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The Mudiraju community is found in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well. They are today cultivators and village administrative employees, but they were in the past a type of specialised soldiers. Some were also fishermen. They were basically warriors whose primitive professions were hunting and fishing. There is a section of Mudirajus who in ancient times looked after the water reservoirs in granitic areas, and had entered the fish trade long ago.

Mutharayar is the founder of Thanjavur and Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar ruled his kingdom with Thanjavur as the capital. For last several centuries, Mutharayars have been located in and around fertile cauveric plains presently forming part of the state of Tamilnadu, India. Mutharayars are also found in northern districts of Tamilnadu.They have been residing over there for centuries. Mutharayars are also located in Andhra Pradesh in the name of Mudiraj. Some people say these Mutharayars have migrated from Tamilnadu but there is no recorded proof. The geographical area where a majority of the Mutharayar families are presently located, for last several centuries, has a rich historical heritage and is a prism of ancient as well as the modern south Indian civilization.

There exists no credible source of information as regards the period from which the Mutharayars have been residing in South India. There is also no complete and authoritative count of Mutharayars in India.

They are also known as:

Bantu
Bantlu
Ekkatlu
Mutharacha
Muthrasi
Muttarasu
Ontari

Mudiraj - Meaning

MUDIRAJU people are popularly known as MUDIRAJ in Andhra Pradesh. They are also known as Mutharacha and Mutharasu in parts of Andhra Pradesh. They are known as Muthuraja in Tamilnadu and Mudduraja in Karnataka.

There is a specific meaning for the name MUDIRAJ. The meaning has its own historical background which can be traced to more than 2000 years ago.

MUTHU means PEARL RAJA means KING (RAJA = KING )

Means king of pearls. Because they once picked pearls from sea. The people who have their descent to these great kings of medieval times continue to be known as the Mudiraj people.

Mudiraj people are believed to be the descendants of Kalabhra kings of South India who invaded South of South Indian Peninsula and uprooted the kingdoms ruled by Adhirajas of Chola, Chera and Pandya dynasties. The Kalabhra kings who played a great havoc in South Indian peninsula by snatching away the kingdoms of the then ADHIRAJAS (GREAT KINGS) declared them as the real GREAT KINGS (MUDIRAJAS).

The kalabhras who were anti brahmins and anti Sanskrit, preferred to use a pure Dravidian title "MUDIRAJA" in place of Sanskrit word "ADHIRAJA" giving them the same meaning - GREAT KINGS.

Mudhiraja = Adhiraja = Maharaja = Great King.

The Muthuraja of Tamilnadu, the Mudiraja of Karnataka and Mudiraj of Andhra Pradesh are one and the same people having the same Indian Tribal blood and professional background.

Muthurajas and Cholas had the same warrior and professional background and they belonged to fishing & hunting communities. They were well integrated into a ruling class community in Tamilnadu by having matrimonial alliances among them. Muthurajas also had their matrimonial alliances with Pandyas, who also known as Maha Rayas. Karikala Chola was one of the great kings of Chola dynasty who belonged to Valavan fishing community. The valavans are a subcaste of Muthuraja in Tamilnadu Today. It is practically difficult to differentiate Cholas from Muthurajas on any ground and it is widely believed by Muthurajas that both these warrior groups had the same origins. The matter of identifying and establishing common roots of Muthurajas and Cholas to the Vanara king of Sugreeva is a subject of research by Chola-Mutharayar Research Center, Thanjavoore.

For more details about the meaning of Mudiraj, please refer to Mudiraj Research Website:

http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_meaning.html

http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_mutharacha.html

Mudiraj - Various Names of this Caste in India

The Telugu Mudiraj and the Tamil Muthuraj are one and the same people. They are also spread into Kerala, Karnataka, Maharastra, Gujarat and other parts of North India. They are known as kolis in North India.

The various names by which these people are known in Tamilnadu are :

Muthuraj, Muthuraja, Muthuracha

Mutharayar, Mutharaiyar

Mutharasan, Mutharayan, Mutharaiyan

Muttiriyar, Muthiriyar, Muthariyar

Mudaliyar, Mudhaliyar, Muttiris

Mahadev Koli.

The following are some of the subcastes of Muthuraja in Tamilnadu state today:

Ambalakaran

Servai, Servaikkaran, Valaiyar, Valayar, Bharatava Valaiyar (Paratava Valayar)

Kannappa Kula, Palayakara, Palayakkaran, Palayakkarar, Palayakara Naiker

Kavalgar, Talaiyari, Vazhuvadiyar, Poosari

Muthuraj, Vanniyarkula Muthuraj, Muthuraja Naidu

Muthiriya, Muthiriya Naidu (Gavara ), Muthiriya Naicker

Muthiriya Moopar (Shanan) , Moopanar (Parkava Kulam) ,

Muthiriya Urali Gounder, Muthiriya Rao

Vedan, Vetan, Vetar

Arayar, Araiyar

Ambalam, Pillai

Community titles being used by people of Muthuraja in Tamilnadu state are - Muthuraja, Muthuraya, Muthurayar, Mutharaya, Mutharayar, Muthrayar, Mutharaiyar, Muthurayan, Mutharayan, Muthrayan, Muthurajan, Muthurasa, Muthurasar, Muthuracha.

The Mudiliayar or Mudhaliyar is also a modified name of Muthariyar.

Muthariyar => Muthaliyar => Mudhaliyar => Mudaliyar

The Muthurajas are basically the descendants of Telugu warriors / kings who migrated from Rayalaseema of AP and Bellary districts of Karnataka respectively. Bellary was an extension of Rayalaseema and once it was an integral part of Rayalaseema with majority of Telugu speaking population. There is sizable strength of Telugu speaking people in Bellary districts even today but they are gradually switching over to Kannada due to language policy of Regional States in India. The history of Muthurajas also reveal the fact that people belonging to subcastes of Muthuraja such as Arayars came from Central India and Orissa.

A section of Muthurajas are having their origins from Tulu speaking Vellalas (Bunts) of Karnataka. Vellala seems to be a modified name of Ballala. It is also believed that Velamas of Andhra Pradesh were originally Vellalas of Tamilnadu.

Ballala => Vellala => Velama

The Mudiraj community people in Karnataka are known by different names :

Mudiraj, Muthuraj

Mudduraju, Mudduraja, Muddhuraju, Muddhuraja, Muddhuraj

Koli Mudiraj, Koli Mahadev, Koli (Kabbaliga)

Mutharasi, Bunt

Bedars, Berads

Nayak, Talwar, Nayavadi, Naykar, Valmiki, Palegar.

The Mudiraj community people and their variants in Kerala are known by different names :

Arya, Arayar, Araiyar, Ariyar

Valayar, Valaiyar

Urali Gounder, Vedan, Vetan, Vetar

The Mudiraj and related caste names in Maharastra - Mudiraj, Koli Mudiraj, Koli Mahadev, Koli Mahadeo, Koli, Sonkoli, Malahar Koli, Mangela Koli, Nayak, Bhills, Bedar-Ramoshi, Koli -Ramoshi.

The Mudiraj caste related names in Gujarat - Patels, Kolis, Koli Patels, Mandhata patels

The Mudiraj caste related names in Madhya Pradesh -bhills, kolis, Valmikis, Bedars.

Himachal Pradesh - Kolis

Pakistan - Kachi Koli, Kachi Bhil, Zalavaria Koli, Kkuchi, Kachi, Katchi, Kkoli, Kkohli, Kkolhi, Kori.

To know more details about different names of Mudiraj caste and subcastes, please refer to Mudiraj Research Website: http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_various_names.html

Mudiraj - Origins

There is sufficient evidence to believe that the Kalabhras who were the ancestors of Mudiraj (Muthuraj) people of South India had their origins embedded in the Kalchuris of Central India. Kalchuris <=> Kalachuris

Kalachuris => Kala + Churis => Kala + Cheris => Kala + Chedis

Kala = Black

Churis => Cheris => Chedis => people of chedi descent.

Kalchuris => Black Chedis of Indo-Aryan descent.

The Kalchuris were very powerful rulers of Central India who ruled their kingdoms for quite a long time from Tripuri (jabalpur) of M. P and Raipur (Raya + pur) of Chettisgarh. It was quite probably that Chettisgarh was a modified name of Chedisgarh (Home land of Chedis). The Raya kings of Raipur and the Raya kings of Vijayanagar kingdom might be from the same Kalchuri genetic pool.

Chedisgarh => Chetisgarh => Chettisgarh.

The Ambalakarans subgroup of Muthuraja caste in Tamilnadu believe that their ancestors came from Maharastra long long time ago. This gives a clue that the Ambalakarans are non other than the people belonging to Ambedkar caste in Maharastra. It appears that these people came central India from Ambala region in Haryana when Aryans pushed them out of their native lands.

It is a common practice in Maharastra and central India to use surnames named after their native towns or villages. The following examples testify this fact.

Aurangabad => Aurangabadkar

Rampur => Rampurkar

Jam => Jamkar

Karhad = Karhadkar

Similarly the early dravidians who came from Ambala to central India perhaps got surname Ambalakar.

Ambala => Ambalakar

The people who remained in central India gradually got many more modifications to their surnames.

Ambalakar => Ambalekar => Ambadekar => Ambekar

Ambalekar => Ambale

Ambadekar => Ambade => Ambore => Ambhore

Further when these people migrated to Tamil speaking lands, their surname further got modified from Ambalakar to Ambalakarar. Tamilians usually add "ar" to names and surnames as a point of respect.

Ambalakar => Ambalakarar => Ambalakaran => Ambalakkaran => Ambalakkarar

The people of warrior race who were the erstwhile professional soldiers lost their identity with the collapse of powerful local kingdoms. Those warrior soldiers who managed to retain their control over large tracts of lands became jamindars, administrators, farmers, etc. The rest of them were gradually forced to become backward labour class / scheduled class people without any fixed / organised profession in their hands.

The people of Arayar who belong to one of the subcastes of Muthuraja in Tamilnadu and Kerala states are most probably the descendents of Jain / Buddhist artists / warriors who came to South India from Chettisgarh & Kilinga (South Kosala) regions for the purpose of spreading and protecting Jain / Buddhism in South. Most of the Arayars belong to fishing community. As per Buddhist text, Buddhist normally used to refer themselves as Aryars.

Arya => Aryas => Aryars => Arayars => Araiyars => Ariyars => Ariyas

There are several sections of people in Mudiraj caste community whose origins can be traced to different royal clans such as (1) Kalchuris, (2) Somavamsis / Panduvamsis, (3)Matya-Chedi clans, (4) Solar race kolis, (5) Kalabhras, (6) Vanaras / Banjaras / Bantaras ( bunts ), etc.

For more details about origins of Mudiraja, please visit Mudiraj Research Website:

http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_origins.html

http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_kalchuris.html

Also visit http://www.mudaliars.co.nr

Mudiraj - Descendants of Kalabhra Kings of South India

It is believed that the warrior race of Mudiraja or Muthuraja kings were the descendants of Kalabhra Kings of South India, who created a havoc from 300 AD to 600 AD by capturing the Adhirajas of Pandya, Pallava and Chera kingdoms and ruled the entire South for about 300 hundred years without any interruption.

Kalabhras (Kalavars) captured power from the three traditional crowned monarchs and ruled the whole or considerable parts of Tamil Nadu for about three hundred years, roughly from 250 to 550 AD. This Kalabhra interregnum paved the way to put an end to the primacy of Tamil culture and language under the regimes that followed - the Pallavas in the northern and the Pandyas in southern parts of Tamil country.

Kalabhras = Kalavars

Kalabhra interregnum is called as 'dark period' because it is so called by earliest Pallava and Medieval Pandya sources.

With reference to Sangam age, the Kalabhra interregnum started after the end of Sangam Age and South Indian peninsula passed through a dark period that lasted four centuries. This era is known as the ‘Kalabhra Interregnum’. At the end of the 8th century A.D, South Indian kingdoms such as the Pallavas, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas and the Pandyas succeeded in overthrowing the Kalabhras.

The Pallava rule, which was earlier eclipsed by the onslaught of the Kalabhras, was revived during the last quarter of the 6th century A.D. by Simhavishnu, a scion of the Pallava ruling family and was firmly established at Kanchi. Pallava king, Simhavishnu (560 – 580 CE) was a strong ruler who defeated Cholas, Pandyas and Kalabhras.

The origin of the Pallava dynasty is obscure. The Pallavas became dominant in the 6th century after a successful attack against the Kalabhras, which extended their territory as far south as the Kaveri River.

Ancestors of Muthuraja kings were Buddhists: When the south South India was overrun by the mysterious hordes called the Kalabhra period and after Kalabhras, the Cholas along with their neighbours in the north and south, the Pallavas and the Pandyas, lost their territory to the conquerors and sank into insignificance. These latter occupied the land for about three centuries, but nothing much is known of their rule. They are believed to have been Buddhists and probably helped the spread of their religion in their newly acquired state. In the writings of one Buddhadatta who lived sometime during this period, mention is made of a certain Achyuta-Vikranta of Kalabhra-kula who is referred to as “ruling the earth.” This Buddhist divine describes at length in 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 area round about Tanjavur was under the sway of a dynasty of chieftains known as the Muttaraiyuar whose inscriptions are found at Sendalai and Niyamam, and who seem to have ruled either independently or as vasslas 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.

The later circumstances lead to the defection of Muttaryaiyar chief to the more powerful Pnadyas.

For more details about Kalabhras who are considered to be the ancestors of Mudiraj from Central India, please visite the Mudiraj Research Website at: http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_kalabhras.html

Mudiraja represent a class of people more than a race

Aryan Chedi Connection: The Chedy kings were the Aryan Kshatriyas. The Indo_Aryan Race of Kalchuris most probably came into existence after the great divide of Aryan Kshatriyas from Aryan Brahmins who basically belonged to one race and one blood at the time of their entry into India.

It was the bloody war that took place between Aryan Brahmins lead by Parasurama on one side and the Aryan Kshatriyas lead by Sahasrarjuna on the other side which divided Aryans into two eternal rivals.

Parasurama launched a series of wars for 21 times to carry out mass killing of Aryan Kshatriyas to avenge the death of his father Jamadagni at the hands of Sahsrarjunas son's.

It is also said that Parasurama's mother RENUKA was an Aryan kshatriya and his father Jamadagni was an Aryan Brahmin. This proves that the kshtriya and brahmin division was purely based on profession and racially they were one and the same people. The rivalry between two Aryan groups developed when Sahasrarjuna claimed Kamadhenu from Parasurama. Kamadhenu was a divine cow that fullfils the desires of its owner. The rivalry broke out when Sahasrarjuna tried to forcefully take away the Kamadhenu to the capital of his kingdom. Killing of Parasurama at the hands of Sahasrarjuna's sons lead to the killing of Sahasrarjuna at the hands of Parasurama. The bloody war did not end there but continued for 21 times by Parasurama with the aim to free the king race (particularly Aryan Kshatriyas) from the face of the earth.

The Aryan Kshatriyas who were not able to withstand the onslaught of Parasurama, fled into jungles to seek the support and protection of local Dravidian Tribal Kings and in the process of which matrimonial alliances took place between Aryan Kshatriyas and Dravidian Tribal Kings resulting in the creation of a valiant warrior race of Kalachuris (black chedi kings).

The gotra names of Vasista, Bharadwaj, etc. among Mudiraj people is a pointer to the fact that these Mudiraj people belong to Indo_Aryan race through their descent from Kalabhras and Kalchuris.

It is also a forgotten truth that the Aryan Kshatriyas who suffered a mass annihilation at the hands of Aryan Brahmins established a separate religion for themselves based on the principles of Shiva (Jina)worship to unitedly fight Aryan Brahmin domination. Shiva is the God of Dravidian race and Jina worship of jains indicate the historical truth of great divide between Aryan Kshatriyas and Aryan Brahmins and the association of Aryan Kshatriyas with Dravidian warrior kings. Ashoka was an Indo-Aryan king. He was a Jain first and then became a Buddhist under the influence of Buddha.

The secret doctrine of Jainism was that the chief theerdhankar who lead the religion was always an Aryan Kshatriya. The birth of Jainism thus had its roots in the bloody war between Aryan Kshatriyas and Aryan Brahmins.

This Religion of Aryan Kshatriyas later came into prominence in the name Jainism due to Mahaveer. This was the real fact why Kalchuris were predominantly followers of Jainism or Shaivism in Central India. These were the Kalchuri kings who came to be known as Kalabhras in South India and spread Jainism.

Dravidian Vanara connection:The Mudiraj who are believed to have their descent to kalachuris or kalachedis are predominantly dravidian stock with Aryan blood mix and Aryan king qualities.

Their dravidian origins can be understood from the fact that the Mudiraj are also known as BANTS in South & Western parts of Andhra Pradesh. The BANTS of Andhra Pradesh and BUNTS of Karnataka are one and the same. Even regionally, they are in close proximity to Rayalaseema districts of AP and Bellary districts of Karnataka. The Bants of AP are Telugu speaking and the Bunts of Karnataka are Tulu speaking people having same Vanara ancestry.

They both belong to the famous VANARA race of Hanuman, Vali, Sugreeva & Jambavanth of Kishkinda region of Bellary districts of Karnataka. Bellary districts were once part of Rayalaseema of Andhra State and they were all originally telugu speaking for generations. Even today there is considerable number of Telugu speaking people in Bellery districts, though they were all forced to switch over to Kannada due to regional language policy of repective states after these districts were transferred to Karnataka.

Vanara => vanachara => Vanchara

vanchara => vanjara

vanjara => banjara

banjara => ban(t)jara => banta(j)ra => bantara

bantara => bant

bant => bunt

Thus the word BANT / BUNT is a gradual modification of the word VANARA / VANJARA/ BANJARA / BANTARA.

Hanuman belonged to BANT / BUNT community. Hanuman is effectionately known as RAMA BANTU among Telugu speaking people and other South Indians even today. 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 commando activities of do or die.

Mudiraj - Koli connection: The KOLIs of Maharastra and North India also belong to Dravidian Tribal Warrior race. The Mudiraj people of Andhra Pradesh and KOLIs of Maharastra are racially, culturally and professionally belong to the same block of people. The Kolis are known as Koli Rajas. Lord Gautama Buddha's mother and wife belong to Koli community.

There are several parallels between Mudirajas and Kolis. 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 kolis are one of the major fishing community in Maharastra. The Mudiraj in neighbouring Telangana & Rayalaseema region of AP are also largely dependent on fishing.

The Koli tribe, which in its various subgroups forms about 20% of the population of present India is mentioned continuously through the centuries - way back to Mohanjo Daro and beyond. Historians and scholars find that Koli tribe, a ruling Kshtria Caste, was spread far and wide all over India. Their heroic exploits and learned reputation and relationships with the most powerful of those times regarded them with awe and respect.

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 singer and saint poet of Karnataka was from Kabbaliga caste. The kabbaligas claim that they are non other than the Mudiraj people of A. P penetrated into Karnataka. Their main profession is fishing and are considered to be bestha / gangaputra by some people. They are supposed to be variant or equivalent of kolis of Karnataka / Maharastra. The story of Purandara Das truly reveals that he migrated from Maharastra to Hampi and also belonged to koli (Naik)community. This proves that Mudiraj, Koli and Kabbaligas are one and the same people at one point of time and still have many similarities in their profession in some areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharastra.

There is no doubt that Naik was a title extensively used by Koli kings in the good olden days and by some community people even today in Maharastra. Several Koli uprisings against the tyrannical Moslem rule were recorded around 1327 AD all over Maharashtra. Naga Nayak, the ruler of the Kolis, puts up a heroic resistance against the moslem hordes from the great hill fastness of Kondanna (Sinhagad of later times, conquered by the great Tanaji)

The most ancient King Mandhata, a supreme and universal ruler whose reputation spread far and wide throughout India and whose stories of valour and yajna were described in the stone carvings of Mohanjo Daro, belonged to this tribe.

The most ancient and revered sage Valmiki, the author of Ramayana belonged to this tribe. Even today Ramayana is referred to as Koli Valmiki Ramayan in Maharashtra State. Teachings from Ramayan form the basis of Indian culture.

The great king Chandra Gupta Mourya, and his line of descendant kings belonged to the Koli tribe.

In the State of Maharashtra, Sivaji's Commander-in-Chief and several of his Generals belonged to this tribe. ‘A History of the Marathas’ note with pride the bravery of Sivaji’s army consisting mainly of Mavalis and Kolis. His General, Tanaji Rao Malusare, who was always referred to by Sivaji as ‘My Lion’ was a koli. When Tanaji fell fighting for and winning the ‘Kodana Fort’, Sivaji renamed the fort as ‘Sinhghadhh’ in his memory.

Kolis were perhaps those dravidian tribal warrior people with whom the Aryan Chedis developed matrimonial relations giving birth to Kalchuris in Central India.

The Bants and Bunts belonged to same vanara genetic pool

It is very clear that BANT or BUNT word was a gradual modification of the word BANTARA / BANJARA. All the banjaras including Gypsies were from the same genetic pool of Dravidian Tribal Vanaras of Indian subcontinent.

Vanara <=> Vanachara

Vanachara => Banachara

Banachara => Banjara

Banjara => Bantara

Bantara => Bant => Bunt

The Vanaras were once spread all over India from Kanyakumari to Rajastan deserts and further up to river Sindhu. But Vanaras became well known due to their association with Sri Rama and their publicity by Valmiky through his epic Ramayana. Vanaras had a powerful kingdom of their own in Rayalaseema & Bellary regions with Kishkinda as their capital. The language spoken by these vanaras was a dravidian language from which Telugu and Tulu developed into two different languages in due course of time.

Kishkinda was the same place where Hampi was built by Hakka Raya & Bukka Raya, the descendants of the same Bants / Bunts of vanara origin. With the passage of time, the Tulu speaking bantaras came to be known as Bunts and the Telugu speaking Bantaras came to be known as Bants. Otherwise the Bants ans Bunts are one and the same people whose glorious past was hidden at Kishkinda.

The bants or vanaras were highly loyal in their services and known for creating temples and bridges. It was either Kishkinda, Vijayanagar or Kakatiya, they were great temple & city builders. It was also on the record of Ramayana, that the ancestor vanaras of these bants built Adam bridge between Srilanka and India at Rameswaram to fight their war and rescue Sita from the clutches of Ravana.

They were able to build such a wonder bridge on the sea as they were professional fishermen of those days and the expert hydrologists. It was their complete knowledge of hydrology that made them to build irrigation canals in Kakatiya kingdom and Vijayanagar Kingdom and also else where in North.

It is now believed that the people who built Harappa and Mahenjodara in Sindhu river belt were dravidians. It is believed that these people were driven away to South India by land & Arabian Sea route when their cities were flooded with Himalayan ice melted water.

Kolis were the ruling chiefs of Sindhu - Gangetic belt Veda Vyas, the writer of great epic Mahabharata was son of Satyavathi of koli community and a Brahmin Rhushi. Thus Vedvyas was also an Indo-Aryan.

It is also a known fact that the first wife ganga Mata and the second wife Satyavathi of Shantanu of Mahabharat were the daughters of Kolis chiefs. Thus the great warrior Bheeshma, Pandavas and Kauravas were all Indo-Aryans. This was the hidden reason why Arjuna could hit a FISH for winning Draupadi in swayamvara. Ganga and Fish are the symbols that are related to Kolis.

The most ancient King Mandhata, a supreme and universal ruler whose reputation spread far and wide throughout India and whose stories of valour and yajna were described in the stone carvings of Mohanjo Daro, belonged to this koli tribe.

The most ancient and revered sage Valmiki, the author of Ramayana belonged to this tribe. Valmiky was initially known to be dravidian tribal chief who used to loot the Aryan invaders and trespassors. Even today Ramayana is referred to as Koli Valmiki Ramayan in Maharashtra State. Teachings from Ramayan form the basis of Indian culture.

The great king Chandra Gupta Mourya, and his line of descendant kings belonged to the Koli tribe.

The gangaputras of Andhra Pradesh also fall under the caste block of Koli-Mudiraj.

Mutharacha was a professional designation

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

Racha <=> Raja <=> Raya <=> Rayar <=> Raiyar <=> Rai

Mutharacha <=> Mutharaya

Mutharaya => Mutharayar => Mutharaiyar

MUTHA: Mutha is a Koya word. It means a cluster of villages equal to a Mandal / Taluka, which formed the smallest administrative unit in Drvidian 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 administration were transferred from one generation to another generation through well established system of hirarchy.

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 supreme King.

The word MUTHARACHA lost its value in the society as the system of Mutha Administration died down gradually and the Mutharachas became jobless. A large population of Mutharachas became farm labourers and coolis. They became one of poor backward class people with no fixed profession in their hands. The following explanation will throw light on their original and modified names.

Mutha + Racha = Mutharacha => Muthracha => Mutracha

Mutha + Arasa = Mutharasa => Muthrasa => Mutrasa

Mutha + Arasu = Mutharasu => Muthrasu => Mutrasu

Mutha + Arasi = Mutharasi => Muthrasi => Mutrasi

Mutharacha => Mutharasa => Mutharasu

Mutha = A cluster of villages forming an administrative unit. Arasi is a feminine word equivalent to Arasa.

Racha = Arasa = Arasu = King or chief or Lord.

Mutharaya warrior people belonged to the same line of Raya kings who ruled Vijayanagar empire such as Hakkaraya, Bukkaraya, Narasimharaya, Krishnaraya, Ramaraya, etc. The most important information to be noted here is that all the kings who ruled Vijayanagar empire were Telugu / Tuluva Bants and were all Telugu speaking by birth.

Another important fact to be noted here is that Hakkaraya and Bukkaraya were the treasurers at Warangal in the court of Kakatiya kings. Kakatiyas were believed to be the people belonging to fishing community. The history and culture of Tribal Indians proves that Mudiraj and kolis were of king race with fishing background. It was their primitive skill of hunting fish with arrows that made them skilled archers like Ekalavya. Even today a large population of Mudiraj are heavily dependent on fishing profession in Telangana and Rayalaseema just like kolis in neighbouring Maharastra.

This proves that the people who founded and ruled Kakatiya kingdom and Vijayanagar kingdom were one and the same people. They were all Telugu speaking Bants / Bunts.

http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_mutharacha.html

http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_cities.html

Kolis & Mudiraj were great city builders

It was well recorded that Kolis who used to worship MUMBA DEVI built MUMBAI (BOMBAY ), the great commercial capital of India on West coast (Arabian Sea). Many people do not know that the same fishing community people of MUDIRAJ built the cultural city of MADRAS on East Coast (Bay of Bengal) of South India. The history of MADRAS reveals that the city was built by Telugu speaking people of fishing community and the city became a point of great dispute at the time of reorganization of states in independent India. Though the city was founded by Telugu Mudiraj, the population of Tamilians proved to be marginally on higher side at the time when the city was included in erstwhile Madras state, which was created for Tamilians. The Tamilians who knew the secret of its Telugu Mudiraj founders, changed the name of their state from MADRAS to TAMILNADU.

MUDIRAJ => MUDIRAS => MUDIRASA MUDIRASA => MADARASA => MADRAS MUDIRAS PATNAM => MADRAS PATNAM

The city / town of MADRAS was actually the city / town of MUDIRAJ community people.

The Founder of the city was a Chieftain / chief of Mudiraj fishing community and his name was Mudiraj Chennayya. While a part of city was known after the community name MUDIRAJ, the other part of the city was named after Chennayya (Chennai) with the initiative their sons.

Thus the fishing community people of Mudiraj & Kolis were a great city builders. As kings, they were well known for their patronage of building great rock temples in Kakatiya and Vijayanagar kingdoms. For details about temple - cities built by Muthuraja kings, please refer to Mudiraj Research Website at:

http://geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_cities.html

Medieval History

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 dynasty 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.]

Mudiraja - Muthuraja kings

Thirumaiyam Temple was built by Muthuraja Kings: Thirumaiyam temple is 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 (Rayalu Seema) as a step son by his ancestor Nalladi alias Bhimasolan. Mahendra Pallavan took over Kanchi from Bhimasolan by defeating him in war. The name of Bhimasolan throws ample light on the common racial and professional origins of Mutharayars and Cholas.

Bhimasolan = Bhila + Solan

Here SOLAN most probably indicates the title of the king dynasty and it stands for Chola. Renadu stands for Rayalaseema. This reveals the following facts:

i. The connectivity between Mutharayars and the Cholas of South India.

ii. The connectivity between Tamil Muthuraj and Telugu Mudiraj.

iii. The connectivity between Telugu Cholas and Tamil Cholas.

Solan => Colan => Cholan

Raya + Seema => Rayalaseema

Raya + Nadu => Rayanadu

Seema = Nadu = Desh = Region / country

Rayalaseema = Rayanadu

Rayanadu => Raya + Nadu => Ray + Nadu

Ray + Nadu => Re + Nadu = Renadu

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 entrace is seen without crown. At that time his father was on the seat of power in Renadu. The elder brother Kuvavan was only crowned as king at Thanjavur in Tamilnadu. The younger brother was serving his elder brother faithfully by staying with him. The elder brother Kuvavan honoured 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.

Sattan-pazhiyili & Pazhiyili-Isvaram Temple of Muttaraiyan: It is 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, whence 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.

Perumpidugu Mutharayan was the King of Tanjavoor: Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar-II was one the famous kings of South India who ruled his kingdom with Tanjore as his capital city. He was an independent sub king under pallavas until his rival Cholas defeated him in the war. After Vijayalaya Chola conquered Thanjavur defeating the Muttarayar chieftains around 850, the Pandyas went into a period of decline. It is said that it was the pallava strategy and support that made it possible for Vijayala Chola to defeat the Perumbidugu Muttarayar and captured the Tanjavur, the capital city founded by the Muttarayar king. 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.

The Mutharaiyar chieftains fought with Pandyas and their supporters on behalf Pallavas. The Muttaraiyar ruled over Tanjore and Pudukkotai as the feudatories of the Pallavas from the 8th to 11th Century AD.

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. Vijayalaya Chola, who conquered Tanjore from a Muttaraiyan in 900 AD, was a Pallava feudatory. Muttarayan was overthrown by Vijayala Chola at a later period.

Among all the kings in Chera, Chola and Pandiya dynasty, there were three prominent kings whose ruling periods were said to be the Golden eras. Those kings were Suvaran Maran alias Perum Piddugu Mutharaiyan, Sri Raja Chola and Sri Sundara Pandiya.

There is an inscription which describes the parental details of Suvaran Maran Alias Perum Piddugu Mutharaiyan. His grand father's name was Kuvavan Maran alias Perum Piddugu Mutharaiyan. Then comes his father's name - it was Elangovathiaraiyan alias Maran Parameshwaran.

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 Cholas came into prominence because of their victory over powerful warrior king Perumbidugu Mutharayan of Thanjore.

The Cholas and Mutharaiyars were born rivals and also known to have matrimonial relations. It is also believed that Cholas and Mutharaiyars had common ancestry hidden in the time belonging to Sugreeva of Kishkinda. Both of them belong to the same fishing and hunting community at their background. Karikala Chola was from valavan / Valaiyar fishing community and the valaiyars belong to subcaste of Muthurajas at present in Tamilnadu.

The influence and image of Muthuraja community in Tamilnadu can be understood from the fact that the Tamilnadu government has named Tiruchirapalli district as Tiruchirapalli Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar district because of the move of Tamilnadu Government to honor the historical Tamil Heroes and respect the sentiments of the people of those regions.

Elugu Rayudu was the last ruler of Saluva dynasty: Elugu Rayudu was one of the Raya kings of Saluva dynasty of Vijayanagar empire. The Saluvas ruled over the Podili area in the 15th century AD with their capital at Podili. A few inscriptions and the kaifayat of Podili form the sources of their history. The rule of the Saluvas of Podili ended with Elugu Rayudu. Their territory was appropriated among the Gajapatis and the Rajas of Vijayanagara.

Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya was the founder rluer of Saluva dynasty of Vijayanagar empire. In 1452, he was given the title Mahamandaleshwara of Chandragiri during the reign of Mallikarjuna Raya. Saluva Narashima took over the throne after the death of Mallikarjuna of sangama dynasty. Thus he saved the Vijayanagar empire from in the invasion of Muslim neighbouring kings by preventing the worthless rulers of sangama to take over the power after Mallikarjuna.

Saluva Thimma (Maha Mantri Thimmarusu) was the chief minister who played an important role as a chief minister of Krishna Deva Raya in not only the territorial expansion of the Vijayanagara empire, but was also remarkable for the encouragement and development of art.

The people having "ELUGU" surname belong to Mudiraj community. There is a village "Elugu Vari Palem" in prakasham district of Andhra Pradesh, where a large population of Mudiraj community lives even today. This village is also not very far from Podili Town.

Erikal Mutthuraju was a Mudiraj King: There is an evidence that a Mudiraja king by name ERIKAL MUTTHURAJU ruled his kingdom which was perhaps spread over parts of Rayalaseema and surrounding areas of Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Historians has 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.

It is noteworthy that even the second rock edict written in telugu language, which was discovered by the historians, was installed by Mutthuraju kings. This fact is clearly recorded at page no.106 in a book titled " Mana Lipi- Puttupoorvottharaalu (Our Script-origins & history)".

Cuddapah district is an integral part of Rayalaseema / Vengadam hill range which was the native place of original kings of Kalabhra race and who moved towards down South of South India under external political pressure.

The fact that the people of Mudiraj community in Telangana region are also known as people of TENUGU caste. This indicates that the Mudiraj caste people are one of the original people of Andhra Pradesh with Telugu / Tenugu as mother tongue and spread all over India to be identified with different names. TELANGAANA region of Andhra Pradesh most probably got its name from these very native people of Mudiraj and Mudiraja kings, whose spoken, political and administrative language was TENUGU (TELUGU) during medieval / feudal times.

tenugu+naadu = tenugunaadu

tenugunaadu = telungunaadu = telanganaadu = telangaana

Veera Pandya Katta Bommana was a palayakar in Tamilnadu and was the son of Katta Bommana who belonged to Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Katta Bommu was an adapted son by Pandya king who was an issueless. Palayakars come under subcaste of Muthuraja in Tamilnadu at present. Katta and Bommana are two surnames that belong to Telugu Mudiraj community.

Sripurusha Muttarasa was Western Ganga King and Videlvidugu Kadupatti Muttarasar was a Bana king who assumed the title of Muttarasa. For more details about Mudiraj and other related kings, please refer to Mudiraj Research web site:

http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_kings.html

http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_surnames.html

Also visit http://www.mudaliars.co.nr

Mudiraju-Kapu Rivalry

There is connection between the Mudiraju and Munnuru Kapu community. It is actually a link of a traditional rivalry. Seems to be because they are a similar professional military/farming castes, one associated with Northern Velama kingdom of Rajkonda, other with Southern Velama kingdom of Devarakonda. Such groups of ancient warrior communities are found all over South India.

The presence of a section of people known as ONTARIS both in Kapus and Mudiraj give rise to speculation that they were broken away groups of the same warrior caste. This also becomes evident from the fact that the people of kapus (Balijas) and Mudiraj have same gotra names such as Palavalli.

A detailed study reveals that both kapus and Mudiraj people are closely related and they had common link through cholas. Cholas and Mutharayars (Mudiraj) were matrimonially related in Tamilnadu but they were also rivals in the matters of establishing their ruling supremacy in Thanjavore and some other places. A lot of chola surnames can be seen among Mutharaiyars in Tamilnadu today. Telugu cholas are known to be the chodas who ruled Telugu speaking lands and they later on came to be known as Kapus (balijas).

While performing Ankamma kolupu (puja), the ballads narrate the story of Mudiraj warrior ancestors. As per the story narrated by ballads, there is one Dharma Choda chari and his six more brothers, who were Mudiraj and living in the city of Devagiri during the time of Yadava rulers. Dharma Choda Chari and his brothers are said to belong to solar race (sooryavamsis / suryavamsis). Since Dharma Choda was an ancestor of some sections of Mudiraj, it appears that CHODA title belonged to Mudiraj also. In other words, the kapus and Mudiraj belonged to choda or chola royal clans during medieval times.

The Kapu - Mudiraj rivalry might be having its roots in Chola-Mutharayar traditional intersect rivalry who fought for establishing their kingdoms and supremacy. Cholas and Mudiraj worshipped Ankamma (angamma = Ammanga) but it seems that kapus do not follow this worship.

In chandrapur region, Kapus are known as Kapewars. Here many of them work as Beldars. Some Mudiraj people also work as Beldars. The kapewars and Beldars worship Goddess Ankamma. Some sections of "Munnuru Kapu " caste people of Telangana region claim to belong to Mudraj (Mudiraj) subcaste and vise versa.

There are common Surnames in both the communities - such as Thota, Setty, Mekala, Bonam, Dasari, Muccherla, Neelam, Alla, Thota, Ganji, Yadla (Yedla), Ambati, Akula, Mutyala, Gurram , Adapa and Talari. This clearly indicates that they were once belonged to the same block of warrior community of Bhil-koli kolarian race.

There are surnames in both the communities which look alike but slightly modified. Kapu & (Mudiraj) look alike surnames - Pakanati & (Paka), Linga & (Lingala), Racha & (Rachapalli), Nerati & (Neerati), Basava & (Basaveni), Nimmakayala & (Nimmala), Chilakalapalli & (Chilukupally), Sunkara & (Sunkari), Manda & (Mandana), Kommana & (Kommanaboina) , Maddimsetty & (Maddi), Chintalapudi & (Chintala), Yerra & (Yerrabhaneni), Addala & (Addakula) , Kommula & (Kommu), chintalapudi & (Chintala).

Lingamsetty, Siddamsetty, Loksetty are also some of the surnames of Mudiraj which look similar to those of Kapus with trading links.

Gangireddy, Yamareddy are some of the surnames of Mudiraj having Reddy title and indicate that their ancestors were village heads. Such surnames are also there in kapus.

Kapus seems to be a professionally broken away branch of Raya clans who got specialised as village protectors or village guards. In Telangana region, there are people in Mudiraj caste whose profession is agriculture and farming similar to Kapus. The kapus being stationery by their profession, got the opportunity to switch over to agricultural farming as their main profession with changing socio-political situations. This made Kapus to become competetors to Kammas in coastal Andhra region in owning large tracts of land for agriculture. Thus the rivalry that existed between Kapu-Mudiraj in the field of ruling / security / soldiering slowly shifted to Kapu-kamma rivalry in the field of agriculture & farming.

while the predominant and basic profession of kapu sect was agriculture, the profession of chola-mutharayars was fishing. As per Chola-Mutharayar Research center, Tanjore, Cholas and Mudiraj people belong to one and the same community. Today's muthuraja community in Tamilnadu represents the amalgamated caste of erstwhile ruling class people of mutharayars, cholas and even pandyans.

It is also said that both kapus and mudiraj fought together in the war of palnadu in Guntur district.

Culture & Worship

Worship of Goddess ANKAMMA: Mudiraju's popular deity is mother Goddess Ankamma. Ankamma is also known as Angamma, Ankalamma, Angalamma, Ankali, Angali, Ankala Parameswari, Angala Parameswari. She is worshipped with these names in Andhra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu. Ankali and Kali are one and the same goddess. This Goddess is worshipped in North India in the name of Kali, Mahankali, Kankali and many other names. Some say that Sheetal Devi is another name of Ankamma. Ankamma or Angamma was Royal deity of Chola and Muthrayar kings of South India.Rajendra cholans daughter Angamma devi married east chalukyan prince. Angamma name was given to their children by Royal Cholas. Angalamman temple of Kaveripattinam is one among many holy places in Krishnagiri District of Tamilnadu which were built during Chola and Vijaya Nagar periods.

Ankamma is considered to be the mother of Trimurtis. While Ankamma is worshipped in the form of statue in Telangana, the same deity is worshipped in the form of painting made on wall in Andhra Coastal Region. The painting is normally made on wall cleaned with cow dung. The painting is made of kumkum (red Sindhur) dots put on square block made of turmaric paste on wall. 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 one Dharma Choda Chari and his six brothers belonging Devagiri City. Devagiri was a capital city of Yadava kings in Maharashtra.

Chodachari & brothers belonged to Solar Race: The Mudiraj brothers were initially Shiva worshipers with vibhoothi (ash) on their foreheads. THese brothers were also known as Maaraacha Rajas. They were said to belong to solar race kings. A large section of kolis belong to solar race (surya vamsham). It is believed that Maaraacha rajas were the rivals of Yadavas.

Dharma Choda Chari had a warrior son who was named Rava Ddeva Raju.

Rava Ddeva Raju => Rava Deva Raju

Rava Ddeva Raju who grow up and came to know the plight of his father and six uncles in captivity, owed his mother to get all of them released from captivity. Rava Ddeva Raju became a staunch worshipper of Goddess Ankamma. Rava Ddeva Raju with his heroic activity released his father and all his uncles. Later Rava Ddeva Raju and his father Dharma Choda Chari joined the court of Palnati Brahma Naidu.

The word Choda in the name of Dharma Choda Chari indicates their origin to Gangas / Kolis. Some historians believe that Chodas and Cholas could be the same people. There is a section of kolis known as " Son Kolas " in Maharashtra.

Chodas >= Cholas <= Colas <= Kolas <= Kolis

Mudiraj worship Ankamma and Cholas too worshipped Angamma (Ankamma). They are one and the same people and they were from vellala background. While the common people were known as Vellalas, the royal clans were known as Cholas and Mutharayars. This fact of common ancestry can be proved from the fact that Rajendra cholans daughter Angamma devi married east chalukyan prince. Angamma name was given to their children by Royal Cholas.

Ankamma => Angamma

Cholas of Sangam age were more original tamils but they spread and settled in entire eastern front and again they established their empire in later part of 7th century. Chola title claimed different castes at different times. The earlier cholas emperor karikal cholan belongs to vellala from Uraiyur and later cholas were pallars. It is a well established fact that Mutharayars are Vellalas and the Royal kalabhra kings were also vellalas. Later cholas married kodumbalur vellala sons and daughters. Kodumbalur Vellalas are believed to be either Mutharayars or a branch of Mutharayars. Pallars are today considered as untouchbles.

There is a reference the story narrated by ballads that Dharama Choda Chari had joined the court of Brahma Naidu who bowed to Goddess Ankamma.

Ddeva Raju => Deva Raju => Deva Raja => Deva Raya

The name of Rava Ddeva Raju sounds similar to that of Krishna Deva Raya and Kampila Deva Raya. " Deva Raya" was a common name in the names of many kings of Bellary region.

Kolis are a caste or tribe of Western India. They are known as fishing community in West India and also as an agricultural laborer. They form the main part of the inferior agricultural population of Gujarat, where they were supposedly formerly notorious as robbers, but they also extend into the Konkan and the Deccan. A variant of kolis are known as Naiks.

This too indicate the connection of Mudiraj to Maharastra.

Maha + Racha => Maha + Raacha => Maharaacha

Maharaacha => Ma(h)araacha => Maaraacha

Maaraacha => Maharacha => Maharaja = Maharaya => Maharayars

Maha = Mudi = Great

Racha = Raja = Raya

For more details on Ankamma Devi Kolup and the story narrated by ballads, please refer to Mudiraj Research Web site: http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_ankamma.html

Karamchedu : Goddess Ankamma of Karamchedu is known as VEERLA ANKAMMA.

Palnadu : A typical setting for a performance of the Palnadu epic is the yearly festival of the heroes in Karempudi, the site of the twelfth-century epic battle. The epic may also be performed at smaller temples related to the cult and performances are often given at marriage and death events. Whatever the immediate setting, performance of the epic is always associated with ritual. It is preceded by worship to the goddess Ankamma and to the instruments and weapons carried by the performers. Particular episodes are associated with specific rituals, such as an animal sacrifice or spirit possession.

The main singer is most often from the untouchable Mala caste, although he may also be form an agricultural or artisan caste. He carries sword and a shield of brass during the epic performance. He is accompanied by three relatives or fellow caste members who play a goatskin bagpipe, a set of double-ended brass drums, and finger cymbals. The audience, like the cult, consists of all castes except the Madiga, the other dominant Telugu untouchable caste.

Although the epic of Palnadu is identified by its singers as a thirty-night story, it is never sung continuously for thirty nights. When sung as part of a festival, episodes are chosen for their association with particular rituals. Outside this context, episodes are chosen to suit the desires of the patron or audience. Even when asked by Western scholars to sing the epic from beginning to end, the singers began with whatever they consider to be the most important episode, only later summarizing the events leading up to that episode. What follows here is thus a narrative rather than performative summary of the epic story of the heroes of Palnadu.

Doddavaram : Ankamma thirunaala is the most famous celebration of Doddavram with thousands of devotees coming from all the nearby villages. It's held in year by year, generally in the last week of March.

Srisailam : There is one Ankalamma temple in Srisailam.

Marasapu Ankamma : The Madigas known as Bavinidu or Baindla narrate the ballads of Parsuram and worship Ellamma and Renuka while the Malas known as Pambala sing the ballads of Ankamma and worship her as ‘Marasapu Ankamma’. Along with Jamukus or Jamidika or Pamba, they also play the wind instrument Titti. The Mudiraja / Muthuracha people are also known as Marasa (Maaraasa). The warrior people of Mutharacha were known as Maaraasa Veerulu.

Marasa = Maaraasa = Maharasa = Maharaja

Veerulu = Warriors.

Marasapu Ankamma = Ankamma belonging to Marasa (Mutharasu) community

Maha + Arasa => Ma(ha)arasa => Maarasa => Marasa

Maha => Great

Arasa => King or Lord

Marasa => Maaraasa => Maaraacha => Maracha

Maaraasa => Maharaasa => Maharaacha => Maharaaja

Maharaja = Mudiraja = Muthuraja = Great King

Maha = Muthu = Mudi = Great

Rasa = Racha = Raja = Raya = Rai

We know that Mudiraj are known as kolis in North India. The kolis were related to Sakyans. The Sakyan and Koliyan republics were established on the opposite banks of the Rohinī river. The members of the ruling assembly in these two republics were called rājās and the chief of the rājās was called mahārājā.

Raja = Raju

The Koliyan dynasty and the Sakya dynasty very closely related through matrimonial relations. More than 2,500 years ago, the was a Sakya king called Suddhodana. He married a beautiful Koliyan princess named Maha Maya. They were blessed with Siddhardha, who predicted to become a great king (Maharaja). The couple ruled over the Sakyas, a warrior tribe living next to the Koliya tribe, in the north of India, in what is now known as Nepal. The capital of the Sakya country was laid out across the foothills of the Himalayas and called Kapilavatthu.

There was great Buddhist text known as Mahavamsa in Tamil language which dealt with Buddhist kings who ruled South India. The Maharayars of South India and Maharajas of North India might be related or belonged to the same block.

Penuganchiprolu : Sri Tirupthamba is worshipped in the Penuganchiprolu Temple as "shakthi" who took the path of SATI on demise of her husband. There is also a temple for Ankamma along with Thirupathamma. Tirupathamma preached virtuous qualities of life to her devotees and made her Abode at Penuganchiprolu. Mudiraj Papamamba was her principal devotee. All the pujaris in these temple complex belong to Mudiraj community.

MUMBA DEVI: 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).

KAKATI DEVI: Even the Kakatiyas who used to worship Kakati Devi are also believed to be the people belonging to fishing community. They were believed to be kolis / Mudiraj. The warriors people who established Kakatiya kingdom and Vijayanagar kingdom were of Telugu speaking and definitely belonged to Koli / Mudiraj / bant / Raya / Naik community.

Historians have deciphered writings on the walls of temples describing the names and gotrams (family groupings) of some ancient Raju rulers and the contributions made by them to the temples and towns. One such ancient inscriptions of Kakatiya Dynasty particulars are as shown on the huge Nandi pillar lying near the ruined temple in Malkapuram, Guntur Taluk, Guntur District. (Published in the Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society, Vol. IV, pp. 147-64.) S. 1183. (Durmati. According the above inscription, Kakatiyas are described as belonging to the Solar race of Kshatriyas.

The people of Mudiraj - Muthuraj - koli constitute a major block of aboriginal Indians and they are highly obedient, simple and service minded by nature. This warrior Tribal Indian community gave birth to many great saints of extraordinary reputation. Saints such as Valmiky, Hanuman, Shabari, Kannappa, Amritanandamayee, Kannagi, Purandaradas, Kabir belongs to this block of community.

For more details, please check Mudiraj Research Website: http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_saints.html

http://www.geocities.com/mudiraja/mudiraju_arts.html

FREE MUDIRAJ WEBSITE for matrimonials, community discussions: http://www.mudiraj.com

References

http://indculture0.tripod.com/mudirajus.htm

http://geocities.com/MUDIRAJA Mudiraj Website