Mewar in Maratha Literature: The Dharmic Heartland of Bharat
The history of India is illuminated by civilizations that stood resilient against centuries of invasions. Among them, two names shine with unmatched glory—Mewar and the Marathas. While Mewar symbolized an unbroken continuity of Hindu resistance from the north, the Marathas emerged in the Deccan as the torchbearers of Swarajya and Dharma. What binds these two legacies together is not just their heroic defiance of foreign domination, but the deep cultural and spiritual respect that the Marathas—especially Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Peshwas—had for the land and legacy of Mewar.
In Maratha literature and statecraft, Mewar was revered as the “Dharma-kṣetra”—a holy land that had preserved Hindu pride, Kshatriya honor, and civilizational memory when much of northern India had capitulated under Islamic rule. From the chronicles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s court poets to the prose of the Peshwa-era bakhars, Mewar was remembered not merely as a kingdom, but as the soul of Bharatvarsha.
Shared Roots in Dharma and Resistance
Both Mewar and the Marathas emerged as natural protectors of Sanatan Dharma in different geographies and centuries. Mewar, under the Sisodias, had already built a legacy of uncompromising resistance against the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughals. From the legendary sieges of Chittorgarh, the Jauhar of Rani Padmini, the sacrifices of Rana Sanga, to the guerrilla heroism of Maharana Pratap, Mewar stood as a civilizational bastion, refusing to be absorbed by the imperial invader.
The Marathas, under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, absorbed this spirit and translated it into a Deccan-based movement for Swarajya (self-rule), rooted in dharmic ideals. Their rise in the 17th century mirrored the earlier resistance of Mewar, creating a cultural synergy between the two warrior traditions.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Reverence for Mewar
Although there is no direct political alliance between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the rulers of Mewar, numerous accounts from Marathi oral tradition and poetry reflect his deep respect for Mewar’s legacy. In ovi (folk couplets), powadas (war ballads), and courtly verses, Mewar was described as the “eldest son of Bharatmata”—a phrase symbolizing its role as the first and longest-standing guardian of Hindu sovereignty.
A popular Marathi saying goes:
“Chittodacha Rajavaḷ jashi Mughalapāsun kabhi nā jhūkla, tashi Amchyā rajyācha abhimān asto.”
(As the King of Chittor never bowed to the Mughals, so is the pride of our own kingdom.)
This reflects how Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s ethos was aligned with the example set by Mewar, especially by Maharana Pratap, whose life story inspired generations of Kshatriyas across India.
Maharana Pratap and the Maratha Imagination
Among the many heroes of Mewar, none resonated more deeply with Maratha sentiment than Maharana Pratap. His defiant stand against Emperor Akbar, his forest exile, the Battle of Haldighati, and his loyalty to Dharma and sovereignty made him a civilizational icon in the Marathi worldview.
In Marathi bakhar literature, such as the Sabhasad Bakhar and Chitnis Bakhar, Maharana Pratap is described in reverent terms:
“Rana Pratap jaisa nāyak dharati par jānma lelā, tyācya pāthī Shivaji uthlā.”
(A leader like Maharana Pratap was born on this earth, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj rose following his path.)
This symbolic connection turned Maharana Pratap into a mentor figure in memory—a standard against which all future Hindu kings, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, were measured.
Eklingji and the Ideal of Divine Kingship
Another reason Mewar held spiritual significance in Maratha eyes was its unique governance model. The Sisodias ruled not as absolute monarchs, but as Diwans (servants) of Lord Eklingji (Shiva), the deity considered the true sovereign of Mewar. This sacral kingship model resonated with the Maratha ideology of Rajadharma.
Under the Peshwas, the Marathas similarly rooted their rule in devotion and divine purpose, invoking gods like Shiva and Vishnu in statecraft. Peshwa correspondence referred to the Maharana of Udaipur as the “Dharma-Rakshak Rana”, acknowledging his spiritual role rather than treating him as a mere political peer.
The Peshwas and Mewar: Respect Amidst Realpolitik
During the 18th century, as the Marathas expanded northward under the Peshwas, they often came into conflict with Rajput states over taxation (chauth) and military interference. However, Mewar always received a distinct level of reverence compared to Jaipur or Jodhpur.
In several letters from Peshwa Baji Rao and Balaji Baji Rao, Mewar is addressed with honorifics like:
“Hindu Pad Padshahi ka dhwajdhari purana sthal”
(The ancient standard-bearer of Hindu sovereignty)
Even when Mahadji Scindia dominated much of Rajasthan politically, Udaipur’s spiritual centrality was never challenged.
Cultural Reflections in Folk and Ritual
The Maratha admiration for Mewar went beyond text—it influenced their folk culture and royal rituals. In Maratha coronation ceremonies, Rajput-style swords, turbans, and emblems were used, often modeled after Mewar’s traditions. The Eklingji temple, and later the Nathdwara temple, received donations from Maratha nobles like the Holkars and Scindias.
Maharana Pratap became a recurring theme in Maratha ballads, where his tale was paired with that of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Both were seen as flames of Hindu resistance, igniting Bharat during its darkest nights.
Modern Nationalist Reflection
In the 19th and 20th centuries, as Indian nationalism took shape, Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were elevated as civilizational twins. Thinkers like Veer Savarkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak often referred to Mewar as the soul of Hindu resistance. Marathi textbooks continued to teach the heroism of Maharana Pratap alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, embedding their values into modern Indian consciousness.
Conclusion: A Bond Beyond Eras
The relationship between Mewar and the Marathas was not one of political alliance or military cooperation—it was deeper. It was a bond of shared Dharma, mutual inspiration, and civilizational duty.
Mewar was the spiritual elder, guarding the soul of Bharat with its sword and flame.
The Marathas were the fiery youth, carrying forward that flame into new territories.
In Maratha memory, Mewar was not just geography—it was a living temple of courage and Dharma, where heroes like Maharana Pratap taught the world that honor is above life, and Dharma above empire.
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