Raja (; from IAST rājan-) is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested from the Rigveda, where a rājan- is a ruler, see for example the daśarājñá yuddhá, the "Battle of Ten Kings".
The title has equivalent cognates in other Indo-European languages, notably the Latin Rex and the Celtic Rix.
The Maratha title "Rao" (or "Rao") functions as both a given name and an honorific title, derived from words like the Sanskrit "Rājā" meaning "king," is a associated with the Kshatriya varna and can be considered a Kshatriya title.
Contents
Raja-ruled Indian states
While most of the Indian salute states (those granted a gun salute by the British Crown) were ruled by a Maharaja (or variation; some promoted from an earlier Raja- or equivalent style), even exclusively from 13 guns up, a number had Rajas:
Hereditary salutes of 13-guns
the Raja of Benares
the Raja of Nabha
Hereditary salutes of 11-gun
the Raja of Sathasi Raj
the Raja of Raigarh
the Raja of Ali Rajpur
the Raja of Bilaspur
the Raja of Chamba
the Raja of Faridkot
the Raja of Jhabua
the Raja of Mandi
the Raja of Manipur
the Raja of Narsinghgarh
the Raja of Pudukkottai
the Raja of Rajgarh
the Raja of Sangli
the Raja of Sailana
the Raja of Samthar
the Raja of Sitamau
the Raja of Suket
Hereditary salutes of 9-guns (11-guns personal)
List of Rajas in Bali
Rajas of Gelgel
Warmadewa Dynasty
Śri Kesari Warmadewa (fl. 914)
Ugrasena (fl. 915–942)
Tabanendra Warmadewa (fl. 955–967)
Indrajayasingha Warmadewa (co-regent, fl. 960)
Janasadhu Warmadewa (fl. 975)
Śri Wijaya Mahadewi (queen, fl. 983)
Gunapriya Dharmapatni (queen, before 989–1007)
Dharma Udayana Warmadewa (fl. 989–1011) [husband]
Śri Ajñadewi (queen, fl. 1016)
Dharmawangsa Wardhana Marakatapangkaja (fl. 1022–1025) [son of Dharma Udayana]
Airlangga (c. 1025–1042; King in Java from 1019) [brother]
Anak Wungçu (fl. 1049–1077) [brother]
Śri Maharaja Walaprabhu (between 1079 and 1088)
Śri Maharaja Sakalendukirana Laksmidhara Wijayottunggadewi (queen, fl. 1088–1101)
Śri Suradhipa (fl. 1115–1119)
Jaya Dynasty
Śri Jayaśakti (fl. 1133–1150)
Ragajaya (fl. 1155)
Jayapangus (fl. 1178–1181)
Arjayadengjayaketana (queen, fl. 1200)
Rajas of Mengwi
Gusti Agung Śakti (Gusti Agung Anom) (c. 1690–1722)
Gusti Agung Made Alangkajeng (1722-c. 1740) [son]
Gusti Agung Putu Mayun (1740s) [nephew]
Gusti Agung Made Munggu (1740s–1770/80) [brother]
Gusti Agung Putu Agung (1770/80-1793/94) [son]
Gusti Ayu Oka Kaba-Kaba (regent 1770/80-1807) [mother, grandmother]
Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung I (1807–1823) [son of Gusti Agung Putu Agung]
Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung II Putra (1829–1836) [son]
Gusti Agung Ketut Besakih (1836-1850/55) [brother]
Dutch suzerainty 1843–1891
Gusti Ayu Istri Biang Agung (1836–1857) [widow of Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung Putra]
Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung III (1859–1891) [descendant of Gusti Agung Putu Mayun]
Mengwi destroyed by Klungkung, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan 1891
Rajas of Tabanan
Śri Magade Nata [son]
Gusti Ngurah Langwang (Prabhu Singasana) [son]
Gusti Ngurah Tabanan (Prabhu Winalwan) [son]
Gusti Wayahan Pamedekan (?-1647) [son]
Gusti Made Pamedekan (1647-c. 1650) [brother]
Gusti Ngurah Tabanan (Prabhu Winalwanan) (second time, c. 1650-?)
Prabhu Nisweng Panida (?-1654?) [son of Gusti Made Pamedekan]
Gusti Made Dalang (1654?-?) [brother]
Gusti Nengah Malkangin [son of Gusti Wayahan Pamedekan]
Gusti Bolo di Malkangin [son of Prabhu Winalwanan]
Gusti Agung Badeng (regent late 17th century) [son-in-law of Gusti Made Pamedekan]
Prabhu Magada Śakti (c. 1700) [son of Prabhu Nisweng Panida]
Anglurah Mur Pamade [son]
Gusti Ngurah Sekar (fl. 1734) [son]
Gusti Ngurah Gede [son]
Gusti Ngurah Made Rai (?-1793) [brother]
Gusti Ngurah Rai Penebel (1793-c. 1820) [brother]
Gusti Ngurah Ubung (c. 1820) [son]
Gusti Ngurah Agung I (c. 1820–1843) [grandson of Gusti Ngurah Made Rai]
Rajas of Karangasem
Gusti Nyoman Karang (c. 1600)
Anglurah Ketut Karang [son]
Anglurah Nengah Karangasem (late 17th century) [son]
Anglurah Ketut Karangasem (fl. 1691–1692) [brother]
Anglurah Made Karang [son of Anglurah Nengah Karangasem]
Gusti Wayahan Karangasem (fl. 1730) [son of Anglurah Ketut Karangasem]
Anglurah Made Karangasem Śakti (Bagawan Atapa Rare) (1730s) [son of Anglurah Made Karang]
Anglurah Made Karangasem (1730s–1775) [son]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem (1775–1806) [grandson]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Lanang (1806–1822) [nephew]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Pahang (1822) [grandson of Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Lanang (second time 1822–1828; died 1837)
Gusti Bagus Karang (1828–1838; died 1839) [son of Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem (1838–1849) [nephew]
Lombok overlordship in Karangasem 1849–1894
Gusti Made Jungutan (Gusti Made Karangasem) (vassal ruler 1849–1850) [former punggawa (local chief)]
Gusti Gede Putu (vassal ruler 1850–1893) [nephew of Lombok raja]
Rajas of Jembrana
Agung Dynasty
Gusti Agung Basangtamiang (17th century) [son of Gelgel minister Gusti Agung Widya]
Gusti Brangbangmurti [son]
Gusti Gede Giri (c. 1700) [son]
Gusti Ngurah Tapa [son]
Gusti Made Yasa [brother]
Gusti Gede Andul (first half of the 18th century) [son]
Dynasty from Mengwi
Gusti Ngurah Agung Jembrana (mid 18th century) [grandson of Gusti Agung Sakti of Mengwi]
Gusti Ngurah Batu (regent ?-1766) [son]
Gusti Gede Jembrana (1766-?) [nephew]
Gusti Putu Andul (before 1797–1809) [son]
Gusti Rahi (regent for Badung, fl. 1805)
Kapitan Patimi (regent, Buginese, c. 1805–1808)
Gusti Wayahan Pasekan (regent c. 1812–1814)
Gusti Made Pasekan (regent c. 1812–1814) [brother]
Gusti Putu Sloka (1809–1835) [son of Gusti Putu Andul]
Gusti Alit Mas (regent c. 1835–1840)
Gusti Putu Dorok (regent c. 1835–1840) [great-grandson of Gusti Ngurah Batu]
Rajas of Buleleng
Dynasty of Panji Śakti
Gusti Panji Śakti (c. 1660-1697/99)
Gusti Panji Wayahan Danurdarastra (1697/99-1732) [son]
Gusti Alit Panji (1732-c. 1757/65) [son]
Dependent on Mengwi first half of the 18th century
Gusti Ngurah Panji (in Sukasadda c. 1757/65) [son]
Dependent on Karangasem c. 1757–1806
Gusti Ngurah Jelantik (in Singaraja c. 1757/65-c. 1780) [brother]
Gusti Made Jelantik (c. 1780–1793) [son]
Gusti Made Singaraja (1793-?) [nephew]
Karangasem Dynasty
Anak Agung Rai (?-1806) [son of Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem]
Gusti Gede Karang (1806–1818) [brother]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Pahang (1818–1822) [son]
Gusti Made Oka Sori (1822–1825) [nephew of Gusti Gede Karang]
Gusti Ngurah Made Karangasem (1825–1849) [nephew of Gusti Gede Karang]
Dynasty of Panji Śakti
Gusti Made Rai (1849, 1851–1853) [great-great-grandson of Gusti Ngurah Panji]
Dependency of Bangli 1849–1854
Rajas of Gianyar
Dewa Manggis I Kuning (chief of Pahang)
Dewa Manggis II Pahang (chief of Pahang) [son]
Dewa Manggis III Bengkel (chief of Bengkel) [son]
Dewa Manggis IV Jorog (Raja of Gianyar c. 1771–1788) [son]
Dewa Manggis V di Madya (c. 1788–1820) [son]
Dewa Manggis VI di Rangki (c. 1820–1847) [son]
Dewa Manggis VII di Satria (1847–1884; died 1891) [son]
Dependency of Klungkung 1884–1891
Dewa Pahang (1891–1896) [son]
Dewa Manggis VIII (Dewa Gede Raka until 1908) (1896–1912) [brother]
Ide Anak Agung Ngurah Agung (ruler (anak agung) 1913–1943) [son]
Ide Anak Agung Gede Agung (1943–1946; died 1999) [son]
Ide Anak Agung Gede Oka (1946–1950, kepala 1950–1958; died 1993) [brother]
Gianyar incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
Rajas of Sukawati and Ubud
Dynasty from Klungkung
Dewa Agung Anom (Raja of Sukawati before 1713–1733)
Dewa Agung Gede Mayun Dalem Patemon (1733-before 1757) [son]
Dewa Agung Gede Sukawati (c. 1757) [son]
Dewa Agung Made Pliatan (second half of 18th century) [brother]
Lordship of Ubud, under Gianyar suzerainty
Cokorda Putu Kandel (c. 1800) [son]
Cokorda Sukawati (19th century) [son]
Cokorda Rai Batur (fl. 1874) [son]
Cokorda Gede Sukawati (before 1889–1919) [son]
Cokorda Gede Raka Sukawati (1919–1931; died 1967) [son]
Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (1931–1950; died 1978) [brother]
Gianyar with Ubud incorporated in Indonesian unitary state 1950
Rajas of Pamecutan in Badung
Dynasty from Tabanan
Prabhu Bandana, Arya Notor Wanira (17th century) [son of Shri Magade Nata, King of Tabanan]
Gusti Ngurah Papak [son]
Gusti Jambe Pule (c. 1660–1683) [son]
Split in a Jambe and Pamecutan line 1683
Gusti Jambe Merik (1683-?) [son]
Gusti Jambe Ketewel [son]
Gusti Jambe Tangkeban (c. 1757) [son]
Gusti Jambe Aji [son]
Gusti Jambe Ksatria (?-1780) [son]
Rajas of Pamecutan
Gusti Macan Gading (1683-?) [son of Gusti Jambe Pule]
Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Śakti (fl. 1718) [son]
Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Mur ing Ukiran [son]
Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Bhija [son]
Split in a Pamecutan and Den Pasar line c. 1780
Kyai Agung Gede Raka (?-1813) [son]
Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Mur ing Gedong (1813–1829) [son]
Anak Agung Lanang (1829–1840) [grandson of Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Bhija]
Kyai Agung Gede Woka Mur ing Madarda (1840–1851) [son]
Rajas of Kasiman in Badung
Gusti Ngurah Gede Kasiman (1813–1861) [son of Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan of Den Pasar]
Gusti Ngurah Ketut Geledog (1861–1904) [son]
Anak Agung Ngurah Mayun (1904–1906)
Dutch conquest of Badung with Kasiman 1906
Gusti Ngurah Made (lord (punggawa) 1927–1954; died 1959) [son]
Rajas of Denpasar in Badung
Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan (Kaleran) (before 1780–1817) [great-grandson of Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Sakti]
Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan Dewata di Satria (1817–1828) [son]
Domination by Kasiman 1829–1861
Gusti Ngurah Gede Oka (titular raja 1829-1842/48) [son]
Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan (titular raja, mid 19th century) [brother]
Gusti Gede Ngurah Pamecutan (Cokorda Alit Ngurah I) (1861–1890) [son]
Cokorda Alit Ngurah II (ruler (cokorda) 1890–1902) [son]
Cokorda Made Agung (1902–1906) [brother]
Dutch conquest of Badung 1906
Cokorda Alit Ngurah III (of entire Badung 1929–1946; died 1965) [son of Cokorda Alit Ngurah II]
Rulership goes to Pamecutan line 1946
Rajas of Bangli
Dewa Gede Tangkeban I (of Nyalian ?-1804)
Dewa Rai (c. 1804–1815)
Dewa Gede Tangkeban II (c. 1815–1833) [son of Dewa Gede Tangkeban I]
Dewa Gede Tangkeban III (1833–1875) [son]
Dewa Gede Oka (1875–1880) [son]
Dewa Gede Ngurah (1881–1892) [brother]
Dewa Gede Cekorda (1894–1911) [brother]
Dewa Gede Rai (regent 1913–1925) [brother]
Dewa Gede Taman (regent 1925–1930) [grandson of Dewa Gede Tangkaban III]
Dewa Putu Bukian (caretaker 1930–1931) [grandson of Dewa Gede Tangkaban III]
Anak Agung Ketut Ngurah (ruler (anak agung) 1931–1950, kepala 1950–1960; died 1961) [son of Dewa Gede Cekorda]
Bangli is included in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
Rajadharma
Rajadharma is the dharma that applies to the king, or the raja. Dharma is that which upholds, supports, or maintains the order of the universe and is based on truth. It is of central importance in achieving order and balance within the world and does this by demanding certain necessary behaviors from people.
The king served two main functions as the raja: obligatory and religious. The religious functions involved certain acts for propitiating gods, removing dangers, and guarding dharma, among other things. The obligatory functions involved helping prosperity (such as during times of famine), dealing out even-handed justice, and protecting people and their property. Once he helped the Vibhore to reach his goal by giving the devotion of his power in order to reduce the poverty from his kingdom.
Protection of his subjects was seen as the first and foremost duty of the king. This was achieved by punishing internal aggression, such as thieves among his people, and meeting external aggression, such as attacks by foreign entities. Moreover, the king possessed executive, judicial, and legislative dharmas, which he was responsible for carrying out. If he did so wisely, the king believed that he would be rewarded by reaching the pinnacle of the abode of the Sun, or heaven. However, if the king carried out his office poorly, he feared that he would suffer hell or be struck down by a deity. As scholar Charles Drekmeier notes, "dharma stood above the king, and his failure to preserve it must accordingly have disastrous consequences". Because the king's power had to be employed subject to the requirements of the various ashramas and varnas' dharma, failure to "enforce the code" transferred guilt on to the ruler, and according to Drekmeier some texts went so far as to justify revolt against a ruler who abused his power or inadequately performed his dharma. In other words, dharma as both the king's tool of coercion and power, yet also his potential downfall, "was a two-edged sword".
The executive duty of the king was primarily to carry out punishment, or daṇḍa. For instance, a judge who would give an incorrect verdict out of passion, ignorance, or greed is not worthy of the office, and the king should punish him harshly. Another executive dharma of the king is correcting the behavior of brahmins that have strayed from their dharma, or duties, through the use of strict punishment. These two examples demonstrated how the king was responsible for enforcing the dharmas of his subjects, but also was in charge of enforcing rulings in more civil disputes. Such as if a man is able to repay a creditor but does not do so out of mean-spiritedness, the king should make him pay the money and take five percent for himself.