MADHYA PRADESH

Princely States First Part

Princely States Second Part

Ajaigarh

Alirajpur

Baoni

Barwani

Bhopal

Bijawar

Ch´hatarpur

Chichli

Datia

Dewas Jr

Dewas Sr

Dhar

Gwalior

Holkar/Indore

Jaora

Jhabua

Jigni

Khilchipur

Nagod

Narsimhapur

Narsingharh

Orchha

Panna

Rajgarh

Ratlam

Rewah

Sailana

Surguja

Sitamau

HOLKAR / INDORE

History

The Holkars were one of the three dominant Maratha powers (with the Peshwas and Scindias), with major land holdings in Central India.

Indore State originated in 1728 with a grant of land north of the Narbada river by the Maratha Peshwa of Poona to Malhar Rao Holkar, a cavalry commander in his service. After Holkar’s death (ca. 1765) his daughter in law, Ahalya Bai, assumed the position of Queen Regent. Together with Tukoji Rao she effectively ruled the State until her death thirty years later. But it was left to Tukoji’s son, Jaswant Rao, to challenge the dominance of the Poona Marathas in the Maratha Confederacy, eventually defeating the Peshwa’s army in 1802. But at this point the fortunes of the Holkars suffered a serious reverse. Although Jaswant Rao had initially defeated a small British force under Col. William Monson, he was badly beaten by a contingent under Lord Lake. As a result Holkar was forced to cede a considerable portion of his territory and from this time until India’s independence in 1947, the residual State of Indore was obliged to accept British protection.

RULERS OF INDORE

Heraldry

Tukoji Rao II

1844-1886

Maharaja Holkar of ....

Arms: Gules, a horseman’s sword point upwards over two lances in saltire Argent, in chief three poppyheads proper, seeded Or.

Crest: On a helmet affrontée, lambrequined Gules and Argent, a bay horse trapped.

Supporters: Bay horses trapped proper.

Motto: Prahomeso labhya sri kartuh prarabdhat (Umesh has said, success attends him who strives).

(T. 38)

Shivaji Rao

1886-1903

Hand struck coins of Shivaji Rao, minted 1888-1890, show a sun radiant above a sword and a spear in saltire. Later coins, minted from 1890 until 1898, show the sun radiant only.

Silver coin of Shivaji Rao dated 1886 

Showing a sun radiant. This is a very rare specimen of a proof of milled coinage  for Indore. [1]

Arms: A field of poppy and wheat over which a Khanda (broadsword) and a spear in saltire. On the dexter a horse rearing and on the sinister a Nandi (sacred bull) couchant, all proper.

Crest: A sun radiant under a Ch’hatri (royal umbrella).

Motto: Prhomesho labhya sri kartuh prarabdhat. (Umesh has said, success attends him who strives).

[The arms of Indore] may be explained as follows: - The Holkars claim descent from Udaipur, of which house, as being the greatest of the Suryavamsi clans, the Sun is the emblem. The umbrella, besides being an emblem of State, also refers to a legend bearing on the early life of Malhar Rao I, the founder of this house, according to which a cobra once sheltered him from the sun, while asleep, by expanding its hood over his head; the bull is sacred to Shiva who is specially adored by the Holkars; the horse and sword being similarly emblematic of the warrior- god Khande Rao, an avatara of Shiva, and the tutelary deity of the family, whose chief temple stands at Jejuri near Poona; the Srear was the favourite weapon of the founder of this dynasty, and wheat and (until recently) poppy, the principal products of the State. [2]

This achievement occurred on coins minted 1899 and was used until 1948.

JAORA

Mohammed Ismail Ali Khan

Nawab 1865-1895

Nawab of ...

Arms: Vert, three mullets Argent pierced of the field within a bordure compony Argent and Gules.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Vert and Argent, a tiger’s head erased Argent.

Supporters: Two black buck (Antilope cervicapra - Bovidæ).

Motto: Dil o daulat (Heart and wealth).

(T. 47)

Muhammed Iftikhar Ali Khan

Nawab 1895-1947

An achievement for Jaora State was adopted in 1895. It differs from the arms of the ruling family. It shows:

Arms: Two swords in saltire, in chief a crescent and a mullet and in base a balance.

Crest:  A mullet radiant

Supporters: Two lions guardant

Motto: EQUITY PATRIOTISM LOYALTY  [3]

JHABUA

Raja Gopal Singh

1840-1895

Raja of ....

Arms: Paly of six Or and Vert, a head couped proper between three spearheads Argent imbrued proper.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Or and Vert, a falcon close.

Supporters: Two boars proper.

Motto: Jhavuvipannah jhavuva sampannah.

(T. 41)

Raja Udai Singh Bahadur

1895-1942

Krishna and Holy Cow.

Indian Painting, 1900ca.

Raja of ....

Arms: Azure, the effigy of Krishna, Or.

Crest: A sun in splendour Or.

Supporters: A ch’hatri and a fan in saltire and two lions guardant each supporting a pennon Tenne charged with the footprints of the Buddha Argent.

Badge: In base an arm swinging a sword proper.

Motto:

This is the achievement on a red flag in the Mehrangar Museum Fort, Jodhpur. The flags with the footprints are the state flag of Jhabua.

JIGNI

The small princely state of Jigni in the state of Madhya Pradesh was ruled by an unbroken line of four adopted rajas, from 1870:

Rao Lakshman Singh II was the adopted son of Rao Bhopal Singh, and ruled from 1870 to 1892. He adopted:

Rao Bhanu Pratap Singh, who ruled from 1892 to 1920 and was succeeded by his adopted son 

Rao Arimardan Singh, who ruled from 1920 to 1934 and was succeeded by his adopted son

Rao Bhupendra Vijay Pratap Singh, the born-to son of maharajah Punya Pratap Singh of Ajaigarth, who ruled from 1934 to 1947

KHILCHIPUR

Bhawani Singh

1899-1908

Maharaja of ...

The family has a white banner (with black silk tassel) bearing the effigy of Hanuman.

(Leithbridge)

NAGOD

Jadvendra Singh

Raja 1874-1922

Raja of ....

Arms: Party per fesse Vert and Gules, a trident (trisal) between four flames Or.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Vert and Gules, a ravine deer’s (Antilope cervicapra - Bovidæ) head erased.

Supporters: Two saras (Ibis leucocephalus - Ciconiidæ).

Motto: Vipatyanikul (Faithful in perilous times).

(T. 60)

Banner: Yellow, a  trisal (sacred trident).

Motto: Faithful in perilous times.

(Leithbridge)

NARSIMHAPUR

Braja Sundar Harichandan Mahapatra

Raja 1859-1884

The emblem of the Raja of Narsimhapur was a scorpion (Leithbridge)

NARSINGHARH

Pratap Singhji

Raja 1873-1890

Raja of ....

Arms: Barry of six Argent and Gules within a bordure Vert charged with eight cinquefoils Or.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Argent and Gules, two wings endorsed Or ensigned with a flame proper.

Supporters: Two boars proper.

Motto: Makso bhaya narsinhoyam.

(T. 64)

ORCHHA

Pratap Singh

Maharaja 1874-1930

Maharaja of ....

Arms: Purpure, a chevron Or gutty de sang between three maces of the second.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Purpure and Or, a hare sejant proper.

Supporters: Two lions.

Motto: Bindu do durgamesha (The giver of the drops of blood has become Lord of the inaccessible region).

(T.66)

A new achievement was adopted about 1900. It is described and explained as follows:

A modern rendering of Devi Vindhyavāsini

Arms: Argent, in chief Devi Vindhyavāsini proper enthroned holding in dexter upper hand a dagger, in sinister upper hand a Khappar or pot for holding sacred fire, two lower hands vacant; in base a man’s head couped regardant proper.

Supporters: two lions rampant regardant proper bearing in one paw a banner, the dexter banner a barry of five vert, or, gules and tenne, charged with the sun in splendour, the sinister a paly of six sable and or charged with Hanumān or. To the staff of each banner is attached a mace.

Motto: Bindu Durgameshah (The giver of the drops of blood has become lord of the inaccessible region).

This achievement is explained thus: The goddess is Devi Vindhyavāsini, the tutelary deity of the clan. Lions are her vāhan, she being often called Sinha-vāhini. The five colours are common to Rājput families, while the sun refers to the Sūrya Vansh descent; black an or are the State colours, while Hanumān is the god of warriors. The head below refers to the sacrifice made by Hema Karan to the Devi, the branches on either side being those of the shami tree (Mimosa suma) which supported the Pāndavas in their wanderings and is always worshipped at the Dasahra. Maces are an emblem of Vishnu and of power generally. [4]

PANNA

Rudra Pratap Singh

Maharaja 1870 -1893

Maharaja of....

Arms: Purpure, an escarbuncle Or within a bordure compony Argent and Sable, and a chief of the second gutty de sang.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Purpure and Or, a green tree proper.

Supporters: A lion and a bear.

Motto: Praja ch’hatra vajreshah (The Lord of the Thunderbolt of diamonds is the Protector of the People).

(T. 70)

The colour purple is that affected by the Bundelās, while the escarbuncle refers to vajra, a word meaning both thunderbolt and diamonds. The tree is the pipāl (Ficus religiosa) which appears to be the badge of the Pannā house.[5]

RAJGARH

Muhammad abd Al-Wasih Khan

Nawab 1871-1880

Nawab of ....

Arms: Or, a saltire Vert charged with five crescents Argent between four flames proper.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Or and Vert, two wings endorsed Vert ensigned with a crescent Argent.

Supporters: Two pigeons proper.

Motto: Ekam advitiyam (Without a Second one).

(T. 73)

RATLAM

“Ratlam was founded about 1650 by Ratan Singh, a great-grandson of Udda Singh, the first Raja of Jodhpur. The Emperor Shah Jehan, desiring to place a feudatory Rajput State on the western side of  Malwa, conferred special directions on Ratan Singh in order to mark his high position. He raised him to the rank of seh hezari (commander of 3000 horse), and conferred him the insignia of the chaur (yak’s tail), morchal (peacock’s plumes), suraj mukhi (representation of the sun and moon on fans), and mahi muratib (insignia of the fish). These insignia are still preserved and are paraded on great occasions when the Raja appears in full  State regalia. The grant of the high honour of the mahi muratib, direct from the Emperor, is an exceptional distinction which no other Chief in Malwa enjoys.” [6]

Ranjit Singh

Maharaja 1864 - 1893

Raja of ....

Arms: Or, semé of poppy heads, Hanuman statant in his dexter a mace and in his sinsiter a kutar proper; and a chief paly of five Tenné, Argent, Gules, Or and Vert.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Tennéand Argent, a hand holding a kutar imbrued proper.

Supporters: Two boars.

Motto: Ratnasya sahasan tad vansa batnam (The Valiance of Rattan is the Jewel of his Family).

(T. 77)

Sajjan Singh bahadur

Maharaja 1893-1947

Maharaja of ....

Arms: Or, Hanuman statant in his dexter a mace and in his sinsiter a kutar proper; and a chief paly of five Tenné, Argent, Gules, Or and Vert.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Tennéand Argent, a hand holding a kutar imbrued proper.

Supporters: Two falcons.

Motto: Ratnasya sahasan tad vansa batnam (The Valiance of Rattan is the Jewel of his Family).

(Jaipur)

REWAH

History

Rewah State is said to be founded ca. 1140. The rulers of Rewa were Baghela Rajputs of the Solanki clan who probably migrated from Anhilwara Patan in Gujarat about the eleventh century. Arriving in Bundelkhand they carved out fopr themselves a substantial kingdom which remained independent until 1597, when they were obliged to become Mughal tributaries under Akbar. With Mughal decline Rewa began to move onde more towards independence, this time under the nominal suzereainty of the Peshwa. In 1812  the raja of Rewa, Jai Sing Deo was coerced into a treaty with the British and, failing to observe its conditions, was forced to yield to British control in 1813-1814. In 1948 Rewa was merged into Vindhya Pradesh.

RULERS OF REWAH

Heraldry

Raghuraj Singh

1857 -  5 Feb 1880 

Maharaja of ....

Arms: A tiger statant in chief a tilak proper.

Crest: On a helmet affrontée, lambrequined Or and Gules, a dexter hand ensigned with a flame proper, and on a ribbon: Sr Hari Sharnam.

Supporters: Two tigers proper.

Motto: Mrigendra prati dwandwa tamma prayat (Do not fight with tigers).

(T.76)

Venkat Raman Singh

1880-1918

Arms: A kuthar proper

Supporters: Two tigers rampant reguardant upholding a banner.

Motto: Mrigendra prati dwandwa tamma prayat (Don’t fight with tigers). [7]

SAILANA

The seventh raja of the small princely state of Sailana in Madhya Pradesh was Sir Jashwant Singh Bahadur. He was born in 1864, the son of maharaj Bhawani Singhji, the jagirdar of Semila. He was adopted by the heirless raja Duleh Singh and ruled Sailana from 1895 to his death in 1919.

Raja of ....

Arms: Gules, a falcon close Argent within a bordure Tenné

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Gules and Argent, a leopard’s head erased Sable.

Supporters:Boars Argent.

Motto: Na bhayam ishat-mahadāshritam (In the Protection of the Great there is not the Least Fear).

(T. 82)

Red is the colour of the state flag. Tenne was given as showing that they pay tribute to Sindhia. The bird is the Pnkhani Devu, the tutelary goddess of the Rāthors. [8]

SURGUJA

In 1905 Surguja with four other Chota Nagpur Tributary Mohals (Jashpur, Udaipur, Korea and Chang Bhahar) was transferred to the Central Provinces.

Maharaja Ramanuj Saran Singh Deo

1917 - 1965

Arms: A deer’s head erased between its antlers the crown of the maharaja.

Crest: A string of flowers and a sun radiant.

Supporters: Two tigers reguardant supporting banners quarterly in dexter chief a crescent.

Motto: virtute et fide.

In base of the achievement two other strings of flowers and a ribbon with the name of the ruler:

maharaja ramanuj saran singh deo  c.b.e. [9]

The flag of Surguja was of two stripes yellow and green, the royal standard showed the royal cypher in red. The colours of the flags in the achievement: quartered and a crescent in the first are not known.

SITAMAU

Bhawani Sinh

Raja 1867 - 1885

Raja of ....

Arms: Gules, on a bend Argent, three fleurs de lys Azure, within a bordure Tenné.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Gules and Argent, a lion’s face Sable.

Supporters: Boars Argent.

Motto: Devyayatanam raja sadanam (The Temple of the Goddess is the Throne of the King).

(T. 79)

Bibliography

Breschi, Roberto

Bandiere, Passato e Presente

Jaipur, H.H. the Maharadja of

A History of the Indian State Forces. Orient Longmans. Bombay/Cal­cutta/Madras/New Delhi, 1967.

Leithbridge, Sir Roper

The Golden Book of India. With an appendix for Ceylon. Sampson Low & Co.. London, 1900. XX & 366pp.

Soszynski, Henry

Rulers of Indian Princely States

Taylor, Robert M.A. Cantab Bengal Civil Service.

The Princely Armory. Being a display of the arms of the ruling chiefs of India prepared for the Imperial Assembly held at Delhi on the 1st day of January 1877. Printed for the Government of India at the Government Central Printing Office, 8 Hastings Street, Calcutta 1902.