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{{Short description|Maharaja of Rewah from 1854 to 1880}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = HH Maharaja Raghuraj Singh
| image = Maharaja of Rewa in 1877.jpg
| succession = Maharaja of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]
| reign = 12 October 1854 – 5 February 1880
| predecessor = Maharaja Vishwanath Singh
| successor = Sir Venkat Raman Ramanuj Prasad Singh Ju Deo
| birth_date = 1831
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Photograph of Maharaja Raghuraj Singh of Rewa, by Bourne & Shepherds, ca.1876
| birth_place = Rewa Fort, [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1880|2|5|1831}}
| religion = [[Hindu]]
| title = [[Maharaja]] of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]
| father = Maharaja Vishwanath Singh
| dynasty = [[Vaghela dynasty|Baghel dynasty]]
}}

'''HH Maharaja Raghuraj Singh''' (1831 – 5 Feb 1888) was the ruling [[Maharaja]] of the [[princely state]] of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]] in the [[British India|British Empire of India]] from 1854 until his death in 1878.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rewa – The Baghel Dynasty Genealogy |url=https://www.royalark.net/India/rewa5.htm |website=Royal Ark |publisher=Christopher Buyers |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Maharaja Raghuraj Singh succeeded his father, Maharaja Vishwanath Singh as the ruler of the [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa State]] on 12 October 1854. His coronation was attended by British Lieutenant General Hamilton. Raghuraj Singh was proficient in [[Sanskrit]], [[Persian language|Persian]], and [[English language|English]], and was interested in various forms of recreation, including [[chess]].

Like his father, he was religious and authored several works of devotional literature, including ''Ram Rasikavali''<ref>{{cite web |title=Ramrasikavali 1952 (Vol. 1) by Raghuraj Singh Judeo |url=https://archive.org/details/Ramrasikavali01 |website=Internet Archive |date=1952 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> and ''Sri Ram Swayambar'',<ref>{{cite web |title=रामस्वयंवर : Maharaj Raghuraj Singh |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.540879 |website=Internet Archive |publisher=Digital Library of India |date=1890 |language=Hindi |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> which continue to be recited by Hindu priests in [[Vrindavan]] during ''satsangs''. He was also recognised by the Mithilacharyas of [[Ayodhya]] for his literary contributions. During a visit to [[Jagannath Puri]], he composed ''Jagdeesh Shatak''. Under his reign, ''Laxmanbagh'' was designated as the ''Rajguru Ashram'', and a temple dedicated to [[Lakshmana]] was established under the guidance of Swami Mukundacharya. Anyone entering his court was required to wear the Vaishnava [[Urdhva Pundra]] tilak, as evident in contemporary photographs.

During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], Raghuraj Singh assisted the [[British Raj]] in suppressing uprisings in the neighbouring regions of [[Mandla]], [[Jabalpur]], and [[Nagod]] (now part of [[Satna district]]). In recognition of this support, the British restored the parganas of [[Sohagpur (Shahdol)]] (present-day [[Shahdol district]]) and [[Amarkantak]] to Rewa, territories that had been seized by the [Maratha Empire] earlier in the century. Some historical accounts suggest that, while publicly cooperating with the British, he also privately supported elements of the independence movement. Figures such as Thakur Ranmat Singh and Lal Shyamshah, associated with this cause, are recorded to have resisted British authority.

In 1862, a British government agency was established in Rewa but was soon dissolved at the request of the Maharaja. In 1864, he was conferred the title of [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] (KCSI), and was later elevated to [[Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] (GCSI). In 1870, the British established the [[Baghelkhand Agency]] to manage administrative affairs in the region.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Royal Collection Trust. Royal Household|url=https://www.rct.uk/collection/2701708/lt-col-hh-maharaja-sir-raghuraj-singh-ju-deo-bahadur-maharaja-of-rewa-1823-80 |website=Royal Collection Trust |publisher=Royal Household |date=1875–76 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Maharaja rewapalace govindgarh1870.jpg|thumb|Govindgarh Palace in 1870]]
During his rule, the settlement of [[Govindgarh, Madhya Pradesh|Govindgarh]] was founded, and a large reservoir named ''Vishwanath Sagar'' was excavated. He commissioned the construction of the [[Govindgarh Palace]], located on an island in the middle of Govindgarh Lake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Govindgarh Palace Is Testament To Rewa In Madhya Pradesh In 2025 |url=https://traveltriangle.com/blog/govindgarh-palace/ |website=TravelTriangle |date=17 July 2024 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> Govindgarh became noted for its diverse varieties of mangoes.

== Honours ==
* Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Star of India]] (KSI) (10 December 1864), GCSI 24 May 1866.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Vaghela dynasty|Baghel dynasty]] of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]|1831|}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=Maharaja Raghuraj Singh}}
{{s-ttl|title=Maharaja of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]
|years=1854–1880}}
{{s-aft|after=Sir Venkat Raman Ramanuj Prasad Singh Ju Deo}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1831 births]]
[[Category:1880 deaths]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Maharajas]]
[[Category:Indian maharajas]]
[[Category:Rulers in Asia]]
[[Category:Rulers]]

Raghuraj Singh of Rewa - Revision history

Mittie94U89577: added new bio