State Formation and Courtly Culture in Jaipur: The Politics of Ritual, Religion, and Hierarchy (17th–19th Century)

This article examines the formation of the Jaipur (formerly Amber) state between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, focusing on the intricate interplay of lineage politics, Mughal influence, religious patronage, and courtly culture. Tracing the Kachhwaha rulers’ shift from clan-based leadership to centralized monarchy, it highlights how alliances with the Mughal Empire and strategic ritual innovations transformed Jaipur into a model Rajput polity. Under leaders like Sawai Jai Singh II, the court became a meticulously regulated space where elaborate ceremonies, hierarchical protocols, and religious legitimations crafted a powerful image of sacred kingship. Drawing on works by scholars such as Manisha Choudhary, Richard G. Fox, and Jadunath Sarkar, the study shows that courtly culture in Jaipur was not merely decorative but a critical tool for political consolidation, elite integration, and social ordering. By analyzing sources like the Dastur Komwar records, the article argues that Jaipur’s success lay in its sophisticated orchestration of ritual, hierarchy, and symbolic governance, offering a vital perspective on state formation processes in early modern South Asia.