The

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...

prefix Maha Raja Rajya Shri (abbreviated to M. R. Ry or formerly M. R. Ry.) is a

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

that is used before the names of certain classes of south

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n nobility.

Usage

The abbreviation of the title is said to be derived from Sanskrit lexicons, the title "Raja-sry" being a dyotaka (signifier) for the

Kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

nobility and Dravidian aristocracy of south India. When M. R. Ry. is used before a name, it usually always follows with the suffix Avl. It appears to be used before the names of all chiefs in the southern Indian princely order. For example, cases involving south Indian princes and chiefs in the

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is the highest court of appeal for the Crown Dependencies, the British Overseas Territories, some Commonwealth countries and a few institutions in the United Kingdom. Established on 14 Augus ...

of the United Kingdom include this honorific before personal names and preceding their full title: The

Zamorin of Calicut The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited by ...

is styled as "M. R. Ry. Manavikrama, Zamorin Raja Avl of Calicut" in a

decision (Laws (PVC)-1925-4-92) and other court cases. It is considered similar to the title "The Most Noble" or "The Most Honourable" used in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

for certain higher classes of the peerage. It is by

courtesy Courtesy (from the word ''courteis'', from the 12th century) is gentle politeness and courtly manners. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the behaviour expected of the nobility was compiled in courtesy books. History The apex of European courtly cul ...

used for all higher-ranking officials of the state and sthanom holders (ruling chiefs). The title is reserved for men; the spouse or consort receives no additional style.

Usage examples

Younger members of the ruling families in Travancore, Cochin, and Pudukottai use the title. The

of the United Kingdom used the abbreviated version of the title while addressing ruling chiefs of India instead of the courtesy title His Highness. and other court cases. The diarist

Ananda Ranga Pillai M. R. Ry. Ananda Ranga Pillai ( ta, ஆனந்தரங்கம் பிள்ளை; 30 March 1709 – 16 January 1761) (often pronounced as ''Ānañtarañkam Pillai'') was a ''dubash'' in the service of the French East India Company. He i ...

, also known as the "Pepys of India", was styled "M. R. Ry. Ananda Ranga Pillai Avergal" in early French documents. Many instances can be found in the ''London Gazette''.

References

{{Reflist, 2 Styles (forms of address) Asian nobility Indian nobility

Usage

Usage examples

See also

References