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A commemorative postage stamp honouringPerumbiduguMutharaiyar II was released by the Vice President of India, recognising his role in early medieval Tamil history.

Who was PerumbiduguMutharaiyar II?

• Period: c. 705–745 CE
• Also known as:Suvaran Maran, Shatrubhayankar
• Lineage: Ruler from the Mutharaiyar dynasty
• Political status: Feudatory of the Pallavas; later exercised near-sovereign authority as Pallava power waned
• Military role: Fought alongside Pallava king Nandivarman
• Reputation: Capable administrator; remembered for stability and governance

Mutharaiyars: Polity & Region

• Territory: Central Tamil Nadu-Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli and adjoining Cauvery basin areas
• Historical trajectory: Rose in prominence as Pallava authority declined
• Cultural legacy: Influential temple builders; active in cave-temple enterprises into the early 9th century
• Architectural significance: Their innovations influenced later Chola temple architecture

Religion & Patronage

• Religious climate: Period of Hindu revival alongside Jain and Buddhist presence
• Patronage: Supported Shaivism and scholarly debates; Jain monk Vimalachandra is recorded to have visited his court for theological discussions
• Inions: Credit him with temple endowments, irrigation works, and Tamil literary patronage

Historical Importance

• Demonstrates the transition from Pallava feudatories to regional rulers
• Bridges Pallava and early Chola phases in Tamil polity and architecture
• Highlights plural religious discourse in early medieval South India