on their foreheads. While Mudiraj people are known to worship Ankamma in Andhra Pradesh, the counter part people of Kolis in Maharastra worship Mumba Devi = Maha Amba Devi).

[edit] Goddess Ankamma

Mudiraju's popular deity is mother Goddess Ankamma. Ankamma is also known as Angamma, Ankalamma, Angalamma, Ankali, Angali, Ankala Parameswari, Angala Parameswari and Veerla Ankamma which is the same as Kali. She is worshipped with these names in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. She was a royal deity of Chola and Muthrayar kings of South India. Rajendra Chola daughter Angamma Devi married an Eastern Chalukyan prince. Angalamman temple of Kaveripattinam is one among many holy places in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu which were built during Chola and Vijayanagar periods. Ankamma is considered to be the mother of Trimurtis. The most important part of Ankamma Kolupu is that a midnight puja was performed with the help of ballads by making a colorful Rangoli with wheat flour, turmaric powder, kumkum, black charcoal powder, etc. At the end of the puja, the devotees sacrifice a goat. The Devara Kolupu / Veerla Kolupu is normally performed on some special occasions by individuals or by community as a whole.

During the worship singers recite historical stories about warrior ancestors. In those stories, there is a reference to Dharma Choda Chari and his six brothers belonging solar race from Devagiri City in Maharastra. Kakatiyas who worshiped Goddess Kakati hailed from Maharastra Kaikadi Erukala branch of bhil community belonging to solar race. Devagiri was a capital city of Yadava kings in Maharashtra.

[edit] Links

• For more details about various names of this caste in India, please refer to research website Mudiraja at : http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_various_names.html
• Kolis of Mumbai
• Koli Samaj of Gujarat
• [2]
• website of Udaipur,Mewar's royal house - also on the 19th century Mewar Bhil Corps
• For more details about Mutharacha, please refer to research website Mudiraja at :
• http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_mutharacha.html
• For more details about Mudiraja & related saints, please check Mudiraj Research Website:
• http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_saints.html
• http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_arts.html
• For more details about Mudiraja & related kings and kingdoms, please refer to research website Mudiraja at :
• http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_kings.html
• http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_kingdoms.html
• For more details about kalabhras or kalaveeras, please refer to Mudiraja website at : http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_kalabhras.html
• For more details about vanaras and their relation to mudiraj, please refer to rsearch website mudiraja at :
• http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_vanaras.html
• For details about temple - cities built by Muthuraja kings, please refer to Mudiraj Research Website at: http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_cities.html
• http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_ankamma.html
• For more details about meaning of Mudiraj, please refer to research website Mudiraja at : http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_meaning.html
• For more details about origins & history of Mudiraj, please refer to research website Mudiraja at : http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_origins.html