Raja
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{{redirect|Rajan|the place in Afghanistan|Rajan, Afghanistan}}
A ''Rajah'', translated means a [[Monarch]].
A '''Raja''' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] ''राजा'' (rājā) is a [[monarch]], or princely ruler from the [[Kshatriya]]/ [[Rajput]] lineages.
The title has a long history in the [[History of India|Indian subcontinent]] and [[History of Southeast Asia|Southeast Asia]], being attested from the [[Rigveda]].<ref>where it is more accurately translated as "tribal chief"; see for example the ''दाशराज्ञ'' ([[dasharajna|{{IAST|dāśarājñá}}]]), the "battle of ten ''rajas''"</ref> It can also be used as a name for non-royal Indians.
Sanskrit word ''rājā'' cognate to [[Latin]] ''[[Roman king|rēx]]'', the [[Gaulish]] ''rīx'' etc. (originally denoting tribal chiefs or heads of small 'city states'), ultimately a [[vrddhi]] derivation from a [[PIE]] root ''{{PIE|*h₃reǵ-}} "to straighten, to order, to rule".
Rather common variants in Hindi, used for the same royal rank in (parts of) India include '''Rana, Rao, Raol, Rawal''' and '''Rawat'''. The female form, ''queen'', mainly used for a Raja's wife, is ''रानि'' (rāni) (sometimes spelled ''Ranee''), from Sanskrit ''राज्ञी'' (rājñī) (compare [[Old Irish]] ''rígain'') or Thai Rajanee (Queen).
Raja, the lower title [[Thakore]] and many variations, compounds and derivations including either of these were used in and around [[India]] by most [[Hindu]] [[Muslim]] and some Buddhist and Sikh rulers, while Muslims also used [[Nawab]] or [[Sultan]], and still is commonly used in [[India]].
However in [[Pakistan]], Raja is still used by many [[Muslim Rajputs|Muslim Rajput]] clans as hereditary titles.
''Raja'' is also used as a [[name]] by Hindus and Sikhs.
== Compound and derived titles==
A considerable number of princely styles, used by rulers, their families and/or even enobled courtiers, include the title/root Raja:
*'''Rao Raja''', a juxtaposition of two equivalent titles, was used by the rulers of [[Bundi]] until they were awarded the higher title of [[Maharao Raja]].
*'''Raja Bahadur''' is a typical Mughal compound, as the adjective Bahadur 'valourous' always raises one rank in the imperial court protocol; in the specific hierarchy among the (en)noble(d) Hindu retainers at the court of the Muslim Nizam of [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]], it was the equivalent of the rank [[Nawab]] for Muslim members of the retinue.
*[[Maharaja]] and equivalent compound of variants on Raja with the prefix ''Maha-'' 'Great' (e.g. Maharana, Maharawal) mean ''Great King''; the word originally denoted a Raja who had conquered other Rajas, thus becoming a ''great'' ruler, but was soon adopted or awarded by the [[paramount ruler]] of India (Mughal or British) as a hollow style too, causing too massive title inflation and - devaluation to remain a truly high distinction.
*Raja Perumal means ''godly king'' - supposed to be the greatest title assigned to an Indian king. Legacy has it that kings with the title have time and time again defeated acts of denigration by Parama, the jealous warmonger.
*[[Rajadhiraja]] means ''King of Kings''; again, through title devaluation this is less prestigious then the equivalents in most linguistic families.
*in [[South India]], the title of the [[Samrat]] (Hindu 'emperor') of [[Vijayanagar]] was '''Raya''' instead of (Maha)Raja.
*A number of medieval rulers in Southeast Asia used variants such as the devotional titles [[Buddharaja]] and [[Devaraja]] or the geographically specific [[Lingaraja]].
*[[Uparaja]] (with its own variations and derivations; can mean viceroy or other high dynastic ranks).
* Racha Khan (Raja Khan) the common title for the King of Thailand (see also 'Khan')
==Rajas in the Malay world==
The ruler of [[Perlis]] (a constitutive peninsular state of federal [[Malaysia]], most colleagues are Sultans; he is one of the electors who designate one of their number as King every five years) is to this day title the Raja of Perlis.
*The [[White Rajahs]] of [[Sarawak]] in [[Borneo]] were [[James Brooke]] and his [[dynasty]].
*In the [[Philippines]], various subdivisional princes in [[Sulu]] were given the titles Raja or Maharaja. The Raja is also known as '''Hari''' in [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] dialect.
{{Head offices of state and government of the Philippines}}
*Various traditional princely states in [[Indonesia]] still style their ruler Raja, or did so until their abolition after which the title became hollow, e.g. [[Buleleng]] on [[Bali]].
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
3. In the book "One Grain of Rice" by Demi ISBN 0-590-93998X there are two main characters. One is the Raja and the other is a peasant girl called Rani. The book demonstrates the power of doubling where Rani asks to be rewarded by receiving a grain of rice on the first day and doubling each day for thirty days.
==See also==
* [[Janjua]]
* [[Ranial Rajputs]]
* [[Thakial Rajputs]]
* [[chibb]]
* [[Amir Ali Khan]]
* [[Maharaja]]
* [[Kshatriya]]
* [[Rajput]]
* [[Minhas]]
* [[Dhanyal]]
* [[Shah]]
==Sources and references==
*[http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/ Indian Princely States, the most comprehensive, specialised site on (princely) (e)states in British India]
*[http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/India.htm RoyalArk (more elaborate, on a smaller number of dynasties)- here India]
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_K-W.html WorldStatesmen- Indian princely states, here K-Z]
[[Category:Court titles]]
[[Category:Heads of state]]
[[Category:Noble titles]]
[[Category:Titles in India]]
[[Category:Titles in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pre-Islamic heritage of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Titles of national or ethnic leadership]]
[[Category:Royal titles]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
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