Alwar

Dholpur

Jodhpur/Marwar

Pratabghar

Banswara

Dungarpur

Kerauli

Serohi

Bharatpur

Jaipur

Kishangarh

Shapura

Bikaner

Jaisalmer

Kota

Tonk

Bundi

Jhalawar

Mewar / Udaipur

Udaipur

Jodhpur / Marwar

Marwar (also called Jodhpur region) is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India.

Jodhpur state was founded in the 13th century by the Rathore clan of Rajputs, who claim descent from the Gahadvala kings of Kannauj. After the sacking of Kannauj by Muhammad of Ghor in 1194, and its capture by the Delhi Sultanate in the early 13th century, the Rathores fled west.

Internecine disputes and succession wars disturbed the peace of the early years of the 19th century, until in January 1818 Jodhpur was brought under British control. Jodhpur became a princely state in the Rajputana Agency of British India.

Maharaja Takht Singh (1843-‘73), supported the British during the Revolt of 1857. His successor, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II (1873-‘96), was a very enlightened ruler. His brother, Sir Pertab Singh, conducted the administration until his nephew, Sardar Singh, came of age in 1898. Maharaja Sardar Singh ruled until 1911. The imperial service cavalry formed part of the reserve brigade during the Tirah campaign.

In 1949 Maharaja Hanwant Singh acceded to the Government of India, and in 1950 Rajputana became the state of Rajasthan.

The picture in the head of this section shows the national emblem of the Mughal Empire consisting of a sun surrounded by twenty-four stars. This emblem was granted to the main vassals of the Empire. It is depicted on a miniature showing the mahararajas of Jodhpur and Jaipur and the maharana of Mewar received by Emperor Shah Alam in 1708. It is carried on a pole by the ensigns of these rulers. [1]

Man Singh

1803-1843

Detail of  “Rajtilak Durbar of  Maharaja Man Singh of Marwar”.

Amardas Bhatti. Jodhpur, 1804 ca.. (Merangar Museum Trust)

Maharaja Man Singh sitting on a lion’s throne. Behind him courtiers with the royal regalia and his generals bearing black shields.

The lion’s throne was probably introduced in Marwar by Man Singh because his predecessors still sat on the ground as was the custom in Mughal India. This lion’s throne is an example of early English cultural influence in Rajasthan. 

Takht Singh

1843-1873

Coat of arms on the front of a howdah, Marwar. 19th c.

Meranghar Museum Trust.

The coat of arms of the Maharaja of Jodhpur in the time of Takht Singh was a sun in splendour charged with two lions couchant enclosed by a strap, and in base a sword and two kutar.

As a crest a kite reguardant.

This coat of arms is on a howdah (sedan), the seat supported by two lions:  

Lion supporting the seat of the howdah of Marwar.

Merangar Museum, Jodhpur

This howdah is in the tradition of the lion’s throne, common for Indian Maharajas of the later Mughal empire and of the British Raj. The arms are inspired by western examples and the arms and the lions together make a quasi achievement.

Jaswant Singh II

1873-1895

At the Imperial Assemblage held in Delhi on 1 January 1877, Indian rulers paid homage to Queen Victoria and accepted her new title as Empress of India. Rulers were presented with banners or nishan (literally ‘symbol’). The achievement on the banner is:

Arms: Barry of five Tenné, Argent, Gules, Or and Vert, a kite (Elanus coeruleus - Accipitridæ) rising proper; and a canton Or, three heads of millet paleways, slipped, proper.

Crest: On a helmet guardant, lambrequined Vert and Or, a demi-lion rampant proper.

Supporters: Two kites rising proper.

Motto: rana banka rathor (Rathor gallant in a battle)

(Taylor 45)

Not in the blasoning of Taylor is the jewel of the Order of the Star of India.

Banner with the achievement of the Maharaja of Jodhpur

The Urdu text embroidered on the reverse translates as ‘From the grace of Victoria, Empress of India’.
Probably London, about 1876 (V&A Museum)

The colours salmon-pink, white, red, yellow and green are those of the “Panchranga” or five-coloured State flag. The first colour “Tenne”, rarely used in heraldry, is intended for the sacred Hindi colour “Bhagwan”.

The three ears of millet record Sher Shah’s saying that in trying to conquer Marwar he had “nearly lost the Empire of Hindustan for a handful of bajra.”

The kites or Indian chils represent the winged goddess Devi or Durga who in this form has appeared on several critical occasions to assist the State. They are, therefore, fitting supporters to the State arms.

The motto “Rana Banka Rathor” is taken from the old quatrain:

No host so good as the Deora;

No giver so generous as the Gaur;

In pride none equals the Hada;

Nor in arms surpass the Rathor.

The royal achievement was used for Jodhpur State as well:

Umaid Singh

1918-1947

Photo HdV 1984

Royal Achievement on the grill of the gate of the Royal Umaid Bhawan Palace at Jodhpur

Arms: Barry of five Tenné, Argent, Gules, Or and Vert, a kite (Elanus coeruleus - Accipitridæ) rising Argent; and a canton Or, three heads of millet paleways, slipped, proper.

Crest: On a helmet of an indian type guardant, lambrequined Vert and Or, a demi-lion rampant proper.

Supporters: Two kites rising Argent.

Motto: RANA BANKA RATHOR (Rathor gallant in a battle)

The Umaid Bhawan Palace was finished in 1943.

Jodhpur State Forces

The Jodhpur State Forces consisted of one regiment of Lancers, an Infantry battalion and a Transport corps. The Jodhpur Lancers proceeded to France with the first units of the Indian Cavalry at the very outset of WWI and fought with distinction alongside them throughout the operations both in France and Palestine.

Of the Jodhpur State Forces only one emblem is known. It is the emblem of the Jodhpur Lancers. It consists of two lances in saltire with red and white striped pennons, the junction charged with a black kite standing on a red ribbon with the name of the service in golden lettering.

Kerauli

Maharaja of ....

Arms: Azure , a cow statant proper and on a canton Or a kettledrum Gules laced of the last.

Crest: On a helmet guardant, lambrequined Azure and Or, an Antelope’s head erased.

Supporters: a ram and a wolf.

Motto: SRI MADAN MOHAN JI SAHAY (Lord Madan Mohan).

(Taylor 48)

Kishangarh

Prithvi Singhji

1841 - 1879

Maharaja of ....

Arms: Argent, three mural crowns Gules and a chief paly of five Tenné, Argent, Gules, Or and Vert.

Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Tenné and Argent,  a falcon rising proper.

Supporters: Two horses Sable.

(Taylor 50)

Madan Singh

1900-1926

Amendment: The panchranga corrected, the mural crowns changed for towers and a motto added.

Arms: Argent, three towers proper, two and one, in chief a paly of 5 Gules, Vert, Argent, Azure and Or.

Crest: A falcon rising proper.

Supporters: Two horses.

Motto: NITI RITI (Law and Usage).

- The chief is the Rajput Pancharanga.

- The falcon is the sacred Garur, the cognizance of the Rathor Rajputs.

(Leithbridge)

Yagya Narayan

1926-1938

The same

Kota

The ruling family of the state belongs to the Hara section of the Chauhan clan of the Rajputs. It was established as a separate independent state in 1625 under Madho Singhji, the second son of Rao Rattan Singh of Bundi.

In 1713 Bhim Singhji (1713-’20) received from the emperor both Bundi and Kota, promotion to the title of Maharao, the fish insignia of royalty (mahi muratib), and a promotion in military rank. Although ordered to surrender Bundi, he firmly established the independence of his principality thereafter. He renamed the state Nandgaon and called himself Krishna Das, after becoming a follower of the Shri Brijnathji sect in 1719.

Umed Sinhji II (1771-1819) established relations with the British, placing Kota under the protection of the HEIC in 1817, but also ensuring a perpetual place for his family in controlling state affairs.

In 1838, the British decided to end a continued feud of his successors by dividing the state of Kota between the Hada Maharaja and the family of the Jhala Chief Minister. They created the new state of Jhalawar for the latter out of his hereditary jagirs and the territories ceded by the Marathas and the British. The remaining districts constituted the truncated state of Kota, under Maharao Raja Shri Ram Singhji II. Miffed at his treatment, he took an all too lackadaisical view for British liking of the mutineers when they besieged Kota Fort in 1857. Once they raised the siege in 1858, they suspected his sympathy with the mutineers and had his salute reduced to 15-guns. Umed Singhji II achieved the restoration of most of the districts lost to Jhalawar in 1838. After a long series of negotiations had failed, he took the case to the Imperial Privy Council in London, where he secured the return of eighteen of the twenty-one districts in 1899.

Maharao Ram Singhji II and his attendants.

Detail of  “Procession of Maharao Ram Singhji II of Kota”. Kota, ca 1850. (V&A Museum).

The Maharao is shown seated under an umbrella (chhatri), the two attendants have yak tails (chauris) and behind him is a black screen with a silver moon, symbol of state.

The family banner is orange displaying a figure of the Garur or sacred falcon of the Hara Rajputs.[2]

 (Leithbridge)

Maharao Shatru Sal II was granted an achievement western style for the Delhi Durbar of 1877.

Arms: Gules, a Garud Or, vested of the same plumed Vert holding a mace of the second in dexter, a conch shell in sinister hand.

Crest: On a helmet affrontée lambrequined Gules and Or, a demi-man issuant of flames holding a sword in dexter and a bow in sinister hand all proper.

Supporters: Dragons

Motto: SRI KRSNA SEVAK. (Servant of Krishna).

(Taylor 52)

The same, the God of the crest of Indian design.

 (Jaipur).