Raja


Raja 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 ' is a ruler, see for example the ', 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" 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.

Raja-ruled Indian states

While most of the Indian salute states were ruled by a Maharaja, even exclusively from 13 guns up, a number had Rajas:
Hereditary salutes of 13-guns
; Hereditary salutes of 11-gun
; Hereditary salutes of 9-guns :
; Hereditary salute of 9-guns :
; Hereditary salutes of 9-guns :
; Hereditary salute of 9-guns
; Personal salute of 9-guns :
  • the Raja of Bashahr

    List of Rajas in Bali

Rajas of [Gelgel]

Warmadewa Dynasty
  • Śri Kesari Warmadewa
  • Ugrasena
  • Tabanendra Warmadewa
  • Indrajayasingha Warmadewa
  • Janasadhu Warmadewa
  • Śri Wijaya Mahadewi
  • Gunapriya Dharmapatni
  • Dharma Udayana Warmadewa
  • Śri Ajñadewi
  • Dharmawangsa Wardhana Marakatapangkaja
  • Airlangga
  • Anak Wungçu
  • Śri Maharaja Walaprabhu
  • Śri Maharaja Sakalendukirana Laksmidhara Wijayottunggadewi
  • Śri Suradhipa
Jaya Dynasty
  • Śri Jayaśakti
  • Ragajaya
  • Jayapangus
  • Arjayadengjayaketana
  • Haji Ekajayalancana
  • Bhatara Guru Śri Adikuntiketana
  • Adidewalancana
  • Queen of Bali, name unknown – in 1284, Kertanegara attacked Bali and captured the queen of Bali
Singasari subjugates Bali 1284
  • Rajapatih Makakasar Kebo Parud
Native rulers reemergence
  • Mahaguru Dharmottungga Warmadewa
  • Walajayakertaningrat
  • Śri Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten
Majapahit conquers Bali 1343
Dynasty of Samprangan and Gelgel
  • Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
Vassalage under Majapahit 1343-c. 1527
  • Dalem Samprangan
  • Dalem Ketut
  • Dalem Baturenggong
  • Dalem Bekung
  • Dalem Seganing
  • Dalem Di Made
  • Dewa Pacekan
  • Dewa Cawu
  • Anglurah Agung

    Rajas of [Mengwi]

  • Gusti Agung Śakti
  • Gusti Agung Made Alangkajeng
  • Gusti Agung Putu Mayun
  • Gusti Agung Made Munggu
  • Gusti Agung Putu Agung
  • Gusti Ayu Oka Kaba-Kaba
  • Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung I
  • Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung II Putra
  • Gusti Agung Ketut Besakih
  • Dutch suzerainty 1843–1891
  • Gusti Ayu Istri Biang Agung
  • Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung III
  • Mengwi destroyed by Klungkung, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan 1891

    Rajas of Tabanan">Tabanan Regency">Tabanan

  • Śri Magade Nata
  • Gusti Ngurah Langwang
  • Gusti Ngurah Tabanan
  • Gusti Wayahan Pamedekan
  • Gusti Made Pamedekan
  • Gusti Ngurah Tabanan
  • Prabhu Nisweng Panida
  • Gusti Made Dalang
  • Gusti Nengah Malkangin
  • Gusti Bolo di Malkangin
  • Gusti Agung Badeng
  • Prabhu Magada Śakti
  • Anglurah Mur Pamade
  • Gusti Ngurah Sekar
  • Gusti Ngurah Gede
  • Gusti Ngurah Made Rai
  • Gusti Ngurah Rai Penebel
  • Gusti Ngurah Ubung
  • Gusti Ngurah Agung I
  • Dutch suzerainty 1843–1906
  • Gusti Ngurah Agung II
  • Gusti Ngurah Rai Perang
  • Dutch conquest 1906
  • Cokorda Ngurah Ketut
  • Gusti Ngurah Wayan
  • Cokorda Ngurah Gede
  • Tabanan incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
  • Cokorda Anglurah Tabanan

    Rajas of Karangasem">Karangasem Regency">Karangasem

  • Gusti Nyoman Karang
  • Anglurah Ketut Karang
  • Anglurah Nengah Karangasem
  • Anglurah Ketut Karangasem
  • Anglurah Made Karang
  • Gusti Wayahan Karangasem
  • Anglurah Made Karangasem Śakti
  • Anglurah Made Karangasem
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Lanang
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Pahang
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Lanang
  • Gusti Bagus Karang
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem
  • Lombok overlordship in Karangasem 1849–1894
  • Gusti Made Jungutan
  • Gusti Gede Putu
  • Gusti Gede Oka
  • Gusti Gede Jelantik
  • Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem
  • Karangasem incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
  • Anak Agung Gde Jelantik

    Rajas of Jembrana">Jembrana Regency">Jembrana

Agung Dynasty
  • Gusti Agung Basangtamiang
  • Gusti Brangbangmurti
  • Gusti Gede Giri
  • Gusti Ngurah Tapa
  • Gusti Made Yasa
  • Gusti Gede Andul
Dynasty from Mengwi
  • Gusti Ngurah Agung Jembrana
  • Gusti Ngurah Batu
  • Gusti Gede Jembrana
  • Gusti Putu Andul
  • Gusti Rahi
  • Kapitan Patimi
  • Gusti Wayahan Pasekan
  • Gusti Made Pasekan
  • Gusti Putu Sloka
  • Gusti Alit Mas
  • Gusti Putu Dorok
  • Gusti Made Penarungan
  • Gusti Ngurah Made Pasekan
  • Dutch suzerainty 1843–1882
  • Gusti Putu Ngurah Sloka
  • Gusti Ngurah Made Pasekan
  • Anak Agung Made Rai
  • Dutch direct rule in Jembrana 1882–1929
  • Anak Agung Bagus Negara
  • Jembrana incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950

    Rajas of Buleleng">Buleleng Regency">Buleleng

Dynasty of Panji Śakti
  • Gusti Panji Śakti
  • Gusti Panji Wayahan Danurdarastra
  • Gusti Alit Panji
  • Dependent on Mengwi first half of the 18th century
  • Gusti Ngurah Panji
  • Dependent on Karangasem c. 1757–1806
  • Gusti Ngurah Jelantik
  • Gusti Made Jelantik
  • Gusti Made Singaraja
Karangasem Dynasty
  • Anak Agung Rai
  • Gusti Gede Karang
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Pahang
  • Gusti Made Oka Sori
  • Gusti Ngurah Made Karangasem
Dynasty of Panji Śakti
  • Gusti Made Rai
  • Dependency of Bangli 1849–1854
  • Gusti Ngurah Ketut Jelantik
  • Dutch direct rule 1882–1929
  • Anak Agung Putu Jelantik
  • Anak Agung Nyoman Panji Tisna
  • Anak Agung Ngurah Ketut Jelantik
  • Buleleng incorporated in Indonesian unitary state 1950
  • Anak Agung Nyoman Panji Tisna

    Rajas of Gianyar">Gianyar Regency">Gianyar

  • Dewa Manggis I Kuning
  • Dewa Manggis II Pahang
  • Dewa Manggis III Bengkel
  • Dewa Manggis IV Jorog
  • Dewa Manggis V di Madya
  • Dewa Manggis VI di Rangki
  • Dewa Manggis VII di Satria
  • Dependency of Klungkung 1884–1891
  • Dewa Pahang
  • Dewa Manggis VIII
  • Ide Anak Agung Ngurah Agung
  • Ide Anak Agung Gede Agung
  • Ide Anak Agung Gede Oka
  • Gianyar incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950

    Rajas of [Sukawati] and [Ubud]

Dynasty from Klungkung
  • Dewa Agung Anom
  • Dewa Agung Gede Mayun Dalem Patemon
  • Dewa Agung Gede Sukawati
  • Dewa Agung Made Pliatan
Lordship of Ubud, under Gianyar suzerainty
  • Cokorda Putu Kandel
  • Cokorda Sukawati
  • Cokorda Rai Batur
  • Cokorda Gede Sukawati
  • Cokorda Gede Raka Sukawati
  • Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati
  • Gianyar with Ubud incorporated in Indonesian unitary state 1950

    Rajas of Pamecutan in Badung">Badung Regency">Badung

Dynasty from Tabanan
  • Prabhu Bandana, Arya Notor Wanira
  • Gusti Ngurah Papak
  • Gusti Jambe Pule
  • Split in a Jambe and Pamecutan line 1683
  • Gusti Jambe Merik
  • Gusti Jambe Ketewel
  • Gusti Jambe Tangkeban
  • Gusti Jambe Aji
  • Gusti Jambe Ksatria
Rajas of Pamecutan
  • Gusti Macan Gading
  • Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Śakti
  • Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Mur ing Ukiran
  • Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Bhija
  • Split in a Pamecutan and Den Pasar line c. 1780
  • Kyai Agung Gede Raka
  • Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Mur ing Gedong
  • Anak Agung Lanang
  • Kyai Agung Gede Woka Mur ing Madarda
  • Cokorda Agung Pamecutan
  • Dutch conquest of Badung with Pamecutan 1906
  • Cokorda Ngurah Gede Pamecutan
  • Badung included in the Indonesian unitary state 1950

    Rajas of Kasiman in Badung

  • Gusti Ngurah Gede Kasiman
  • Gusti Ngurah Ketut Geledog
  • Anak Agung Ngurah Mayun
  • Dutch conquest of Badung with Kasiman 1906
  • Gusti Ngurah Made

    Rajas of [Denpasar] in Badung

  • Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan
  • Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan Dewata di Satria
  • Domination by Kasiman 1829–1861
  • Gusti Ngurah Gede Oka
  • Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan
  • Gusti Gede Ngurah Pamecutan
  • Cokorda Alit Ngurah II
  • Cokorda Made Agung
  • Dutch conquest of Badung 1906
  • Cokorda Alit Ngurah III
  • Rulership goes to Pamecutan line 1946

    Rajas of Bangli">Bangli Regency">Bangli

  • Dewa Gede Tangkeban I
  • Dewa Rai
  • Dewa Gede Tangkeban II
  • Dewa Gede Tangkeban III
  • Dewa Gede Oka
  • Dewa Gede Ngurah
  • Dewa Gede Cekorda
  • Dewa Gede Rai
  • Dewa Gede Taman
  • Dewa Putu Bukian
  • Anak Agung Ketut Ngurah
  • 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, 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.
The judicial duty of the king was deciding any disputes that arose in his kingdom and any conflicts that arose between dharmashastra and practices at the time or between dharmashastra and any secular transactions. When he took the judgment seat, the king was to abandon all selfishness and be neutral to all things. The king would hear cases such as thefts, and would use dharma to come to a decision. He was also responsible for making sure that the witnesses were honest and truthful by way of testing them. If the king conducted these trials according to dharma, he would be rewarded with wealth, fame, respect, and an eternal place in heaven, among other things. However, not all cases fell upon the shoulders of the king. It was also the king's duty to appoint judges that would decide cases with the same integrity as the king.
The king also had a legislative duty, which was utilized when he would enact different decrees, such as announcing a festival or a day of rest for the kingdom.
Rajadharma largely portrayed the king as an administrator above all else. The main purpose for the king executing punishment, or danda, was to ensure that all of his subjects were carrying out their own particular dharmas. For this reason, rajadharma was often seen as the root of all dharma and was the highest goal. The whole purpose of the king was to make everything and everyone prosper. If they were not prospering, the king was not fulfilling his dharma. He had to carry out his duties as laid down in the science of government and "not act at his sweet will." Indeed, in the major writings on dharma, the dharma of the king was regarded as the "capstone" of the other varnas' dharma both due to the king's goal of securing the happiness and prosperity of his people as well as his ability to act as the "guarantor" of the whole social structure through the enforcement of daṇḍa.
In contemporary India, an idea pervades various levels of Hindu society: the "Ramarajya", or a kind of Hindu Golden Age in which through his strict adherence to rajadharma as outline in the Hindu epics and elsewhere, Rama serves as the ideal model of the perfect Hindu king. As Derrett put it, "everyone lives at peace" because "everyone knows his place" and could easily be forced into that place if necessary.