Mutracha caste is surname of many people in southern India. Mutracha caste meaning is Mutracha appears, in published records, in a variety of forms, such as Muttaracha, Muttirajulu, Muttarasan, and Mutratcha. The caste is known by one of these names in the Telugu country, and in the Tamil country as Muttiriyan or Palaiyakkaran.
Concerning the Mutrachas, Mr. H. A. Stuart writes as follows.68 This is a Telugu caste most numerous in the Kistna, Nellore, Cuddapah, and North Arcot districts. The Mutrachas were employed by the Vijayanagar kings to defend the frontiers of their dominions, and were honoured with the title of paligars (cf. Palaiyakkaran). The word Mutracha is derived from the Dravidian roots mudi, old, and racha, a king; but another derivation is from Mutu Raja, a sovereign of some part of the Telugu country. They eat flesh, and drink liquor. Their titles are Dora and Naidu. Mr. Stuart writes further69 that in the North Arcot district they are most numerous in the Chendragiri taluk, but found all over the district in the person of the village taliari or watchman, for which reason it is often called the taliari caste. They proudly call themselves paligars, and in Chendragiri doralu or lords, because several of the Chittoor palaiyams (villages governed by paligars) were in possession of members of their caste. They seem to have entered the country in the time of the Vijayanagar kings, and to have been appointed as its kavilgars (watchmen). The caste is usually esteemed by others as a low one. Most of its [128]members are poor, even when they have left the profession of taliari, and taken to agriculture. They eat in the houses of most other castes, and are not trammelled by many restrictions. In Chendragiri they rarely marry, but form connections with women of their caste, which are often permanent, though not sanctioned by the marriage ceremony, and the offspring of such associations are regarded as legitimate.
In the Nellore Manual, the Mutrachas are summed up as being hunters, fishermen, bearers, palanquin-bearers, and hereditary watchmen in the villages. At times of census, Mutracha or Mutarasan has been recorded as a sub-division of Urali, and a title of Ambalakkaran. Muttiriyan, which is simply a Tamil form of Mutracha, appears as a title and sub-division of Ambalakkaran (q.v.). Further, Tolagari is recorded as a sub-division of Mutracha. The Tolagaris are stated70 to be a small cultivating caste, who were formerly hunters, like the Palayakkarans. Most of the Mutrachas are engaged in agriculture. At Paniyam, in the Kurnool district, I found some employed in collecting winged white-ants (Termites), which they sun-dry, and store in large pots as an article of food. They are said to make use of some special powder as a means of attracting the insects, in catching which they are very expert.
In some places, the relations between the Mutrachas and Gollas, both of which castes belong to the left-hand section, are strained. On occasions of marriage among the Madigas, some pan-supari (betel leaves and areca nuts), is set apart for the Mutrachas, as a mark of respect.
In consequence of the fact that some Mutrachas have been petty chieftains, they claim to be Kshatriyas, and [129]to be descended from Yayathi of the Mahabaratha. According to the legend, Devayana, the daughter of Sukracharya, the priest of the Daityas (demons and giants), went to a well with Charmanishta, the daughter of the Daitya king. A quarrel arose between them, and Charmanishta pushed Devayana into a dry well, from which she was rescued by king Yayathi. Sukracharya complained to the Daitya king, who made his daughter become a servant to Yayathis wife, Devayana. By her marriage Devayana bore two sons. Subsequently, Yayathi became enamoured of Charmanishta, by whom he had an illegitimate son. Hearing of this, Sukracharya cursed Yayathi that he should be subject to old age and infirmity. This curse he asked his children to take on themselves, but all refused except his illegitimate child Puru. He accordingly cursed his legitimate sons, that they should only rule over barren land overrun by Kiratas. One of them, Durvasa by name, had seven children, who were specially favoured by the goddess Ankamma. After a time, however, they were persuaded to worship Maheswara or Virabhadra instead of Ankamma. This made the goddess angry, and she caused all flower gardens to disappear, except her own. Flowers being necessary for the purpose of worship, the perverts stole them from Ankammas garden, and were caught in the act by the goddess. As a punishment for their sin, they had to lose their lives by killing themselves on a stake. One of the seven sons had a child named Ravideviraju, which was thrown into a well as soon as it was born. The Naga Kannikas of the nether regions rescued the infant, and tended it with care. One day, while Ankamma was traversing the Naga lokam (country), she heard a child crying, and sent her vehicle, a jackal (nakka), to bring the child, which, [130]however, would not allow the animal to take it The goddess accordingly herself carried it off. The child grew up under her care, and eventually had three sons, named Karnam Raju, Gangi Raju, and Bhupathi Raju, from whom the Mutrachas are descended. In return for the goddess protecting and bringing up the child, she is regarded as the special tutelary deity of the caste.
There is a saying current among the Mutrachas that the Mutracha caste is as good as a pearl, but became degraded as its members began to catch fish. According to a legend, the Mutrachas, being Kshatriyas, wore the sacred thread. Some of them, on their way home after a hunting expedition, halted by a pond, and were tempted by the enormous number of fish therein to fish for them, using their sacred threads as lines. They were seen by some Brahmans while thus engaged, and their degradation followed.
In the Telugu country, two divisions, called Paligiri and Oruganti, are recognised by the Mutrachas, who further have exogamous septs or intiperulu, of which the following are examples
Avula, cow.
Arigala, a dish carried in processions.
Busi, dirt.
Ella, boundary.
Guvvala, doves.
Indla, house.
iga, fly.
Koppula, hair-knot.
Katari, dagger.
Marri, Ficus bengalensis.
Nakka, jackal.
Puli, tiger.
Talari, watchman.
Tota, garden.
Uyyala, a swing.
Thumu, iron measure for measuring grain.
During the first menstrual seclusion of a girl, she may not have her meals served on a metal plate, but uses an earthen cup, which is eventually thrown away. [131]When she reaches puberty, a girl does up her hair in a knot called koppu.
In the case of confinement, pollution ends on the tenth day. But, if a woman loses her infant, especially a first-born, the pollution period is shortened, and, at every subsequent time of delivery, the woman bathes on the seventh or ninth day. Every woman who visits her on the bathing day brings a pot of warm water, and pours it over her head.
Mutracha caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Mutracha caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Mutracha caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Mutracha caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Mutracha caste is also known as Mutracha Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don?t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.