Maharaja (, also spelled maharajah) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or "high king". Rana or Maharana is an equivalent title. The female equivalent, Maharani (or Maharanee, Maharajñi), denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or Maharana, and also in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right the equivalent title was Maharani. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajmata "queen mother". The form Maharaj indicates a separation of noble and religious offices, although the fact that in Hindi the suffix -a is silent makes the two titles near homophones.