History

GloryofBharathGreatKingsVI
ChhatrapatiShivaji
S hivajiBhoslewasaMarathawarriorwhostartedthemovementfor independencefromSultanateofBijapurandlaterbecametheKingof MarathaKingdom.ShivajiBhosleledaresistancetofreetheMarathas fromtheSultanateofBijapurandfrequentlyraidedanddefended themselvesfromMughalEmpire.HecreatedanindependentMaratha KingdomwithRaigadasitscapitalandthusisalsothefounderof MarathaEmpire.HefoughtagainsttheDeccanSultanatesandthe MughalEmpiretoestablishanindependentMarathakingdomin1674 withRaigadasitscapital.Hebecamethecrownedking'Chatrapati'of theMarathaKingdomin1674.HeistodayrememberedinMaharashtra andalloverIndiaasaheroandagreatKingwhostoodforfreedomand fortherightofMarathaindependence.Evenafterhisdeathhiscallfor freedomandtofightandlivelikefreemenwasaninspirationtothe MarathipeoplewhichwasthemainreasonforexpansionofMaratha KingdomintoaMarathaEmpire. Shivaji'sfatherShahajiwasaMarathageneralwhorenderedmilitaryservicestotheDeccanSultanatesof AhmadnagarandBijapur.ShivajiespousedtheideologyofHindaviSwarajya(selfruleofthenatives).The subsequentexpansionoftheMarathaEmpire,waspartlyresponsibleforreestablishmentofMaratharuleon therelandafterbeingruledanddominatedbyvariousMuslimdynastiesforfewhundredyears.Theideology offreedomandselfrulewasinparttheinspirationthatpropelledthesucceedinggenerationofMarathasto expandtheMarathakingdomintoaMarathaempire. Shivajiestablishedandsetupacompetentandprogressivecivilrulewiththehelpofwellregulatedand disciplinedmilitaryandwellstructuredadministrativeorganizations.Theprevalentpracticesoftreating womenaswarbooty,destructionofreligiousmonuments,slaveryandforcefulreligiousconversionswere firmlyopposedunderhisadministration.ShivajiwasareligiousHindu,butshowedrespecttowardother religions.Healsoinnovatedrulesofmilitaryengagementofthatera.Hepioneered"Shivasutra"orGanimi Kava(guerrillatactics),whichleveragedstrategicfactorslikedemographics,speed,surpriseandfocused attacktodefeathisbiggerandmorepowerfulenemies. ShivajiwasborninthehillfortofShivnerinearthecityofJunnar.WhileJijabaiwaspregnant,shehad prayedthelocaldeity"Shivai"forthegoodofherexpectedchild.Shivajiwasnamedafterthislocaldeity. Shivaji'sfatherShahajiBhonslewasthechieftanofabandofmercenariesthatservedtheDeccan Sultanates.HismotherwasJijabai,thedaughterofLakhujiraoJadhavofSindkhed.Duringtheperiodof Shivaji'sbirth,thepowerinDeccanwassharedbythreeIslamicSultanatesBijapur,Ahmednagar,and Golconda.ShahajikeptchanginghisloyaltybetweentheNizamshahiofAhmadnagar,AdilShahofBijapur andtheMughals,butalwayskepthisjagir(fiefdom)atPuneandhissmallforceofmenwithhim. AccordingtoTarikhiShivaji,Shahajiplacedhisjagir(Landholdings/Fiefdom)inthePuneregionunder DadojiKonddeo,whohadshowngoodadministrativeskillsasthekulkarni(landsteward)ofMalthan.He askedKonddevtobringJijabaiandShivajifromShivneritoPune,andappointedhimastheirguardian. DadojiKonddeotrainedShivajipersonallyespeciallyrevenue,andalsoappointedanexcellentteacherfor him.Inashorttime,ShivajibecameaskilledfighterandagoodhorsemantrainedrigorouslybyMaratha warriorslikeBajiPasalkar. ShivajiwasextremelydevotedtohismotherJijabai.Jijabaileda deeplyreligious,andalmostasceticlifeinvirtualisolation.This religiousenvironmenthadaprofoundinfluenceonShivaji.He studiedthetwogreatHinduepics,RamayanaandMahabharata,by listeningtorecitationsandstorytellings.Themoralityandspiritual messagesoftheepicsmadeagreatimpressiononhim.Hewas deeplyinterestedinreligiousteachings,andsoughtthecompanyof HinduandMuslimsaintsthroughtouthislife. AstheadministratorofShahaji'sjagir(fiefdom),DadojiKonddeo establishedcompletecontrolovertheMavalregion.Hewonover mostofthelocalMavaldeshpande(chiefs),andsubduedothers. Shivajidrewhisearliesttrustedcomradesandalargenumberofhis soldiersfromthisregion,includingYesajiKank,BajiPasalkarand TanajiMalusare.InthecompanyofhisMavalcomrades,ayoung ShivajiwanderedoverthehillsandforestsoftheSahyadrirange, hardeninghimselfandgettingafirsthandknowledgeoftheland.By 1639,hecommandedahardyandloyalbandofofficersand soldiers.

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ConfrontationwiththeRegionalSultanates
In1645,attheageof16,ShivajicarriedouthisfirstmilitaryactionbyattackingandcapturingTornaFortof theBijapurkingdom.By1647hehadcapturedKondanaandRajgadfortsandhadcontrolofmuchofthe southernPuneregion.By1654ShivajihadcapturedfortsintheWesternGhatsandalongtheKonkancoast. [edit]Battles

Pratapgad
AdilshahsentAfzalKhan,aseasonedcommanderandanaccomplishedwarrior,todestroyShivajiinan efforttoputdownwhatwasseenbyBijapurasaregionalrevolt.AfterleavingBijapur,AfzalKhan desecratedHindutemplesatTuljapurandPandharpurhopingtodrawanemotionallyoverwroughtShivajito theplainstoretaliatewithhislimitedmilitaryresourcesandthusleadhimandhisbuddingmilitarypowerto easydestructionbythenumericallybigger,betterarmedandmoreprofessionalBijapurarmy. Shivaji,uponcarefullyweighinghisoptions,strategicallydecidedto confrontandsurpriseAfzalKhanonhishometurfundertheguise ofdiplomaticnegotiations.ShivajisentalettertoAfzalKhanstating thathewasnoteagerforconfrontationandsoughtsometypeof understanding.AmeetingwasarrangedbetweenAfzalKhanand ShivajiatthefoothillsofFortPratapgad.Expectingcertain skulduggeryfromAfzalKhan,Shivajiarmedhimselfwiththe concealableweaponsbichhwa(dagger)andwaghnakh(tigerclaws) andworeachilkhat(chainmailarmour)underhisclothingforthe meeting.Whattranspiredduringthemeetingwasnotrecordedby scribes,butfolklorehasitthatAfzalKhanpretendedtograciously embraceShivajiaspercustomandattemptedtostabShivajiinthe backwithakataar(ashortwaistholstereddagger).Shivaji'sagility, strengthandhisarmourinadditiontobeingpreparedhelpedhim survivethisattack.Shivajidrewhiswaghnakhandcounter attacked,disembowelingAfzalKhan.AfzalKhan'sbodyguard SayyedBandarespondingtothis,lungedatShivajibutwas interceptedbyJivaMahala,Shivaji'spersonalbodyguard,cuttingoffoneofSayyedBanda'shandswitha Dandpatta(Pataamedievalweapon).Meanwhile,AfzalKhanstumbledoutofthetent,clutchinghiswounds togethelpandcollapsedintoawaitingpalanquin,butwasswiftlydecapitatedbyShivaji'sassociate SambhajiKavjiKondhalkar,beforehecouldraisefurtheralarm..KrishnajiBhaskaraBrahminwhowas legaladvisortoAfzalKhanattackedShivajiasAfzalKhanstumbledoutofthetent.Heswunghissword wildlyatShivaji'shead.ShivajireactedquicklyandkilledKrishnaji.

Kolhapur
TocounterthelossatPratapgadandtodefeatthenewlyemergingMarathapower,anotherarmy,thistime numberingover10,000,wassentagainstShivaji,commandedbyBijapur'srenownedAbyssiniangeneral Rustamjaman.Inaswiftmovement,Shivajiledafullfrontalattackatthecenteroftheenemyforceswhile othertwoportionsofhiscavalryattackedtheflanks.Thisbattlelastedforseveralhoursandattheend BijapuriforcesweresoundlydefeatedandRustamjamanignominiouslyfledthebattlefield.Thisvictory alarmedthemightyMughalempirewhonowderisivelyreferredtoShivajiasthe"MountainRat".Aurangzeb theMughalemperorwasnowactivelypreparingtobringthefullmightandresourcesoftheMughalEmpire tobeardownonthepotentialMarathathreat. UpontherequestofBadiBegumofBijapur,Aurangzebsenthismaternaluncle(brotheroflateQueen MumtazMahal)ShaistaKhan,withanarmynumberingover100,000alongwithapowerfulartillerydivision inJanuary1660todefeatShivaji.KhanwasaccompaniedbyeminentcommanderslikeTurktaj,Hussain, Haider,NaamdarKhan,KartalabKhan,UzbekKhan,FatehJungandRajputsnamelyBhauSingh,Shyam Singh,RaiSinghSisodiya,Pradyumanandmanymore.Khanwasanexperiencedcommanderwhohad defeatedShahajiinthesameregionin1636.HewasorderedtoattacktheMarathakingdominconjunction withBijapur'sarmyledbySiddiJauhar.AurangzeborderedShaistaKhantocapturetheMarathakingdomto addtotheempire(heintendedtodeceivetheAdilshah),afterShivaji'sexpecteddefeatbyJauhar.

TriptoAgraandEscape
In1666,AurangzebsummonedShivajitoAgra,alongwithhisnineyearoldsonSambhaji,ontheoccasion ofhisfiftiethbirthday.Aurangzeb'splanwastosendShivajitoKandahar,moderndayAfghanistanto consolidatetheMughalEmpire'snorthwesternfrontier.Howeverinthecourt,onMay12,1666,Aurangzeb madeShivajistandbehindmansabdars(militarycommanders)ofhiscourt.Shivajitookoffenseatthis seeminginsultandstormedoutofcourtandwaspromptlyplacedunderhousearrest,underthewatchof FuladKhan,KotwalofAgra.Fromhisspies,ShivajilearnedthatAurangzebplannedtomovehisresidenceto RajaVitthaldas'sHaveliandthentopossiblykillhimorsendhimtofightintheAfghanfrontier.Asaresult Shivajiplannedhisescape. HefeignedalmostfatalsicknessandrequestedtosendmostofhiscontingentbacktotheDeccan,thereby ensuringthesafetyofhisarmyanddeceivingAurangzeb.Thereafter,onhisrequest,hewasallowedto senddailyshipmentsofsweetsandgiftstosaints,fakirs,andtemplesinAgraasofferingsforgettingwell. Afterseveraldaysandweeksofsendingoutboxescontainingsweets,Shivajiandhisnineyearoldson Sambhajihidthemselvesintwooftheboxesandmanagedtoescape.ShivajiandhissonfledtotheDeccan disguisedassadhus(holymen).Aftertheescape,rumoursofSambhaji'sdeathwereintentionallyspreadby ShivajihimselfinordertodeceivetheMughalsandtoprotectSambhaji.

PreparingforWarandBattleofSinhagad
Kondanafort,ontheoutskirtsofPune,wasstillunderMughalcontrol.UdayBhanRathod,thefortkeeper, ledanarmyofabout1,500RajputsandMughalsfortheprotectionofthefort.OnFebruary4,1670Shivaji deputedoneofhismostseniorandtrustedgenerals,TanajiMalusare,toheadamissiontocapture Kondana.Atthattime,Tanhaji'sson's(Raiba's)weddingplanswereunderway.However,puttinghisdutyfor theMarathaKingdomoverhisfamilyhesaid"AadhilaginKondanyache,magmajhyaRaibache"(First Kondana'smarriage,andthenmysonRaiba's). TheMarathaarmyunderTanajiMalusareassignedtocapturethefortwasmuchsmallerthantheMughal armypostedatthefort.TanajiMalusaresurveyedthefortanditsdefensesforsomedays.Thefortwaswell guarded.OneverysheercliffcaughtTanaji'seye.Thissidewasleastguardedasonecouldnotpossibly imagineclimbingthefortfromthissteepside.Tanajidecidedtoscalethisclifftoenterthefort.Thelegend

isthat,heusedamonitorlizard(knownasaghorpadinMarathinamed"Yeshwanti"witharopetiedaround itsbodyforclimbingthiscliffonamoonlessnight.Thelizardwasmadetoclimbtothetopofthefort.Asis thecharacteristicfeatureofthislizard,itbracedandlodgeditselfinatightcornerofthefort.Thenasoldier climbedtothetopandthrewropesforotherstoclimb. MeanwhileTanaji'sbrotherSuryajimovedclosetothegatesofthefort,namelyKalyanDarwaja,with another300Mavalas.Thegatesweresoonopenedandonceinside,allhissoldiersjoinedTanajiinthe surpriseattack.TanajiandUdayBhancamefacetofaceandafiercefightensued.UdayBhanbroke Tanaji'sshieldwithasingleblow,Tanajiwasnotdeterredandcontinuedtofightbywrappinghisturban aroundhislefthandforprotection,tocoveruphiswoundsandstanchthebleeding.Tanajibeinggrievously wounded,staggerredbackandfell.Seeingtheirleadermortallywoundedanddyingbeforethem,the Marathasoldiersstartedtobackupandretreat,SuryajiandShelarMamasteppedupandassumed leadership. ShelarMama,anoldSardarinhisseventies,tookchargeandfacedtochallengeUdayBhanandkilledhim inshortorder.Suryaji,thensteppedinfrontandcentertorallythetroopsandledthembackonthe offensive.Legendandfolklorehasitthat,afterthefallofTanaji,themavlaspanickedandmadeahasty retreat.Seeingthis,Suryajicommented,"Whyareyourunninglikesheep?Ihavecuttheropesandallthe escaperoutesaregone.Nowweeitherfightordie."Marathasnowoutofanyotheroptions,chargedthe Mughaldefendersfiercelyandsucceededincapturingthefort.WhenShivajireachedthefortafterthe victory,hewasdeeplybereavedatthelossofhisgoodfriendTanaji.Hesadlycommented"Gadhalapuhn sinhagela"(Thefortwaswonbutthelionwaslost).ThereafterKondanaFortwasrenamedSinhagad(Lion Fort)tohonourTanajiMalusare'ssacrificeandbravery.

CoronationandSouthernExpedition
ShivajiwasformallycrownedChhatrapati(Chief,orKingoftheKshatriyas),onJune6,1674atRaigadfort, andgiventhetitleKshatriyaKulavantasSinhasanadheeshwarChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj.PanditGaga Bhatt,arenownedBrahminfromVaranasi,officiallypresidedovertheceremonydeclaringthatShivaji's lineagewasabonafideandrecognizedKshatriya.HewasbestowedwiththeJaanva,(inHindiJaneu,the sacredthread),withtheVedasandwasbathedinanabhisheka.ShivajihadinsistedonanIndrabhishek ritual,whichhadfallenintodisusesincethe9thcentury.Shivajithenhadthetitleof"shakkarta"conferred uponhim.Hestartedhisowncalendar.

Rule
ShivajiMaharajwasanableadministratorwhoestablishedagovernmentthatincludedmodernconcepts suchascabinet(Ashtapradhanmandal),foreignaffairs(Dabir)andinternalintelligence.Shivajiestablished aneffectivecivilandmilitaryadministration.Healsobuiltapowerfulnavyanderectednewfortslike SindhudurgandstrengthenedoldoneslikeVijaydurgonthewestcoastinwhichMughalsweregreatly unsuccessful.TheMarathanavyhelditsownagainsttheBritish,PortugueseandDutch. Shivajiiswellknownforhisbenevolentattitudetowardshissubjects.Hebelievedthattherewasaclose bondbetweenthestateandthecitizens.Heencouragedallaccomplishedandcompetentindividualsto participateintheongoingpolitical/militarystruggle.Heisrememberedasajustandwelfaremindedking. Hebroughtrevolutionarychangesinmilitaryorganisation,fortarchitecture,societyandpolitics.Shivaji successfullyledandmarshalledhisforcestocopeandovercomeseveralmajor,wellcoordinatedand successiveenemyinvasions.Hewasinexorableinexpandingtheboundariesofhiskingdom.Hissuccess wasdrivenbyhisdeterminationtoestablishafreeandindependenthomeland,andinthisgoalhewas supportedbythehighlevelofloyalty,respectanddedicationhereceivedfromhissoldiers,followersand citizens. Hewasaninnovatorandanablecommander,hesuccessfullyusedeffectivetacticsincludinghitandrun, strategicexpansionofterritoriesandforts,formationofhighlymobilelightcavalryandinfantryunits, adaptationofstrategicbattleplansandformations,wherebyhesucceededinoutmanoeuvering,timeand again,hisvastlybiggerandhighlydeterminedenemies.Towardstheendofhisreignhehadbuiltupthe Marathaforcestobeoveronehundredthousandstrong.HewasabletoeffectivelykeeptheMughalforces incheckandonthedefensivewhileexpandinghiskingdomsouthwardstoJinji,TamilNadu.Shivaji Maharaj'skingdomservedasaHindubulwarkagainstMughalpowerswithinIndia.Hisbrilliantstrategicand tacticalmaneuveringonbattlefields,acutemanagementandadministrativeskillshelpedhimtolaythe foundationsofthefutureMarathaempireinIndia.

Character
Duringhislongmilitarycareerandvariouscampaignshisstrongreligiousandwarriorcodeofethics, exemplarycharacteranddeepseatedanduncompromisingspiritualvaluesdirectedhimtoofferprotection tohousesofworship,noncombatants,womenandchildren.Healwaysshowedrespect,defendedand protectedplacesofworshipofalldenominationsandreligions.Heboldlyriskedhislife,histreasure,his personalwellbeingandthatofhisfamily,toopenlychallengehisimmenselylargerenemiestodefendand achievefreedomandindependenceforhiscountry.Heunflinchinglydefiedoverwhelmingoddsstacked againsthimbythemightyMughalEmpireandtheregionalsultanates.Heovercameandsucceededinthe faceofanunprecedentedlevelofdifficultiesandchallengesunrelentinglyposedbyhisenemies.Hedidnot spendanyresourcesonprojectsdesignedforselfaggrandizementorvanity,insteadhewaspropelledby hisdeeplyheldsenseofDharma(sacredduty)tohispeopleandcountry. Shivaji'sgeniusismostevidentinhismilitaryorganisation,whichlastedtillthedemiseoftheMaratha empire.Hewasoneofthepioneersofcommandoactions,"GanimiKava"atermusedforsuchawarfare, (thoughtheterm"commando"ismodern).HisMavalaarmy'swarcrywas'HarHarMahadev'(HailLord Shiva).Shivajiwasresponsibleformanysignificantchangesinmilitaryorganization.

Religion
Asperlegend,thefamilydeityoftheBhosle's,goddess BhavanipresentedadivineswordtoShivajiMaharaj.

ShivajiMaharaj,requestedSamarthRamdasSwamitostayat ParaliFortwhichwassubsequentlyrenamedas"Sajjangad"(Fortof theDecent/Holyones).ItissaidthatShivajiMaharajandSant Ramdasfirstmetin1674.Therearemanycrediblehistorical referencesthatSamarthRamdasSwamiwasthespiritualguruof Shivaji.ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharajwasadevoutHinduandhe respectedallreligionswithintheregion.ShivajiMaharajhadgreat respectforWarkarisaintslikeTukaramandSufiMuslimpirShaikh YacubBabaAvaliyaofKonkan.HealsovisitedMouniMaharajtemple andSamadhiatPatgaon(BhudargadTalukaneartoGargoti)in Kolhapurdistrict.Shahajihaddonatedahugepieceoflandto ShahaSharifDurgahofAhmednagar(thenames"Shahaji",the fatherofShivaji,and"Sarfoji",theuncleofShivaji,arederivedin deferencetothisShahSharifji).ShivajiMaharajallowedhis subjectsfreedomofreligionandopposedforcedconversion.ThefirstthingShivajididafteraconquestwas topromulgateprotectionofmosquesandMuslimtombs. HecommandedtherespectandfealtyoftheMuslimsunderhiscommandbyhisfairtreatmentofhisfriends aswellasenemies.Heprohibitedslaveryinhiskingdom.ShivajiMaharajappliedahumaneandliberal policytothewomenofhisstate.Shivaji'ssentimentsofinclusivityandtoleranceofotherreligionscanbe seeninanadmonishinglettertoAurangzeb,inwhichhewrote:
"Verily, Islam and Hinduism are terms of contrast. They are used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling in the outlines. If it is a mosque, the call to prayer is chanted in remembrance of Him. If it is a temple, the bells are rung in yearning for Him alone."

Deathandsuccession
ThefuneralceremonywasarrangedinRaigadinpresenceofhissonRajaram,andwifeSoyarabai.After ShivajiMaharaj'sdeath,hiseldersonSambhajiandSoyarabai,foughtforcontrolofthekingdom.Aftera briefstruggleSambhajiwascrownedking.

Legacy
Becauseofhisstruggleagainstanimperialpower,ShivajibecameaniconoffreedomfightersintheIndian independencestrugglethatfollowedtwocenturieslater.Heisrememberedasajustandwisekingandhis ruleiscalledoneofthesixgoldenagesinIndianhistory.

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