Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar

PERUMPIDUGU MUTHARAIYAR II ALIAS SUVARAN MARAN

Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar^[1] II alias Suvaran Maran Mutharaiyar ( 705 AD-745 AD ) was a great king of Thanjavur belonged to Muthuraiyar community. He ruled over Thanjavur and Pudukkottai as the feudatories of the Pallavas. He attended the coronation of Nandhi Varma Pallavan.

One of the titles of the Perumpidugu Muttaraiyar was Lord of Tanjore.The Mutharaiyar chieftains fought with Pandyas and their supporters on behalf of Pallavas. Historians believe that Thanjavur was captured by Vijayalaya Cholan (AD 846-880) from the king Perumpidugu Muttaraiyan. Vijayalaya Chola, who conquered Tanjore from Perumbidugu Muttarayan in the 9th Century AD. It was believed that the Mutharaiyars and Cholas fought with each other for establishing their political domination over some lands of present-day Tamil Nadu. They fought with the Pandyas and invaded the Southern Peninsula and later also fought with Pandyas in support of Pallavas as subordinates of Pallavas. The Muthraiyars (mudiraj) were understood to have fought even the Pallavas for centuries before they became feudatories to Pallavas.

Among all the kings in Chera, Chola and Pandiya dynasty, there are three prominent kings whose ruling periods are said to be the Golden era. Those kings are Suvaran Maran alias Perumbidugu Mutharaiyan, Raja Raja Cholan and Sundara Pandiyan.

Early life

Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II was born on May 23, 675 AD. His father was Elangovathiaraiyan alias Maran Parameshwaran. He ascended the throne after his father in 705 AD. He was succeeded by his son Sathan Maran.

Inscriptions

There are many inscription found in Sri. Meenakchi Sundereshwarer Temple at Senthalai, which is situated in Thanjavur District. Most of the inscriptions are found on the surface of the stone pillars of a hall in front of the womb chamber. The stone pillars are said to be belong to a temple at Nemmam. The scholars believe that the temple at Nammam might have got damaged and all the pillars are shifted from Nemmam and used at Senthalai in later period.

All the inscriptions are beautifully engraved with ancient Tamil letters, on a hand made smooth surface of the stone pillars. These inscriptions discuss about the Suvaran Maran alias Perum Piddugu Mutharaiyan's parental note and about his meikeerthi. Meikeerthi means the titles (names) awarded to him based on his nature, adventures, courage and others etc.

" yanaina Kuvavan Maranavan; Magan Elango vadhiaraiya; naina Maran Parameshwaranavan; Magan Perum Piddugu Mutha raiyanaina; Suvaran Maranavan; edupitha Paddari Koeil (Kovil); Ava nerintha oorkalum, Avan Peyarka lum; Avanai Padinor Peyakalumi thoon mel eludhina; evai. "

At first, the inscription describes the parental details of Suvaran Maran Alias Perum Piddugu Mutharaiyan. His grand father name was Kuvavan Maran alias Perum Piddugu Mutharaiyan. Then comes his father name was Elangovathiaraiyan alias Maran Parameshwaran.

Then come the details of the Paddari temple for mother Gooddess, which he constructed. The particulars of the location of war in which he acquired victory, the name of his maikeerthi, the name of the poets who song the poem are all engraved on the stone pillars.

Meikeerthi

In each and every pillar there is a Meikeerthi of him, then following the details of the war, and about him etc. Among all the meikeerthi, there is only one in which four names are engraved, which are as follows.

First, Sri. Tamaralayan means the peace resides with in himself.

Second, Sri. Abimanadeeran means, he is enemy to the kings those who had Ahankar.

Third, Sri. Kalvar Kalvan means the person who eradicated the thieves.

And the fourth, Sri. Sathuru Kesari means he is just like a lion to the enemies.

In the Sendalai Pillar inscription of Perumbidugu Mutharaiya, the latter is styled “the king Maran, the Lord of Tanjai (Ko-Maran-ranjai-kkon) and Kalvar-Kalvan, Tanjai-nar-pugal-alan, a Kalva of Kalvas, the distinguished Lord of tanjai (Thanjavur).” In another place the following phrase occurs “nirkinra tanpanai-torum Tanjai-ttiram padi ninrar”. There extracts show that in the 8th century Tanjore was ruled by a family of chiefs known as the Mutharaiyans. From the title Maran which Perumbidugu Muttaraiyan held, it may be gathered that he was either of Pandya descent or was a chief, subordinate to that family. At this time there was a great struggle going on between the Pallavas and the Pandyas for the political supremacy of South India. In this disturbed state of affairs, Vijayalaya seems to have found a good opportunity to defeat the Mutharaiyan chiefs, and make himself the ruler of Thanjavur and the surrounding Chola country.

In addition to the above, there are many of such maikeerthi are found in other inscriptions related to his victory of wars and others. The other meikeerthi are Sri. Sathuru Mallan, Sri. Adi Sagason, Sri. Maran, Sri. Seru Maran, Sathan Maran, Vel Maran, Tanjai Kon, Valla Kon, Van Maran, etc.

Inscription No. 402 - (A. R. No. 402 of 1906) - Pudukkottai district, Thirumayam. -Satyagirinatha-Perumal Temple on a stone set up Inside the premises. This is in characters of about the 9th century A.D. It is incomplete. It seems to record a gift of land for the renovation of some structure (temple) and worship therein by Perumpidugu Perundevi, the mother of (a chief by name) Videlvidugu Vilupperadi-Arasan alias Sattan Maran. It is possible that this chief was related to the Mutharaiyars of Sendalai.

See also

Muthuraja Ilango Mutharaiyar

References