PERIMBIDUGU MUTHARAYAN ll

Perimbidugu Mutharayan ll was one of the famous kings of south India who ruled his kingdom with Thanjavoor as capital city.
He ruled over Mutharayar Nadu comprising of modern districts of Thirichirappally, Thanjavoor, and Puthukottai from A.D.705-A.D. 745. His father was Maran Parameswaran and his grandfather was Kuvavan maran. He had 13 titles namely Sri Sathru mallan, Sri Kalvaar Kallahn, Sri Adi Sagasan, Sri Maran, Abhimana Dheeran, Sathru Kesari, Thamaralayan, Serumaran, Velmaran, Sathan Maran, Thanjaikoan, Vallakoan and Vaan maran. He was a great conqueror and a formidable warrior. He was the victor of 12 battles fought at Kodumbaalur, Manalur, Thingalur, Kaandhalur, Azhindhiyur, Karai, Maangur, Annavoil, Semponmari, Venkodal, Pugazhi and Kannanur. He had defeated the Pandya and Chera. He was patron of art and literature. He built many temples and one of them was the Pidari temples at Niamam, where four pillars bearing inscriptions of 27 stanzas narrating his victories and other achievements were erected. These stanzas were sung by four poets namely Velnambi, Elamperumaanar, Kuvavan Kanchan and Anirudhar.

As a conqueror, patron of art and literature, builder of temples and lover of Tamil he stands on par with the great south Indian kings namely Narasimha Pallavan, Raja Raja Cholan and Mara Varma Sundara Pandyan. 

There is a reference to Perimbidugu Mutharayan ll  who attended the coronation of Nandi Varman pallava malla .One of the titles of the Mutharayar was Lord of Thanjavoor. The Mutharayars were known to build some famous Siva temples in and around Thanjavoor. They were also known as the first builders  of forts in Thanjavoor. The city name” Thanjaur” seems to be derived from the name of a Mutharayar king” Thananjay” or” Dhananjaya”. “Thananjayarayar” is one of the surnames of  Mutharayar clans as per the research paper  published by Chola- Mutharayar  research centre, Thanjavoor. The original name Thananjaya ur might have gradually modified to “Thanjavoor”.