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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA TELUGU CHOLA RECORDS FROM ANANTAPUR AND CUDDAPAH Of the two terms indicating official dignity, Yuvarāju is the well understood term signifying the dignity of heir-apparent while it is not quite clear what official position is exactly indicated by the title Mutturāju. In the present context, the term is a title or dignity and not a personal or dynastic name like Chōḷa or Pāṇḍya as we see from an examination of its derivation and the combinations in which it occurs. The term seems to be derived from Mudu[1] or Mutu in Telugu meaning elder or advanced in age corresponding to Mūtta in Tamil conveying the same meaning. The Tamil and Kannaḍa renderings of the title Mutturāja appear to be Muttaraiyar and Muttarasa respectively. In this connection we may cite some of the titles of the Kēraḷa kings occurring in their inscriptions, such as Tiruppāpūr-Mūtta Tiruvaḍi (or. Mūttavar)[2]. Jayatuṅganāṭṭu-Mūttatambirān (or Mūtta-Tiruvaḍi),[3] and Śiraivāy Mūttatambirān[4] meaning “ the First or the Senior price or ruling chief (Tambirān) of (the royal family of) Tiruppāpūr, Jayatuṅganāḍu and Śiraivāy (Āttiṅgāl) respectively. Judging from the instances of its occurrence in the inscriptions of the Kēraḷa kings, it would appear that the prince who held the title issued records, making gifts, like a ruling prince in the same manner as the inscriptions of Erikal-Mutturāja, edited here, have been issued. Several Gaṅga inscriptions[5] issued in the name of Koṅkaṇi Muttarasa without any personal name or titles attached thereto, may be cited also as instances indicating that the person who held the title of Muttarasa enjoyed an official position comparable in dignity and status to, but not identical with, the Yuvarāja or the Adhirāja (Mahārāja, Mahārājādhirāja), who generally issued grants in an independent capacity. A Vaiduṁba inscription[6] records the crowning or the binding of the fillet (paṭṭaṁgaṭṭi….) of a certain Gaṇḍara Mutrāju (i.e., ‘ Mutrāju among the heroes’) by the Vaiduṁbas presumably prior to his entry as general in the war in which he is stated to have been killed. It is not clear whether the dignity of Mutrāju was conferred on him during his anointment. That Mutturāju cannot be identical with Yuvarāju is clear enough if we compare the import of ‘ Yuva ’ meaning young and of ‘ Mūtta ’ meaning elder or advanced in age. But it is doubtful whether a prince referred to merely as Mutturāju (without supreme titles like Mahārāja), e.g., Erigal Mutturāju, Koṅkaṇi Muttarasa, Kāḍuveṭṭi-Muttarasa, Ilaṅgō Muttaraiyar, etc., enjoyed the position of an Adhirāja. It is significant that the personal names of the prices thus referred to are devoid of the honorific plural endings which characterise those of the supreme rulers. Thus Erigal Mutturāju Dhanañjaya and Erigal Muturāju Puṇyakumāra are called simply Dhanañjayuru (ins. A) and (Puṇyakumārunru (inss. E and F below) respectively with the nominative singular ending ru or nru attached to their names. Further in a few inscriptions they also figure in a subordinate capacity, as for instance, Erigallu-Mutturāju in the Nallacheruvupalle inscription (I) edited below. Kāḍuveṭṭi Muttarayan figures as the donor in an inscription of Pallava Dantivarman.[7]
Considering the occurrence of the term Mutturāju (Muttarasa, Muttaraiyar) in the inscriptions of all the dynasties, it would appear that the title, when not accompanied by any supreme title, Adhirāja or Mahārājādhirāja, was applicable to the seniormost among the prices of the family other than the ruling king and the Yuvarāja. The dignity or status first prince, ______________________________
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