The Maharana is a variation on the Indian royal title Rana. Maharana denotes 'great king' or 'high king', similar to the word "Maharaja".
Usage at the time of independence
Salute states
The gun salutes enjoyed by the states that acceded to the Dominion of India on 14 August 1947, included the following Maharanas:
Hereditary salute of 19-guns (21-guns local): the Maharana of Udaipur State (Mewar) Hereditary salute of 13-guns the Maharana of Rajpipla Hereditary salute of 11-guns: the Maharana of Barwani
Hereditary salutes of 9-guns: The Maharana of Danta The Maharana of Wadhwan The Maharana of Sant Some of the rulers were granted increased gun salutes after the independence, e.g. the above-listed Maharana of Mewar (Hindu; at Udaipur, Maharajpramukh in Rajasthan) was raised to first place in the Order of Precedence, displacing the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar (Muslim), and all 9-gun states were permitted the use of the style of Highness.