Who is The Raja of Marh from A Suitable Boy: A Novel and what is their importance?

The Raja symbolizes the Hindu fanatically religious. Although he abhors all Muslims, he is not above assignations with the notorious courtesan, Saeeda Bai. The Raja is promiscuous, pompous, and aggressive. He intends to erect a Hindu Temple to Shiva adjacent to a Muslim mosque, which is bad enough, but the temple will have as its centerpiece the huge statue of the phallus of Shiva.