SHIVAJI MAHARAJ

INTRODUCTION
Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian warrior king and a
member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi
sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he was formally
crowned as the Chhatrapati (Monarch) of his realm at Raigad.
Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a disciplined military and
well-structured administrative organisations. He innovated military tactics, pioneering non-
conventional methods which leveraged strategic factors like geography, speed, and surprise and
focused pinpoint attacks to defeat his larger and more powerful enemies. He revived ancient Hindu
political traditions and court conventions and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit, rather
than Persian, in court and administration.

DESCRIPTION
Shivaji was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in Pune district on 6 April 1627 or
19 February 1630.[a][8] Per legend, his mother named him Shivaji in honour of the goddess Shivai, to
whom she had prayed for a healthy child.[9] Shivaji was named after this local deity.[10][11] Shivaji's
father Shahaji Bhonsle was a Maratha general[clarification needed] who served the Deccan Sultanates]. At the
time of Shivaji's birth, the power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates. Shahaji often
changed his loyalty between the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, the Adilshah of Bijapur and
the Mughals, but always kept his jagir (fiefdom) at Pune and his small army with him.[12]

Upbringing and concept of Hindavi Swarajya

Shivaji was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. This religious
environment had a great impact on Shivaji, and he carefully studied the two great Hindu
epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata; these were to influence his lifelong defence of Hindu values.
[13]
 Throughout his life he was deeply interested in religious teachings, and regularly sought the
company of Hindu and Sufi saints.[6]
Shahaji, meanwhile had married a second wife, Tuka Bai from the Mohite family, and moved to
Karnataka to lead a military campaign on behalf of Adilshahi. He left Shivaji and Jijabai in Pune in
the care of his jagir administrator, Dadoji Konddeo. Dadoji has been credited with overseeing
education and training of young Shivaji. [14][15][16] Shivaji as a boy was a keen outdoorsman and, though
he received little formal education and most likely could neither read nor write, he is said to have
possessed considerable erudition.[17][18][19] Shivaji drew his earliest trusted comrades and a large
number of his soldiers from the Maval region,[when?] including Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Baji
Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Tanaji Malusare.[20] In the company of his Maval comrades,
Shivaji wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, hardening himself and acquiring
first-hand knowledge of the land, which was to later prove applicable to his military endeavours.
[13]
 However, Shivaji's association with the Maval comrades and his independent spirit did not sit well
with Dadoji who complained to Shahaji to no avail in making him compliant. [21]
At the age of 12, Shivaji was taken to Bangalore where he, his elder brother Sambhaji and his half
brother Ekoji I were further formally trained. He married Saibai from the prominent Nimbalkar family
in 1640.[22]:60 Around 1645–46, the teenage Shivaji first expressed his concept for Hindavi Swarajya,
in a letter to Dadaji Naras Prabhu.[23][24][25][26]
Conflict with Adilshahi sultanate
Combat with Afzal Khan
In 1659, Adilshah sent Afzal Khan, an experienced and veteran general to destroy Shivaji in an effort
to put down what he saw as a regional revolt.
The two met in a hut at the foothills of Pratapgad fort on 10 November 1659. The arrangements had
dictated that each come armed only with a sword, and attended by a follower. Shivaji, either
suspecting Afzal Khan would attack him [6]:47–52[31] or secretly planning to attack,[32] wore armour beneath
his clothes, concealed a bagh nakh (metal "tiger claw") on his left arm, and had a dagger in his right
hand. In the fight, Afzal Khan's dagger was stopped by Shivaji's armour, and Shivaji's weapons
inflicted mortal wounds on the general; Shivaji then signalled his hidden troops to launch the assault
on the Bijapuris

Battle of Pratapgarh
Battle of Kolhapur
Siege of Panhala and Battle of Pavan Khind
Attack on Shaista Khan
Arrest in Agra and escape
Battle of Nesari
Clash with the Mughals
Until 1657, Shivaji maintained peaceful relations with the Mughal Empire. Shivaji offered his
assistance to Aurangzeb in conquering Bijapur and in return, he was assured of the formal
recognition of his right to the Bijapuri forts and villages under his possession. [6]:37 Shivaji's
confrontations with the Mughals began in March 1657, when two of Shivaji's officers raided the
Mughal territory near Ahmednagar.[44] This was followed by raids in Junnar, with Shivaji carrying off
300,000 hun in cash and 200 horses.[6]:38 Mughal viceroy for Deccan at that time, Aurangzeb
responded to the raids by sending Nasiri Khan, who defeated the forces of Shivaji at Ahmednagar.
However, Aurangzeb's countermeasures against Shivaji were interrupted by the rainy season and
his battle of succession with his brothers for the Mughal throne following the illness of the
emperor Shah Jahan.[6]:39–40

Peace with Mughals

After Shivaji's escape, hostilities with the Mughals ebbed with Mughal sardar Jaswant singh acting
as intermediary between Shivaji and Aurangzeb for new peace proposals. [50] During the period
between 1668 and 1670, Aurangzeb conferred the title of Raja on Shivaji. Sambhaji was also
restored as a Mughal mansabdar with 5000 horses. Shivaji at that time sent Sambhaji with
General Prataprao Gujar to serve with Prince Muazzam in Aurangabad. Sambhaji was also granted
territory in Berar for revenue collection.[51] Aurangzeb also permitted Shivaji to attack the decaying
Adil Shahi. The weakened Sultan Ali Adil Shah II sued for peace and granted the rights
of Sardeshmukhi and Chauthai to Shivaji.[52]

Treaty of Purandar
In the Treaty of Purandar, signed between Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 June 1665, Shivaji agreed to
give up 23 of his forts and pay compensation of 400,000 rupees to the Mughals. He also agreed to
let his son Sambhaji become a Mughal sardar, serve the Mughal court of Aurangzeb and fight
alongside the Mughals against Bijapur.[citation needed] One of Shivaji's commander, Netaji Palkar joined the
Mughals, was rewarded very well for his bravery, converted to Islam, changed his name to Quli
Mohammed Khan in 1666 and was sent to the Afghan frontier to fight the restive tribes. He returned
to Shivaji's service in 1676 after ten years with the Mughals, and was accepted back as a Hindu on
Shivaji's advice.[47]

Coronation
Shivaji was crowned king of the Marathas in a lavish ceremony at Raigad on 6 June 1674. Pandit
Gaga Bhatt officiated, holding a gold vessel filled with the seven sacred waters of the
rivers Yamuna, Indus, Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri over Shivaji's head, and chanted the
coronation mantras
. Nearly fifty thousand people gathered at Raigad for the ceremonies. [62][63] Shivaji was bestowed with
the sacred thread jaanva, with the Vedas and was bathed in an abhisheka. Shivaji was
entitled Shakakarta ("founder of an era")[41] and Kshatriya Kulavantas ("head of Kshatriyas"),
[64]
 and Chhatrapati ("paramount sovereign"). He also took the title of "Haindava Dharmodhhaarak".
His mother Jijabai died on 18 June 1674, within a few days of the coronation. Considering this a bad
omen, a second coronation was carried out 24 September 1674.

Conquest in Southern India

At the end of 1676, Shivaji launched a wave of conquests in southern India, with a massive force of
30,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry.[citation needed] He captured the Adilshahi forts at Vellore and Gingee, in
modern-day Tamil Nadu. Shivají's conquests in the south proved quite crucial during future wars;
Gingee served as Maratha capital for nine years during the Maratha War of Independence.

Death and succession

The question of Shivaji's heir-apparent was complicated by the misbehaviour of his eldest son
Sambhaji, who was irresponsible and "addicted to sensual pleasures." Unable to curb this, Shivaji
confined his son to Panhala in 1678, only to have the prince escape with his wife and defect to the
Mughals for a year. Sambhaji then returned home, unrepentant, and was again confined to Panhala.
[74]:551

In late March 1680, Shivaji fell ill with fever and dysentery, [6]:383 dying around 3–5 April 1680 at the
age of 52,[27]:278 on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti. 0 Rumours followed Shivaji's death, some Marathas
whispered that Soyarabai, the youngest of the three wives who survived him, [75] had poisoned him so
that his crown might pass to her 10-year-old son Rajaram.[6]:383After Shivaji's death, Soyarabai made
plans with various ministers of the administration to crown her son Rajaram rather than her prodigal
stepson Sambhaji. On 21 April 1680, ten-year-old Rajaram was installed on the throne. [77]

Promotion of Marathi and Sanskrit

Though Persian was a common courtly language in the region, Shivaji replaced it with Marathi in his
own court, and emphasised Hindu political and courtly traditions. [84] The house of Shivaji was well
acquainted with Sanskrit and promoted the language. Shivaji continued this Sanskrit promotion,
giving his forts names such as Sindhudurg, Prachandgarh, and Suvarndurg.

Religious policy
Shivaji was a devout Hindu, but respected all religions within the region. Shivaji had great respect for
other contemporary saints, especially Samarth Ramdas, to whom he gave the fort of Parali, later
renamed as 'Sajjangad'. Samarth Ramdas had also written a letter to Sambhaji guiding him on what
to do and what not to do after death of Shivaji. [87]

Shivaji allowed his subjects freedom of religion and opposed forced conversion.[88][page  needed] Shivaji also

promulgated other enlightened values, and condemned slavery. [89] He applied a humane and liberal
policy to the women of his state. [90][page  needed] Kafi Khan, the Mughal historian, and Francois Bernier, a
French traveller, spoke highly of his religious policy.[citation needed] He also brought converts like Netaji
Palkar and Bajaji back into Hinduism.

Had not there been Shivaji, Kashi would have

lost its culture, Mathura would have been
turned into a mosque and all would have
been circumcised".[91]
Military
Shivaji demonstrated great skill in creating his military organisation, which lasted till the demise of
the Maratha empire. He also built a powerful navy. Shivaji was responsible for many significant
changes in military organisation: [citation needed]

 Highly mobile and light infantry and cavalry excelling in commando tactics.
 The introduction of a centralised intelligence department.
 A potent and effective navy.
 Introduction of field craft like commando actions, and swift flanking attacks.
 Innovation of weapons and firepower.
 Innovative use of traditional weapons like the tiger claw (vaghnakh) and vita.
 Militarisation of large swathes of society.
Forts
Shivaji captured strategically important forts at Murambdev, Torna, Kondhana and Purandar and laid
the foundation of swaraj or self-rule. Toward the end of his career, he had a control of 360 forts to
secure his growing kingdom. Shivaji himself constructed about 15–20 totally new forts, but he also
rebuilt many strategically placed forts[97] to create a chain of 300 or more.

NAVY

Shivaji realised the importance of having a secure coastline and protecting the
western Konkan coastline from the attacks of Siddi's fleet. [citation needed][6] His strategy was to build a strong
navy to protect and bolster his kingdom. He was also concerned about the growing dominance
of British Indian naval forces in regional waters and actively sought to resist it. For this reason he is
also referred to as the "Father of Indian Navy".[96]

Legacy
Nineteenth century Hindu revivalist Swami Vivekananda considered Shivaji a hero and paid glowing
tributes to his wisdom.[99] When Indian Nationalist leader, Lokmanya Tilak organised a festival to
mark the birthday celebrations of Shivaji, Vivekananda agreed to preside over the festival in Bengal
in 1901.[100] He wrote about Shivaji:[99]

"Shivaji is one of the greatest national

saviours who emancipated our society and
our Hindu dharma when they were faced with
the threat of total destruction. He was a
peerless hero, a pious and God-fearing king
and verily a manifestation of all the virtues
of a born leader of men described in our
ancient scriptures. He also embodied the
deathless spirit of our land and stood as the
light of hope for our future.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote in his famous poem "Shivaji":

In what far-off country, upon what obscure

day
I know not now,
Seated in the gloom of some Mahratta
mountain-wood
O King Shivaji,
Lighting thy brow, like a lightning flash,
This thought descended,
"Into one virtuous rule, this divided broken
distracted India,
I shall bind." [101]

In modern times, Shivaji is considered as a national hero in India,[103] especially in the state

of Maharashtra, where he remains arguably the greatest figure in the state's history. Stories of his
life form an integral part of the upbringing and identity of the Marathi people. Further, he is also
recognised as a warrior legend, who sowed the seeds of Indian independence. [103] 

Commemorations
Statues

 Shivaji's statues and monuments are found almost in every town and city in Maharashtra as
well as in different places across India including Goa,[117] Bangalore, Vadodara, Surat, Indore,
[118]
 Agra,[119] Arunachal Pradesh,[120][121][122] and Delhi.[123]
 There is a statue of Shivaji inside the premises of the National Defence Academy
(NDA), Pune.[124]
 An equestrian statue can be seen inside the Parliament House complex in Delhi.[125]
 A statue of Shivaji was proposed in 2014, to be built on the Mumbai coastline by the
Maharashtra government by 2020, with a planned height of 312 feet (95.0976 metre). If built it
would be among the tallest statues in the world.[126]
Armed forces

 The Indian Navy has named one of its bases after Shivaji, christening it as INS Shivaji.[127]
Government

 The Government of India issued postage stamps commemorating Shivaji in 1961, 1974,

1980[128] and a definitive postage stamp in the "Makers of India" definitive series in 2015. [129]
[better  source  needed]

Airports and railway stations

 Mumbai international airport (then known as Bombay International) was renamed

the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in 1996. A statue of Shivaji was also placed within
the forecourts of the international terminal, however it was removed in 2011 to make way for the
extension of the terminal.[130]
 The Victoria Terminus railway station was similarly renamed as the Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus.
.