The small tribal
state of Jawhar, in the Konkan, dates its foundation to
1306, making it one of the oldest princely states in the
old Bombay Presidency. In that year, a certain Jayabha
Mukne, a Poligar, took possession of the fort at Jawhar.
His elder son, Dulbarrao, expanded his patrimony and
conquered a large territory, controlling 22 forts,
comprising most of the Nasik and Thana districts, and
yielding annual revenues valued at £90,000. He received
recognition as ruler by Sultan Muhammad Shah II Tughlaq,
receiving the new name of Nimshah and the hereditary
title of Raja on 5th June 1343. This event was
marked by the creation of a new calendar era used within
the state for over six hundred years.
The grandson of Nimshah, Deobarrao, did battle with
Sultan Ahmad Shah I Bahmani. During his capture at Bidar,
he fell in love with the Sultan's daughter. The marriage
was solemnised after he converted to Islam and took the
name Muhammad Shah. He returned to Jawhar and continued
to rule his state unmolested, for the rest of his life.
At his death, the powerful Hindu sardars and nobles
refused to recognise his son as his successor, on account
of his Muslim faith. In his stead, they chose the Hindu
grandson of Holkarrao, the younger brother of Nimshah.
Thereafter, his Hindu descendants ruled the little state
in relative peace until the advent of the Maratha power.
Raja Vikramshah I met Shivaji the Great at Shirpaumal,
during the latter's historic march to Surat, then joined
him in the plunder of that city in 1664. However, he soon
fell-out with the Marathas and was by the first Peshwa,
Moropant Trimbak Pingle, in 1678. From then on, the
Marathas slowly and steadily tightened their grip on the
Mukne rulers, annexing district after district and
imposing ever-increasing taxes, levies and fines. They
took control of the state in 1742, 1758 and 1761. Each
time releasing control to the Mukne family on condition
that territories were ceded and the tribute increased. In
1782 the Raja was allowed to retain for himself, a
land-locked territory in the hills, yielding no more than
£1,500 to £2,000 p.a.
The advent of British rule brought a degree of stability
unknown for more than a century. However, development was
extremely slow, given the low level of revenue receipts
and haphazard organisation of the administration. Little
or no improvements were made until the reign of
Patangshah IV. An enlightened and well-educated ruler, he
immediately set about improving conditions, streamlining
the government, building roads, schools and dispensaries.
At his death in 1905, conditions had improved beyond
The relatively short reigns of Patangshah's two
sons, Krishnashah V and Vikramshah V, also saw steady
improvements. The last named was especially diligent in
improving the agricultural sector, constructing wells,
securing lad rights and improving the infrastructure of
the state. He contributed substantially towards the war
effort during the Great War, and received a 9-gun salute
in recognition of his services. His early death in 1926
ushered in a ten-year regency for his son, Yeshwantrao
Patangshah V. The latter assumed full ruling powers in
1938, having received perhaps the best education by any
member of his family. He continued the good work achieved
under the regency by expanding development
activity, encouraging the chemical, paper, textile,
dyeing, printing, liquor and starch industries. The state
provided free primary schooling and medical relief, ran
both middle and high schools, a central library and
museum, hospital and maternity home, and provided touring
dispensaries for the rural areas. At the outbreak of the
Second World War, the Raja immediately volunteered for
service and served for four years with the RIAF.
Yeshwantrao Patangshah V assumed the title of Maharaja,
shortly before he signed the instrument of accession to
the Dominion of India in 1947. He then merged his state
into the Bombay Presidency early in the following year.
He then embarked on a political career, representing his
people in both the national parliament and the state
assembly. He died in 1978 and was succeeded by his only
son, Digvijaysinhrao. The latter died in 1992, leaving
his only son, Mahendrasinhrao, to represent his
A shield in three parts; dexter, tenne a
dexter fist holding two crossed arrows (points dexter)
and a bow, all argent; sinister, argent
a round shield sable bordured or,
in the chief argent, a sword or
pointed sinister. Helmet: Or. Supporters:
Leopards argent dappled or. Motto:
"Jawhar State" in Hindi and English or
on a riband tenne. Lambrequins: Or.
A rectangular saffron swallow-tail with a star of eleven
rays, yellow in the canton.
STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Maharaja Shrimant Mahendrasinhrao
Digvijaysinhrao Mukne, Raja of Jawhar, with the style of His
The consort of the ruling prince: Sakal Soubhagyavati
Sampanna Shrimant Rani (personal name) Raje
Sahiba, with the style of Her Highness.
The Heir Apparent: Shrimant Yuvraj (personal name)
(father's name) Maharaj.
The consort of the Heir Apparent: Yuvaradni Shrimant
Soubhagyavati (personal name) Raje Sahiba.
The younger sons of the ruling prince: Shrimant (personal
name) (personal name) (father's name)
The daughters of the ruling prince: Shrimant (personal
name) Maharaj Sahiba.
RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, with the right of adoption by the
recognised head of the family on the failure of natural
ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
The Maharaja Medal (Maharaja Padak): instituted by
Maharaja Yeshwantrao Patangshah V in 1947 to commemorate
his assumption of the title of Maharaja and to reward
those who had served the state during his reign. Awarded
in a single class.
The Maharaja's Medal.
Administration Report of Jowar State. 1873/4,
1876/77-1878/79, 1880/81-1884/5. IOR/V/10. India Office
Records, British Library, St Pancras, London.
Administration Report of Jawhar State. 1889/90-1897/98,
1910/11-1928/29. IOR/V/10. India Office Records, British
Library, St Pancras, London.
C.U. Aitchison. A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and
Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Vol.
VII Containing The Treaties, &c., Relating to the
Bombay Presidency. Part II-Kutch Agency, Cambay, Surat
Agency , Jauhar, Janjira, Satara Jagirdars, Kolhapur and
Southern Maratha Country Agency, Sawantwari Savanur Nasik
Agency, Sind and Lapsed States. Revised and continued up
to the 1st June 1906 By the Authority of the Foreign
Department. Superintendent Government Printing, India.
Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Thana District. Parts
I and II. Superintendent of Government Printing, Bombay,
The Indian & Pakistan Year Book & Who's Who 1948.
The Times of India Press, Bombay, 1948.
Report on the Annual Administration of the Jawhar State.
1929/30-1944/45. IOR/V/10. India Office Records, British
Library, St Pancras, London.
List of Ruling Princes and Chiefs in Political Relations
with the Government of Bombay and their Leading
Officials, Nobles and Personages. Government of India
Central Publication Branch, Calcutta, 1931.
Saville Marriott and R.H. Showell, "Rough Notes
Connected with the petty Estate of Jowar, in the Tanna
Collectorate". Selections from the Records of the
Bombay Government. No. XXVI - New Series, Political
Department, Government of Bombay, 1856.
H.H. Raja Yeshwantrao (Maharaja of Jawhar). Jayaba.
T&A Constable Ltd for H.H. The Maharaja of Jawhar,
Sandesh Balkrishna Mukne.
Father Lawrence Ober, SJ.
Kumar Shri Uday Sinh Vala.