Mushika Kingdom
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Mushikas (also spelt as Mushakas, Mooshikas and Mooshakas) were found mention of in the Mahabharata epic. They were also known as Kulyas, Kolis and as Kolwas as also the Velirs, Ezhimalai and Nannans. They were identified to be the Kolathiris of northern Kerala. The word Mushika means Mouse in Sanskrit.
The Mushikas (also known as the Mooshakas) and later the Kolathiris and the Chirakkal Royal Family might have been the only one, or one of the twelve Velir Families of the (Third) Sangam Era fame. It is possible that their royalty then goes back to as far back as 1800 B.C. They over the millennia intermarried very frequently with the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Cholas, and might have given rise to the royalties of the Lakshadweep, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. They have also had matrimonial alliances with the Chedis, the Somas and the Yadavas. The Arakkal and the Nileshwaram Royal Families are both branches of this Royal Family, having branched out from them over the centuries. The southern branch of this family ruled over Venad and is today known as the Travancore Royal family.
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[edit] References in Mahabharata
[edit] Sahadeva's Military Campaign to South India
- Mahabharata, Book 2, Chapter 30
Sahadeva then vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast, and the Nishadas and the cannibals and even the Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas who were a cross between human beings and Rakshasas, and the whole of the Cole (Kolwa) mountains , and also Surabhipatna, and the island called the Copper island, and the mountain called Ramaka.
[edit] Mushika, a Kingdom in Bharata Varsha (Ancient India)
- Mahabharata, Book 6, Chapter 9
There are other kingdoms in the south. They are the Dravidas, the Keralas, the Prachyas, the Mushikas, and the Vanavashikas; the Karanatakas, the Mahishakas, the Vikalpas, and also the Mushikas; the Jhillikas, the Kuntalas, the Saunridas, and the Nalakananas; the Kankutakas, the Cholas, and the Malavayakas; the Samangas, the Kanakas, the Kukkuras, and the Angara-marishas; the Samangas, the Karakas, the Kukuras, the Angaras, the Marishas: the Dhwajinis, the Utsavas, the Sanketas, the Trigartas, and the Salwasena; the Vakas, the Kokarakas, the Pashtris, and the Lamavegavasas; the Vindhyachulakas, the Pulindas, and the Valkalas; the Malavas, the Vallavas, the further-Vallavas, the Kulindas, the Kalavas, the Kuntaukas, and the Karatas; the Mrishakas, the Tanavalas, the Saniyas; the Alidas, the Pasivatas, the Tanayas, and the Sulanyas; the Rishikas, the Vidarbhas, the Kakas, the Tanganas, and the further-Tanganas.
[edit] A Naga named Mushikada
Mushikada was mentioned as a king or chief in the race of Nagas (Nagas could be serpent-worshippers or serpent-gods or simply a serpent). He was mentioned in three places in Mahabharata
- Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 35
- Mahabharata, Book 2, Chapter 9
- Mahabharata, Book 5, Chapter 103
[edit] A holy place named Kulya
- Mahabharata, Book 13, Chapter 25
Observing a fast for three days and bathing in the tirtha known as Kulya and reciting the sacred mantras that go by the name of Aghamarshana, one attains the merit of a horse-sacrifice. Observing a fast for one night and bathing in Pindaraka, one becomes purified on the dawn of the next day and attains to the merit of an Agnishtoma sacrifice. One who repairs to Brahmasara which is adorned by the woods called Dharmaranya, becomes cleansed of all one’s sins.
[edit] A tribe named Koli Sarpas
- Mahabharata, Book 13, Chapter 33
It is in consequence of the absence of Brahmanas from among them that the Sakas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas and other Kshatriya tribes have become fallen and degraded into the status of Sudras. The Dravidas, the Kalingas, the Pulandas, the Usinaras, the Koli-Sarpas, the Mahishakas and other Kshatriyas, have, in consequence of the absence of Brahmanas from among their midst, become degraded into Sudras.
Koli Sarpa could mean Koli Naga. Sarpa = Naga = Serpent
[edit] Arjuna's last military campaign and the hillmen of Kolwas
After the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna makes his last and final military campaign to collect tribute for Yudhisthira's Aswamedha Sacrifice. In this campaign, he tours the whole of India.
- Mahabharata, Book 14, Chapter 83
Having subjugated the son of Ekalavya, Arjuna then proceeded towards the southern ocean. In those regions battle took place between the diadem-decked hero and the Dravidas and Andhras and the fierce Mahishakas and the hillmen of Kolwa. Subjugating those tribes without having to accomplish any fierce feats, Arjuna proceeded to the country of the Surashtras.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- [1]
- [www.viswamurugu.com/tuluweb1.html]
[edit] References
- Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
