The rulers of Pudukkottai held the title of:

The correct answer is: a) Sethupathi.

The Sethupathi dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled the Pudukkottai Nayak kingdom in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The dynasty was founded by Muthu Krishnappa Nayak, who was a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Sethupathi rulers were known for their military prowess and their patronage of the arts and literature. The dynasty came to an end in 1801, when the Pudukkottai kingdom was annexed by the British East India Company.

The other options are incorrect.

• The Thondaiman dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled the Thondaimandalam region of Tamil Nadu from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
• The Palaiyakkarar dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled the Madurai Nayak kingdom in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
• The Maharaja title is a royal title that is used by rulers of various kingdoms and empires around the world.