Muttaraiyan was a title used by various officials in the
Chola
The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...
government during the medieval period. It should not be confused with the
Muthuraja caste and has been borne by persons from various communities. For example, there was one Virarajendra Brahmadhiraya Muttaraiyan and Vikramasola Brahmadiraya Muttaraiyan who were feudatories of
Kulothunga Chola III. These two vassals were not
Muthuraja chiefs as the word Brahmadiraya meant
Brahmin
Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...
chiefs only.
There was another Brahmadiraya Muttaraiyan who was the elder brother of VānaVidyadhara-nādālvan during the time of
Kulottunga II. The latter had built a temple called Kulottunga Choleeswara.
During the reign of
Rajaraja Chola III around 1243 AD, there was an officer called Mallan Sivan alias Brahmadaraya Muttaraiyan, referred to as ''pillai'' (son). He was the holder of the royal fief (''arasukuru'') and the governor of Urattur-nadu.
During the reign of
Rajaraja Chola I
Rajaraja I (Middle Tamil: ''Rājarāja Cōḻaṉ''; Classical Sanskrit: ''Rājarāja Śōḷa''; 3 November 947 – January/February 1014), also known as Rajaraja the Great, was a Chola Empire, Chola emperor who reigned from 985 to 1014. He ...
, the head of the elephant corps was Srutiman Nakkan Chandiran alias Rajamalla Muttaraiyan. The officer was martyred in the fight with
Irivabedanga Satyasraya when he tried piercing the enemy's elephant as per the order of prince
Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra I (26 July 971 – 1044), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, was a Chola Empire, Chola Emperor who reigned from 1014 to 1044. He was born in Thanjavur to Rajaraja I. His queen was Vanavan Mahadevi and he assumed royal power as ...
.
The title was also borne by a
Bana chieftain and feudatory of Nrpatunga Pallava, called as Paranjaya Kadupatti Muttaraiyan and described as a descendant of Balikula. The latter was the Vjnapti(executor) of the Chirrur plates of Nrpatunga.
Inscription referring to the deed called kilipunaithitu given by Manavala-
muttaraiyan in
Kallar caste who had kani rights in Pudukkudi alias Rajndira cholamangalam , a hamlet of Tiruvellarai in Vadavali nadu. He gave the deed asserting that he received in one kili (pouch) the entire sum of 4000 kasu, the price amount of the four shares, from the temple trustees and handed over the same to the sellers of the share.
References
Titles in India
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