Maharana

The Maharana ("Great Rana") is a variation on the Indian royal title Rana. Maharana denotes 'great king' or 'high king', similar to the word "Maharaja".^[1] The term derives from the Sanskrit title "Mahārāṇaka".^[2]

Usage at the time of independence

Salute states

The gun salutes enjoyed by the states that acceded to the Dominion of India on 14 August 1947, included the following Maharanas:

• Hereditary salute of 19-guns (21-guns local): the Maharana of Udaipur State (Mewar)
• Hereditary salute of 13-guns the Maharana of Rajpipla
• Hereditary salute of 11-guns: the Maharana of Barwani

Hereditary salutes of 9-guns:

• The Maharana of Danta
• The Maharana of Wadhwan
• The Maharana of Sant

Some of the rulers were granted increased gun salutes after the independence, e.g. the above-listed Maharana of Mewar (Hindu; at Udaipur, Maharajpramukh in Rajasthan) was raised to first place in the Order of Precedence, displacing the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar (Muslim), and all 9-gun states were permitted the use of the style of Highness.

Compound ruler titles

• The Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner - Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• The Maharana Sahib of Dharampur

References

1. Tej Ram Sharma (1989), A, Concept Publishing Company, ISBN 81-7022-251-6, ... Literally Maharaja means 'a great king' or Jinder Mahal ...
2. Narayanchandra Banerjee (1980). Development of Hindu Polity and Political Theories. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 345. OCLC 6969389.