मल्लपुराण (ज्येष्ठिमल्ल - प्राचीन भारतीय मल्लविद्या, अखाड़ा व्यायाम व कुश्ती महाग्रन्थ)

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originally from Moḍhera¹, a town in North Gujarat. It is interesting to note
that such caste-names showing their geographical location are very common in
Gujarat.
The Jeṭhīs migrated to different capitals and towns of mediaeval states in
search of patronage, hence their movement from Moḍhera to other places is more
of the slow infilteration rather than complete exodus. This view could be sup-
ported from the fact that even today they are found in the area around Moḍhera.
They have not occupied this area recently but tradition supports the view that
they originated from this centre.
Their earlier centre could not be traced from their traditions. Moḍherā is
an old town which could be dated from at least the beginning of the Christian
era, with the archaeological evidence, but this antiquity is difficult to be given
to the mallas. For all practical purposes they might be considered to have
existed as a distinct community in this area from about the 10th-11th century
A.D. Higher antiquity than this is however not ruled out, but it is difficult to
corroborate it by positive evidence in the present state of our knowledge.
This is the late Mediaeval period of Indian History. Eventhough the
small kingdoms divided the political face of the nation, cultural ties were very
strong, migration and travel were fairly common and they strengthened the
cultural ties. Specially much intercourse existed between Gujarat, Rajasthan,
U.P. and Koṅkaṇ, Maharashtra and Mysore region. This contact seems to be
a link which helped the mallas to migrate to the different states in South as
well as North India. Similar migrations for patronage are noted for other
professionals like pandits, bards weavers also, but they do not suggest a
sudden exodus, as the caste survives in the centre of its origin upto the present
day. Again, it must be kept in mind that numerous poets, artisans and other
professional people used to move from one court to other and were settling in
the court which might patronise them or else they used to lead a partly
migratory life.
It is interesting to note, therefore, that by 1131 A. D. Munijetty erected
the temple of Cāmuṇḍeśvarī, during the reign of Hoysala ruler Viṣṇuvardhana,
in Undiganāḷu village, Javagal Hobli, Arsikere Taluke, Hassan District, Mysore
State. Further the inscription notes that about two hundred houses were also
built in Undiganali, probably for the jettis. Another evidence of their existence
here is provided by an inscription of cir. 1276 A. D. that Shri Nimbajādevī
temple was given some endowment. These two references of 12th and 13th
¹ Delmal, which is the stronghold of the Jyeṣṭhimallas in Gujarat is a
village near Moḍherā. Moḍhera being a large town might have been responsible
for giving the name to these Brāhmaṇs. For further remarks see Supra, p. 8.