The Dewas State (Senior and Junior) of Malwa

Dewas state was an unusual case among the princely states of India: two adjoining Maratha princely states, known as Dewas Senior and Dewas Junior, ruled by two branches of the Puar, or Pawar, family, which shared a single capital town. Set in the Malwa region of what is now Madhya Pradesh, the two states arose from a division of the Puar inheritance, so that the one town of Dewas served as the seat of both the Senior and the Junior lines. The states are especially associated with the Chamunda Mata hill, a sacred eminence overlooking the town crowned with its temple. The Senior line is linked in cultural memory to the English writer E. M. Forster, who recorded his time in the state in a memoir. As Maratha principalities of Malwa, their story belongs to the wider order described in our guide to the Maratha Empire, and this account keeps to broadly established history where particular dates and details are uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• Dewas state was two adjoining Maratha princely states, Dewas Senior and Dewas Junior.
• Both were ruled by branches of the Puar, or Pawar, family and shared a single capital town.
• The two states arose from a division of the Puar inheritance in the Malwa region.
• Dewas lies in the Malwa region of present-day Madhya Pradesh in central India.
• The states are associated with the Chamunda Mata hill, overlooking the town.
• Dewas acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947.

Read on for the history, culture, and legacy in detail.

Quick Facts

What Was the State of Dewas?

Dewas state was an unusual arrangement among the princely states of India, consisting of two adjoining Maratha states, known as Dewas Senior and Dewas Junior, each ruled by a separate branch of the Puar, or Pawar, family. Set in the Malwa region of central India, the two states arose from a division of the Puar inheritance, so that a single town of Dewas served as the shared capital of both lines. Each state had its own ruler, administration and territory, yet the two were closely bound by their common origin and their shared capital. This arrangement of two states sharing one town made Dewas a distinctive case in the political geography of central India. The states carried the martial traditions and heritage of the Maratha houses of Malwa. Dewas thus stands out among the princely states for its unusual structure of twin principalities. The arrangement of Senior and Junior lines is the defining feature of its identity.

Where Is Dewas Located?

Dewas is located in the Malwa region, in the western part of present-day Madhya Pradesh in central India, on the historic plateau country long celebrated in Indian history. Malwa is a fertile upland region, distinct from the plains and the Deccan, with a long heritage of kingdoms, towns and monuments. The town of Dewas, which gave the states their name, served as the shared capital of both the Senior and the Junior lines amid this setting. The position of Dewas in Malwa placed it among the Maratha states of central India, in a country of deep historical importance. The terrain and setting of the fertile plateau shaped the life and economy of the states. Dewas’s location in Malwa is central to understanding its identity and its heritage, including the sacred Chamunda Mata hill. Its setting in the historic plateau country ties it closely to the wider history of Malwa and the Maratha states of central India.

Why Were There Two Dewas States?

There were two Dewas states, known as Senior and Junior, because the Puar inheritance was divided between two branches of the family, each of which came to rule a separate state while sharing the single capital town. According to the broadly recorded history of the Maratha houses, the division of the Puar patrimony gave rise to two distinct principalities, the Senior and the Junior, each with its own ruler, administration and territory. This division produced the unusual situation in which two states coexisted in and around the one town of Dewas. The arrangement reflected the way inheritances could be divided among branches of a Maratha family, here producing two enduring states. The existence of two Dewas states is the most distinctive feature of the territory’s history. The division into Senior and Junior lines, sharing a capital, made Dewas a remarkable case among the princely states of India. This unusual structure defined the political identity of Dewas.

Who Were the Puar (Pawar) Marathas?

The Puar, or Pawar, Marathas were a Maratha clan that rose to prominence during the era of the Maratha power and established states in the Malwa region of central India, including Dewas and Dhar. As one of the Maratha houses that spread across central India in the eighteenth century, the Puars came to rule territories in Malwa, carrying with them the martial traditions and heritage of the Marathas of the Deccan. The family upheld the customs, devotion and sense of lineage characteristic of the Maratha clans. At Dewas, two branches of the Puar family came to rule the Senior and Junior states, sharing a single capital. The Puar name is associated with the Maratha expansion into central India and the establishment of its princely states. The martial traditions and heritage of the Puars shaped the character of the ruling houses of Dewas. The Puar identity thus forms the ancestral foundation of both the Senior and the Junior lines of Dewas.

How Did the Dewas States Originate?

The Dewas states originated during the era of the Maratha expansion into central India, when the Puar family established its rule over this country of the Malwa region and the inheritance was divided into two branches. As the Maratha power spread across central India in the eighteenth century, the Puars came to govern territories in Malwa, with their seat at the town of Dewas. According to the broadly recorded history of the Maratha world, the division of the Puar patrimony between two branches gave rise to the Senior and the Junior states, each ruling its own territory from the shared capital. The precise details of the early history are drawn from the records and traditions of the Maratha houses and are treated by historians with appropriate caution. The origin of Dewas as two Puar Maratha states connects it to the Maratha expansion into Malwa. The states thus took shape as an unusual pair of twin principalities in the historic plateau country of central India.

How Did the Two States Share One Capital?

The two Dewas states shared a single capital in the one town of Dewas, where both the Senior and the Junior lines maintained their seats, a situation that made the town a remarkable case among the capitals of the princely states. Each line had its own palace, administration and quarter within or around the shared town, so that the functions of two separate states were carried on in the one place. This arrangement, arising from the division of the Puar inheritance, produced the unusual coexistence of two ruling houses in a single capital. The shared capital required a careful ordering of the affairs of the two states within the one town. The situation was a distinctive feature of the political geography of Dewas and of central India. The sharing of one capital by two states is among the most remarkable aspects of the history of Dewas. It reflects the unusual division of the territory between the Senior and Junior Puar lines.

What Is the Chamunda Mata Hill?

The Chamunda Mata hill is a sacred eminence overlooking the town of Dewas, crowned with a temple dedicated to the goddess, and it is the most celebrated religious landmark of the former states. Rising above the town, the hill is a place of devotion and pilgrimage, with its temple drawing devotees who climb to worship the goddess and to behold the view over the Malwa country. The Chamunda Mata hill reflects the deep devotional culture of the region and the reverence for the goddess in the traditions of central India. The hill and its temple gave Dewas a distinctive sacred character and a focus of religious life. The association of the town with the Chamunda Mata hill is a cherished part of its heritage. As a place of devotion overlooking the shared capital, the hill is central to the identity of Dewas. The Chamunda Mata hill remains the most notable religious landmark of the former princely states.

What Is the Link Between Dewas and E. M. Forster?

The link between Dewas and E. M. Forster lies in the time the English writer spent in the service of the Senior state, which he later recorded in a memoir devoted to his experiences there. Forster, known as a novelist of the early twentieth century, served for a period at the court of the Senior line and drew on that experience in his account of life in the state, which has given Dewas a modest place in English literary memory. His memoir offers a personal and literary portrait of life at the court of an Indian princely state, seen through the eyes of a visitor. This connection is a distinctive cultural footnote in the history of Dewas, noted here lightly as part of its wider story. The association with Forster adds an unusual literary dimension to the heritage of the Senior state. The link between Dewas and the writer remains a curious and cherished detail in the cultural memory of the former princely states.

What Was the Capital Town of Dewas Like?

The capital town of Dewas, which gave the states their name, lay in the Malwa region of central India and served as the shared seat of both the Senior and the Junior Puar lines. The town was the political, administrative, cultural and religious centre of the two states, with the palaces and residences of both ruling houses, as well as temples and the sacred Chamunda Mata hill overlooking it. As a town shared by two states, Dewas had a distinctive character among the capitals of the princely states. The town was a centre of court life, governance, ceremony and devotion for both lines. Its heritage reflected the status of the two ruling houses and the devotional importance of the Chamunda Mata hill. As the shared capital, Dewas was the focus of the life of both states. The town of Dewas remains the enduring centre of its unusual heritage and identity in the Malwa country.

What Was the Culture of Dewas Like?

The culture of Dewas was rooted in the traditions of the Maratha ruling houses of Malwa, marked by devotion, the customs of the Puar lines and the sacred presence of the Chamunda Mata hill. The courts of the Senior and Junior states fostered the religious and cultural life of the shared town, its temples and festivals, and the worship of the goddess on the hill overlooking Dewas. The traditions of the Marathas, the devotional culture of the region and the heritage of the Malwa country shaped the cultural life of the two states. The patronage of the two ruling houses supported temples, worship and the traditions of the courts. The literary association with E. M. Forster adds an unusual dimension to the cultural memory of the Senior state. This rich cultural life distinguished Dewas among the states of central India. The culture of Dewas remains one of the most distinctive aspects of its heritage in the Malwa region.

What Was the Architecture and Heritage of Dewas Like?

The architecture and heritage of Dewas embrace the palaces of the Senior and Junior ruling houses, the temple of the Chamunda Mata hill and the temples and residences of the shared capital, reflecting the character of twin Maratha states of Malwa. The palaces and residences of the two lines express the status and patronage of the ruling houses, while the temple crowning the Chamunda Mata hill represents the devotional heritage for which Dewas is best known. The building traditions drew on the styles of Malwa and the wider heritage of central India. The unusual structure of two states sharing one town gave Dewas a distinctive built heritage, with the monuments of both lines in and around the capital. This combination of palace and temple gives Dewas a rich and distinctive heritage. The artistic and devotional traditions of the states reflect the Puar rulers and the sacred standing of the Chamunda Mata hill. The architecture and heritage of Dewas remain among the notable aspects of the Malwa country.

How Were the Dewas States Governed?

The Dewas states were governed by their respective Puar ruling houses, the Senior and the Junior lines, each through a system that combined the authority of its ruler with the service of officials and local functionaries. At the head of each state stood its ruler, supported by officers responsible for revenue, justice and the general administration of its territory. Each state comprised its own lands in the Malwa region, while both shared the single capital town. Revenue came chiefly from the land and the produce of the fertile plateau, in keeping with its agrarian character. The unusual coexistence of two states in one town required careful ordering of their separate administrations. Within the framework of British paramountcy, the administration of each state developed over time. This system allowed both Puar lines to maintain their rule for generations. The administration of Dewas reflected the traditions of Maratha principalities of Malwa, in its unusual twin form.

What Were Dewas's Relations with the Great Powers?

Dewas, as twin Maratha states of Malwa, was tied from its origin to the Maratha power that had spread across central India, and over its history the two states engaged with the great powers that contended for the region, including the Marathas, the earlier Mughals and later the British. As Puar Maratha states, the Senior and Junior lines were bound up with the fortunes of the Maratha order in central India, within which they held their own standing. Like other states, they navigated the shifting balance of power through accommodation and the preservation of their own authority. Their position in the Malwa country shaped their relations with these powers. The rulers of the two states managed their dealings to safeguard their interests across changing times. Through such dealings, the Puar lines preserved their rule over Dewas. The relations of the states with the great powers form an important strand in their history within the wider order of central India.

How Did Dewas Become a Princely State under the British?

The Dewas states became princely states within the framework of British paramountcy that took shape across India during the nineteenth century, following the decline of the Maratha power. As British authority extended over central India, the Maratha houses of Malwa, including the two Puar lines of Dewas, entered into arrangements that recognised their rule over their territories while acknowledging the overarching authority of the paramount power. Under this system the Senior and Junior states were each counted among the princely states of central India, retaining their own rulers, administrations and internal governance. This status allowed both Puar lines to continue governing their territories from the shared capital. The princely-state framework shaped the modern history of Dewas until the independence of India. Within this arrangement the twin states preserved their traditions and their distinctive identity. The standing of the Dewas states as princely states of central India is an important part of their story before independence.

How Did Dewas Join Independent India?

The Dewas states, like the other princely states, acceded to the Indian Union after the independence of India in 1947, when the states were integrated into the new nation. With the end of British paramountcy, the rulers of the princely states joined India, and their territories were brought into the republic through the great process of integration that reshaped the political map of the subcontinent. The Senior and Junior states became part of independent India and were absorbed into the structure of the region that later formed the state of Madhya Pradesh. This transition ended the era of Dewas as two separately governed principalities, though the ruling families retained their historical standing and heritage as Puar Maratha houses. The integration of the states was one of the defining achievements of the early years of independent India. Dewas thus became part of the modern nation and of the reorganised map of central India.

Dewas Today

Dewas is remembered today chiefly through its unusual history as two states sharing one capital, its Maratha Puar heritage and the sacred Chamunda Mata hill overlooking the town. The palaces, temples and the hilltop shrine draw visitors interested in the heritage of the princely states and the devotional culture of Malwa. The former ruling families retain their historical association with the states and their heritage, and the literary link to E. M. Forster adds a distinctive footnote to the memory of the Senior line. The devotional life of the town, centred on the Chamunda Mata hill, continues to shape the identity of Dewas. For readers of Indian history, Dewas offers a vivid example of an unusual pair of Maratha principalities in central India. Its legacy endures in the Chamunda Mata hill, the heritage of the two Puar lines and the shared capital in the Malwa country of Madhya Pradesh.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh (mptourism.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Dewas state?

Dewas state was an unusual case of two adjoining Maratha princely states, known as Dewas Senior and Dewas Junior, ruled by two branches of the Puar, or Pawar, family, which shared a single capital town. The states lay in the Malwa region of present-day Madhya Pradesh.

Why were there two Dewas states?

There were two Dewas states, Senior and Junior, because the Puar inheritance was divided between two branches of the family, each of which came to rule a separate state while sharing the one capital town of Dewas. This produced an unusual arrangement among the princely states of India.

How did two states share one capital?

The two Dewas states shared a single capital in the one town of Dewas, where both the Senior and Junior lines maintained their seats, palaces and administrations. The functions of two separate states were carried on in the one place, a remarkable case among the princely states.

What is the Chamunda Mata hill?

The Chamunda Mata hill is a sacred eminence overlooking the town of Dewas, crowned with a temple dedicated to the goddess. It is the most celebrated religious landmark of the former states and a place of devotion and pilgrimage in the Malwa country.

What is the link between Dewas and E. M. Forster?

The English writer E. M. Forster served for a period at the court of the Senior state and later recorded his experiences there in a memoir. This has given Dewas a modest place in English literary memory, noted as a distinctive cultural footnote in its history.

What happened to Dewas after independence?

The Dewas states acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947 and were integrated into the region that later formed the state of Madhya Pradesh. This ended their era as separately governed principalities, though the ruling families retained their heritage as Puar Maratha houses.