Mulakas (Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol XXI, No. 1) Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

Mulakas
by

S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

The references to the ancient Brahmanical community of the Mulakas, that occur in epigraphs
and Saṁskṛt literature are of interest as indicating the gradual intrusion of the Āryans into the
south and the expansion and propagation of the northern culture in Dakshņãpatha. The name
occurs in a variety of forms - chief being Mūlaka, Mūtiba, Mūshaka, Mūchipa and Muṛika. The
earliest reference is, I believe, in the Aitarēya Brãhmaņa where we have the story of a
Viśvãmitra expelling his sons from Āryãvarta (Ait, Br., VII. 18). We are told that they settled
down among the Dasyus.

“iÉLiÉåuklÉÉ: mÉÑhQûÉ: zÉoÉUÉ: mÉÑÍVÇûSÉ: qÉÔÌiÉoÉÉ CirÉÑSlirÉÉ oÉWûuÉÉå uÉæ µÉÉÍqɧÉÉSxrÉÔlÉÉÇ pÉÔÌrɹÉ: ||”

The country beyond the confines of Aryavarta thus came to be called in later times
Mlechhadesa – the abode of barbarians (qsÉåcNûSåzÉ: xÉÌuÉ¥ÉårÉ: AÉrÉÉïuÉiÉïxiÉiÉ: mÉUqÉç). The term
“Mlechha” which in early times was confined solely to the predatory tribes, came to be applied
to all peoples beyond the region between the Himalayas and the Vindhyas, so that the
Yavanas, Chinas, Hunas, the Sakas and Pahlavas are considered to be as barbaric as the
indigenous tribes – Kiratas, Sabaras, Pilundas, Poundras, Dravidas and Keralas.
Amaranarasimha enumerates Kiratas, etc., as sub-divisions of Mlechhas (pÉåSÉ: ÌMüUÉiÉ zÉoÉUmÉÑÍVÇû SÉ:
qsÉåcNûeÉÉiÉrÉ:). The Mahabharata (I. 186. 33-7) and Manavadharma Sastra go further.

ÍcÉuÉÑMüÉÇ¶É mÉÑÍVÇûSÉÇ¶É cÉÏlÉÉlÉç WÕûhÉÉlÉç xÉMåüUVûÉlÉç |

xÉxÉeÉï ÄTåülÉiÉ: xÉÉ aÉæ: qsÉåcNûÉlÉç oÉWÒûÌuÉkÉÉlÉÌmÉ ||
mÉæhQíéMüÉ ¶ÉÉæQíéSìÌuÉQûÉ: MüÉÇpÉÉåeÉÉ zÉuÉlÉÉ zMüÉ: |
mÉÉUSÉ: mÉsWûuÉÉ ¶ÉÏlÉ: ÌMüUÉiÉÉ: SUSÉ: mÉÔuÉzÉ: || etc.

Similalry the Harivamsa enumerates the peculiar modes of dressing the hair practised by
these Mlechhas – like that of shaving half the head or complete, allowing moustaches and the
beard to grow, etc., - these habits being evidently non-Aryan.

AkÉïÇ zMüÉlÉÉÇ ÍzÉUxÉÉå qÉÑhQûÌrÉiuÉÉ urÉxÉeÉïrÉåiÉç |

rÉuÉlÉÉlÉÉÇ ÍzÉUxxÉuÉïÇ MüÉqpÉÉåeÉÉlÉÉÇ iɶÉæuÉcÉ ||
mÉÉUSÉ pÉÑ£üMåüzÉÉ¶É mÉsWûuÉÉ xqÉ´ÉÑ kÉÉËUhÉ: |
ÌlÉ: xuÉÉkrÉÉrÉ uÉwÉOèMüÉUÉ: MÑüiÉÉxiÉålÉ qÉWûÉiqÉlÉÉ ||
zÉMüÉeÉuÉlÉ MüÉqpÉÉåeÉÉ: mÉÉUSÉ: mÉsWûuÉÉxiÉjÉÉ | etc.
(Harivamsa, XIV. 15 – 17)

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Mulakas (Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol XXI, No. 1) Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

It is thus clear Aryans had already occupied the trans-Vindhyan regions by the time of the
composition of Aitareya Brahmana (c. 1400 B.C.). The Mutibas evidently associated themselves
with Mushakas, a totemistic tribe, and Assakas. Indeed in the Jatakas and Suttanipata, Assaka
and Mulaka are intimately associated. Panini speaks of Asmaka and its king also called Asmaka
(c. 700 B.C.)

xÉÉsuÉÉuÉrÉuÉ mÉëirÉaÉëjÉMüsÉMÔüOûÉzqÉMüÉÌSgÉç || IV. 1. 173

iÉå iÉSìÉeÉÉ: || IV. 1. 174

The Suttanipata speaks of the Asmaka country on the Godavari (M.S.B.E., X. Pt. II, p. 184).

The Jatakas too mention Assaka, Avanti and Mulaka as adjoining one another (c 600 to 303
B.C.). The Baveri Jataka tells us that Baverin, a Brahmana, sent his pupils to Buddha by the
following route. They started from Assaka on the banks of the Godavari in Dakkinapatha
northwards, first to Pattithana the capital of the Mulaka country, then to Mahissati, Ujjeni,
Gonaddha, Vedisa, Kanasahavya, Kosambi, Saketa, Savatthi, Setavya, Kapilavattu, Kusinara,
Pava, Vesali and thence to Pasanaka Chetiya where the Buddha was residing. It is clear that
during the time of Buddha, the Mulaka country had already Pratishthana as its capital.

The Chulla Kalinga Jataka tells us that the capital of Assaka was Potana or Potali and its king
Aruna with the help of his minister Nandisena defeated the king of Kalinga.

Some Jatakas differentiate between Assaka with its capital Potana or Potali and Mulaka with
its capital Pattithana on the one hand and Kalinga with its capital Dantiputra on the other (Jat.,
Vol. III. 3-3-4).

The Sona Nanda Jataka, however, identifies Assaka and Avanti but not the Anguttara Nikaya.
The Assaka Jataka (No. 207) says that its capital Potali was once ruled over by Kasi. The Maha
Govinda Sutta speaks of a Brahmadatta of Assaka who was the contemporary of Sattabahu,
king of Kalinga, vessabahu of Avanti, Bharata of Sovira, Renu, king of Videha, Dhatarattha, king
of Anga, and Dhatarattha of Kasi (Dialogues of the Buddha, Vol. II).

The Samkhyayna Srauta Sutras refer to Mutipas or Mushakas.

The Vayu Purana speaks of two princes Asmaka and Mulaka who belonged to the Ikshvaku line
of kings. Similarly the Mahabharata has a story about the birth of prince Asmaka who had his
capital at Poudana.

AzqÉMüÉå lÉÉqÉ UÉeÉÌwÉï: mÉÉæQûlrÉÉÇ rÉÉåÌlÉuÉåzÉrÉiÉç || etc.

(Mahabharata, I. 177. 47.)

Other passages in the Mahabharata give the names of the following tribes as residing in
Dakshinapatha: -

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Mulakas (Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol XXI, No. 1) Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

SͤÉhÉÉmÉjÉeÉlqÉÉlÉ: xÉuÉåï lÉUuÉUÉÇklÉMüÉ: |

aÉÑWûÉ: mÉÑÍVûÇSÉ: zÉoÉUÉ: cÉÑcÉÑMüÉqÉSìMæüxxÉWû ||

(Mahabharata, XII. 207. 42)

The Vayu mentions Mulakas along with the forest-tribes.

ApÉÏUÉ: xÉWû cÉæwÉÏMüÉ: AÉOûprÉÉ: zÉoÉUÉ¶É rÉå |

mÉÑÍVûÇSÉ: ÌuÉlkrÉ qÉÑVûÏMüÉ uÉæSpÉÉï ShQûMæüxxÉWû ||

The Matsya Purana classes the Mulakas along with Sakas, Yavanas and othe Mlechhas.

AÉlÉkÉëÉ zÉMüÉ mÉÑÍVÇûSÉ¶É qÉÔÍsÉMüÉ rÉuÉlÉÉxiÉjÉÉ |

MæüuÉiÉÉï pÉÏU zÉoÉUÉ rÉåcÉÉlrÉå qsÉåc NûxÉÇpÉuÉÉ: ||
iÉåwÉÉÇ mÉUå eÉlÉmÉSÉ SͤÉhÉÉmÉjÉuÉÉÍxÉlÉ: |
MüÉÂwÉÉ¶É xÉWæûwÉÏMüÉ AÉOûqprÉÉ: zÉoÉUÉxiÉjÉÉ |
mÉÑÍVÇûSÉ ÌuÉlÉkrÉ mÉÑÌwÉMüÉ uÉæSpÉÉï SÎhQûMæüxxÉWû ||

From the above it is evident that the Mulakas were living on the banks of the Godavari, south
of the Vindhyas with their capital at Pattithana or Pratishthana (modern Paithan). Later on
Pratishthana became the capital of the Satavahanas of the west. It was a centre of culture
under Salivahana (whoever he might be and whose name is associated with Gunadhya and
Sarvavarman). It is probable that the consonant ‘l’ was pronounced after the Dravidian fashion
(ļ = zsha) and Mulaka and Mushaka became interchangeable.

The earliest references to Mushakas in epigraphic records is in the inscription of Kharavela of

Kalinga. It has already been pointed out that the Jatakas speak of feuds between Assaka –
Mulaka country on the one hand and Kalinga on the other. Probably, Kharavela thought he was
paying off an old score against Mushakanagara when he burnt it in his second year (c. 170 B.
C.) disregarding the power of Satkarni.

ÌSiÉÏrÉå cÉÑ uÉxÉå AÍcÉÇiÉrÉiÉÉ xÉÉiÉMüÎqhÉÇ mÉÎcNûqÉÌSxÉÇ

WûrÉaÉeÉ lÉUUiÉjÉ oÉWÒûsÉÇ ShQÇû mÉPûÉmÉrÉÌiÉ, MüzÉmÉÉhÉÇ
ZÉÌiÉrÉÇcÉ xÉWûÉrÉå ÌuÉiÉÉåmÉÌiÉ qÉÔÌwÉMülÉaÉUÇ”
(Journal of Bihar and Orissa
Research Society, 1917)

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Mulakas (Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol XXI, No. 1) Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

This indicates that Mushakanagara was to the west of Kalinga and under the suzeranity of
Satakarni. It is probably identical with Pratishthana itself if we interpret the word as the
Nagara or Capital of the Mushakas or Mulakas.
The next reference to the Mulaka country is in the Nasik inscription of Balasri which
enumerates the possessions of Gautamiputra thus: -

“AÍxÉMü AxÉMü qÉÑVûMü xÉÑUPû MÑüMÑüUÉmÉUÉliÉ AlÉÑmÉ

ÌuÉSpÉ AÉMüUÉuÉÌiÉ UÉeÉxÉ, ÌuÉCgÉÑcÉuÉiÉ mÉÉËUrÉÉiÉ xɽ
MühWûÌaÉËU qÉcÉÍxÉËUiÉhÉ qÉsÉrÉ qÉÌWûS xÉåiÉÌaÉËU cÉMüÉåU
mÉuÉiÉ mÉÌiÉxÉ” (Epi. Ind., Vol. VIII).”

The mention of Asika, Asaka, Mulaka, Suratha, Kukura, Aparanta, Anupa, Vidabha, Akara and
Avanti in a certain geographical order shows that Muluka was still in the country around
Pratishthana. At the same time, we can infer that Vaijayanti or Banavasi, Govardhanagiri and
Benakataka, i.e., the land around the Venna or Yenne river (if our identification are correct),
which joins the Saravati in the western border of the Shimoga district, belonged to
Goutamiputra by his eighteenth year. After him Pratishthana was occupied by the Kshatrapas
and destroyed, till Vasishthiputra Satakarni rebuilt the old capital and called it Navanara or
the new town. During those troublous days the Mulakas left their ancestral homes and
marched southwards in quest of fresh fields and pastures new.

Bhagavanlal Indraji opined that Mulakas were the same as Mundakas mentioned in the Vishnu
Purana along with Sakas and Tukharas. These Mundas or Murundas are spoken of as having
ruled for forty years in Harivamsa. The Prabhavaka Charita assigns 250 years for the reign of
thirteen Murundas. However it is almost certain that their independence came to an end under
Samudragupta. In the Allahabad pillar inscription they are associated with Sakas and Simhalas.

“SæuÉmÉÑ§É wÉÉÌWû wÉÉWûÉlÉÑwÉÉÌWû zÉMü qÉÑÃÇQæû:

xÉæWÇûVûMüÉÌSÍpÉ¶É xÉåuÉÉM×üiÉ uÉÉWÒûuÉÏrÉï mÉëxÉU kÉUÍhÉ
oÉlkÉxrÉ”

It was pointed out above that after the occupation of Pratishthana by the Kshtrapas, the
Mulakas seem to have moved southwards into those lands that were still under the suzerainty
of the Satavahanas. Hence they were not directly in the way of Samudragupta’s conquest.
Perhaps like the kings of Ceylon and Sakas or Kshatrapas they sent ambassadors with presents
to the Emperor who construed the act as a sign of the recognition of his overlordship though it
might not have been the intention of the Sakas, Murundas and Saimhalakas themselves. These

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Mulakas (Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol XXI, No. 1) Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

were definitely outside the region of Samudragupta’s exploits – the Kshatrapas round about
Ujjaini and Paithan, the Murundas further south between the borders of the Shimoga district
and the west coast and Saimhalakas in Ceylon.

The Mulakas or Mushakas starting from their home on the banks of the Godavari in the second
century A.D., gradually spread themselves along the Malabar coast in the south-west and in the
east in the Kadapa, Nellore and other districts. By about 400 A.D. they were already in the
region round Banavasi and probably the town Mulki in South Kanara was named after them.

In the sixth century, the rise of Chalukyas of Badami involved the loss of Muluka political
power. Kirtivarman I is credited in the Mahakuta inscription with having vanquished Vangas,
Angas, Kalinga, Vattura, Magadha, Madraka, Kerala, Ganga, Mushaka, Pandya, Dramila, Choliya,
Aluka and Vaijayanti. After Samudragupta and probably into the hands of the Vakatakas and
Chandragupta might have sent Kalidasa as his ambassador to the Kuntala king. When the
Guptas and Vakatakas grew feeble before the in roads of the Hunas in the sixth century,
badami Chalukyas grew in strength in the south and extended their sway at the expense of the
Kadambas around Banavasi and Mauryas of the Konkan (who were possibly Murundas and
had little to do with the Mauryas of the north). Fleet has located the Mushika country as the
part of the western coast between Quilon and Cape Comorin (“Dynasties of the Kanarese
Districts,” p. 281: J.B.O.R.S., 1917, p. 375ff). The Bhisma Parva of the Mahabharata mentions
the Mushikas thus: -

AjÉÉmÉUå eÉlÉmÉSÉ SͤÉhÉÉ pÉUiÉwÉïpÉ |

SìÌuÉQûÉ: MåüUVûÉ: mÉëÉcrÉÉ pÉÔ [qÉÔ]ÌwÉMüÉ uÉlÉuÉÉÍxÉMüÉ ||
MühÉÉïOûMüÉ: qÉÌWûwÉMüÉ ÌuÉMüsmÉÉ qÉÔÌwÉMüÉxiÉjÉÉ |
CgÉÎssÉMüÉ: MÑüliÉsÉɶÉæuÉ xÉÉæ½SÉlÉpÉ MüÉlÉlÉÉ: ||
(Mbh. VI. 9. 58 – 59.)

Mushakas are here associated with Vanavasikas (of Banavasi), Karnatakas (of the Karnata
country), Mahishakas (probably round about Mysore), Jhallikas and Kuntalas.

Another branch of the Mulakas turned eastwards and we find Mulakanadu, a part of the
Udayagiri rajya in the present Kadapa and Nellore districts. The Rashtrakuta emperor Krshna
III (c. 950 A.D.) in course of his expeditions against Kanchi and Tanjai overran the Mulikinadu
and in a grant he made at Pushpagiri (in the Kadapa district) appeals to those who ruled over
Mulikinadu in Honnavadi to respect the charity after him and render help towards
perpetuating it. With the rise of the Vijayanagara empire Mulikinadu was a part of the

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Mulakas (Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol XXI, No. 1) Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, Esq., M.A.

Udayagiri rajya. It is mentioned in a number of inscriptions (Inscriptions of the Madras

Presidency, C.D. 413, 526, 562, 584, 587, 654, 627, 621, 628, 675, 678, etc.).

During the rule of the great emperor Devaraya II, Vinukonda Vallabhamatya ruled over
Mopuru in Mulikinadu (Indian Antiquary, Vol. LVII, p. 80). He was not only a poet himself as is
evident from his work Kridabhiramamu, he was also a patron of poets. The poet Srinatha,
author of Kasikhandamu, Naishadhamu, etc., sought his assistance in entering the court of
Devaraya to dispute with Dindima for the title of Poet-laureate (Kavi Sarvabhauma).

In the Proddatur taluk of the Kadapa district, were included Chernuru sima and Potladurti sima
which were a part of Mulikinadu, a sub-division of Gandigota sima of the Udayagiri rajya. In
Saka 1436 (A.D. 1518), Krshnadevaraya made a grant in Chernuru sima.

Thus it is we we find that, during the lapse of three thousand years, this tribe passed from
place to place till at present they are to be found in all parts of Southern India from the
Godavari up to Cape Comorin.

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