History of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj

Military strength, resources, everything became useless without a powerful leader. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took the right decisions at the right time. That leadership was really important to handle the entire kingdom. Because, minor mistakes would be very dangerous. Finally, I would like to say, Swarajya was the combine effect of all the above.

All four, you can say, are pillars of Swarajya. Removing out a pillar can cause harm to unified Swarajya. If you are still reading, upvote and show your support. The son of the Shahaji is named Shivaji and the honor of his Mudra seal will increase like the first day moon. In CE, the Bahmani Sultanate disintegrated and was divided into five pieces.

Therefore, there was always conflict between Nizam Shah and Adil Shah. The people of this state were unfortunate and desperate because of constant battle. It was not even possible to think about establishing an independent state. He implemented his wisdom, war skills Guerrilla warfareand incomparable history of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj to complete that dream.

Indian kings and emperors tortured people before the reign of Shivaji Maharaj. Kings and officials were not thinking about their subjects. Instead, they were busy with their luxury lifestyle. He not only took care of the people but also gave justice to their matters. Historians believed that Shivray also read the books of Sri Krishnadevaraya. His reign also inspired Shivray to establish Hindavi Swarajya.

Before the birth of Shivray and during his time there were many saints who brought the Bhakti movement to its peak not only in Maharashtra but all over India. Their teachings led to the emergence of a new tradition, especially in Maharashtra. An example of this is the Ashadhi-Kartiki Vari that travel to Pandharpur from different shrines in Maharashtra every year.

This sect emphasized the importance of devotion to Vitthala, sattvic conduct. These saints taught people the teachings of kindness, non-violence, devotion, service to God, patience, and brotherhood. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a prominent figure in Indian history and his complete biography sheds light on his remarkable achievements.

The procession of Shiv Jayanti Utsav celebrates his birth anniversary and serves as a reminder of his enduring legacy. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born on February 19,in the Shivneri fort near the Pune district. He went on a campaign to counter the attacks of the Mughals. We can read news of the Shiv Jayanti event that happens every year at Raigad.

Jayanti means birth anniversary. The answer is because of two separate chronologies, the first one is the Gregorian and the second is the Marathi chronology. According to the Gregorian calendar, the birthday of Shivaji Maharaj comes on February This means the third day of Falgun month, which comes annually from February to March. So, birthdays according to the Marathi calendar vary every year in the Gregorian calendar.

Thus, people celebrates birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj twice annually. On this day, we carry out the procession of birthday anniversaries of Shivray in small village to big city. On this occasion, Marathi people decorate the statue of Shivaji Maharaj with beautiful flowers. Marathi public shout slogans of Shivaji Raje in that procession.

You will see a massive crowd at Raigad Fort on that day. Guru Dadoji Kond Dev started the primary education of little Shivba at seven. Dadoji instructed us to operate weapons like spears, daggers, swords, etc. People consider Dadoji the first master of Shivray. He also taught necessary war strategies before battle. Appointed pundits Scholarsand Jijabai taught him important subjects like Sanskrit, Politics, Vedas.

As a child, his mother, Jijabaitold the stories of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and great emperors. The biography of emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya also inspired him a lot. From his childhood, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had all the skills to become a good leader. So naturally, he had all qualities to become a better king. This Biography of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will take you through all aspects of the life of Shivray.

Shivray donated gold equivalent to his weight during the coronation of Shivaji Raje. He had also held a graven idol of Lord Vishnu. We subtract that unnecessary weight and concluded his weight would probably be pounds 66 kg. Some historians believe that the height of Shivaji Raje was about cm 5 ft, 6 inches. This height is an approximate calculation from the descriptions, paintings, coin inscriptions if anyand other evidences.

At the young age of 16, Shivray collected data about the secret routes and confidential information necessary for Swarajya. To make a special announcement, Shivray went to Raireshwar temple along with his companions. Shivray cut his little finger with a sword and consecrated to the Rudra Shiva Linga with his blood. Shivaji Raje gathered faithful colleagues along with mobilizing the army and weapons.

He started his struggle from the Torna fort. Because it was one of the big and neglected fortresses of Adil Shah. Also, there were not enough security guards for protection. So, conquering Torna Fort, he got encouragement, and it helped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to build the foundation of Swarajya. As Torna Fort is huge and in the Marathi language, huge means Prachand.

Marathi people believe that the Bhavani sword was the sword given by Bhavani Mata. But, one thing is sure, this sword seems to be very special to the Maharaj. I believed Chhatrapati was a great devotee of Bhavani Devi, therefore he gave the names of his favored goddess to his sword. He used many swords during his lifetime, but his three swords named Tulajai Tulaja PhirangaBhavani, and Jagadamba were very famous among Marathi people.

There was another partially built fort near Torna. Dense forest surrounded Raigad Fort and was a more protected place. Therefore, Rajgad became the first capital of the Swarajya Maratha Empire. Later, Maharaj moved it to Raigad. Shivray always considered responsibility more important than relatives. A brother-in-law of Shivaji Raje named Balaji also started campaigns against Swarajya.

So, Shivaji Raje had to fight against him. Few people know that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had a stepbrother named Sambhaji. He also came in the path of Swarajya and tried to cause problems. So, Shivaji Raje captured him. Then, Shivray sent him to another region to do work for Swarajya. If anybody came in the path of Swarajya, then Shivray never forgave them.

Then, whether that person belongs to the family or society. He always gave the same justice to his family and the public. There was a dense forest surrounded by the fort. Hence, it was really tough to fight in such an impenetrable forest. As there were so many secret routes and places that were unknown to strangers. These adverse conditions made it even more challenging to win the region of Jawali.

Yashvantrao was the contemporary ruler of the Jawali region. Shivray while in correspondence with him, he argued a lot with Chhatrapati. As a result, Chhatrapati Shivray declared a war against him. The battle of Jawali was not so easy. Finally, the result of the war came in the favor of Chhatrapati Shivray. The fort of Rayari has a height of meters feet from the seashore.

Rayari Fort settled in the Sahyadri Mountain Range. Also, to make the capital of Swarajya more secure, Maharaj shifted the capital from Rajgad to Raigad Fort. There, Raigad Fort became the new capital of Swarajya. There was an officer in the court of Adil Shah. Her name was Badi Sahebin. She was responsible for carrying out the work of the court.

Then, the head of the Vai region named Afzal Khan came forward. He took a pledge to capture Shivray alive or dead. He marched on the Maratha Empire with 10, troops from Bijapur sultanate. Then, Shivray went from Rajgad to Pratapgad. Because around Pratapgad, there was a vast forest. So, it was difficult to carry such a large army, ammunition, cannons from the dense history of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj. He wrote a letter to Shivaji Rajerequesting him to return the forts and to surrender to him.

He also promised Shivaji Raje to give him a respectful position in the Adil Shah court. Shivaji Raje identified the plan of him. You should visit Pratapgad, because I am afraid of coming there. Khan was pleased to hear that answer. He assumed Shivaji Raje was timid. At the appointed time, both agreed to meet along with ten bodyguards. After Shivray went to the marquee, he came forward to welcome Shivray.

While Shivray was giving a hug, Khan pressed the head of Shivray below the right shoulder. Then, he vigorously attacked with a dagger. However, Shivaji Maharaj suspected he would suffer such an accident. Therefore, Shivray had already worn his armor. As a result, Maharaj survived because of the armor. Subsequently, Shivray promptly attacked back with tiger claws.

His intestines came out, and Khan fell down. Hearing the indoor sound, Sayyad Banda came into the pavilion. Sayyad Banda was one of the sharpest at swiveling the belt Dangpatta. Jiva Mahala bore the impact of the attack on his body. Then, Jiva Mahala killed Sayyad Banda with a stroke of the belt. Maratha soldiers were lurking in the surrounding forest of Pratapgad and waiting for an attack.

His death led to a succession dispute between his son Sambhaji and his third wife, Soyrabai, which had lasting consequences on the Maratha Empire. Despite challenges, the Maratha glory was later reclaimed by leaders like Madhavrao Peshwa, who restored Maratha authority over North India. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Skip to content. Spread the love. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had amassed vast lands and wealth as a result of his campaigns, but he was still theoretically a Mughal zamindar or perhaps the son of a Bijapuri jagirdar, with really no legitimate basis to rule his de facto domain. A kingly title would address this issue while also preventing any challenges from other Maratha leaders, to whom he was theoretically equal.

It would also provide a fellow Hindu sovereign to the Hindu Marathas in a region otherwise ruled by Muslims. Inpreparations for the proposed coronation began. It took place on the 13th day trayodashi of the very first fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha in the yearaccording to the Hindu calendar. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj kneeled before Jijabai and touched her feet after the ablution.

Nearly 50, people gathered in Raigad for the ceremonies. He was also given the name Haindava Dharmodhhaarak protector of the Hindu faith. The Marathas called up Nischal Puri Goswami, a tantrik priest, who asserted that the first coronation had been conducted under inauspicious stars, necessitating a second coronation. Beginning inthe Marathas pursued an ambitious campaign, raiding Khandesh in October, seizing Bijapuri Ponda in AprilKarwar in the middle of the year, and Kolhapur in July.

The Maratha navy clashed with the Siddis of Janjira in November, but was unable to dislodge them. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj raided Athani in Aprilafter recovering from an illness and taking full benefit of a civil war which had emerged between the Deccanis and the Afghans at Bijapur. In the run-up to his excursion, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj made an appeal to a sense of Deccani nationalism, arguing that Southern India should be shielded from outsiders.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj invaded Karnataka in with 30, cavalry and 40, infantry, supported by Golkonda artillery and funding. Note: UPSC is approaching closer, keep yourself updated with the latest UPSC current affairs where we explain the important news in a simplified manner. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj died on the evening of Hanuman Jayanti, around Aprilat the age of The exact cause of his death is history of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj.

Sakwarbai, another living wife, was not permitted to follow suit as she had a young daughter. Rajaram, a ten-year-old boy, was placed on the throne on April 21, However, after killing the commander, Sambhaji got hold of Raigad Fort, gaining control of Raigad on 18 June and formally ascending the throne on 20 July. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established the Council of Eight Ministers, also known as the Ashta Pradhan Mandal, as an administrative and advisory body.

It was made up of eight ministers who provided regular political and administrative advice to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Except for the Panditrao and Nyayadhis, every other minister held military commands, with deputies performing their civil duties. The following were the eight ministers:. During his reign, Marathi was widely used as a tool for systematic description and comprehension.

The royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was written in Sanskrit. He had one of his officials create a comprehensive lexicon in which Persian and Arabic terms were replaced with Sanskrit equivalents. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is well-known for his religious policies that are both liberal and tolerant. While Hindus were heartened to be able to practise their faith freely under a Hindu ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj not only permitted Muslims to practise freely, but also backed their ministries with resource endowment.

On 3 Aprilwhen Aurangzeb levied the Jizya tax on non-Muslims, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj wrote a harsh letter to Aurangzeb condemning his tax policy. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was religiously tolerant and did believe in syncretism. He also refused to fight the Mughals alongside other Hindu powers such as the Rajputs. Muslim leaders appear early within his own army.

History of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj

Inthe first Pathan unit was formed. Darya Sarang, his naval admiral, was a Muslim. Dissatisfied with the Mughal response, and receiving a better offer from Bijapur, he launched a raid into the Mughal Deccan. However, Aurangzeb's countermeasures against Shivaji were interrupted by the rainy season and his battles with his brothers over the succession to the Mughal throne, following the illness of the emperor Shah Jahan.

At the request of Badi Begum of Bijapur, Aurangzeb, now the Mughal emperor, sent his maternal uncle Shaista Khanwith an army numbering over , along with a powerful artillery division, in January to attack Shivaji in conjunction with Bijapur's army led by Siddi Jauhar. Shaista Khan, with his better equipped and well provisioned army of 80, seized Pune.

He also took the nearby fort of Chakanbesieging it for a month and a half before breaching the walls. On the night of 5 AprilShivaji led a daring night attack on Shaista Khan's camp. Khan lost three fingers. In retaliation for Shaista Khan's attacks, and to replenish his now-depleted treasury, in Shivaji sacked the port city of Surata wealthy Mughal trading centre.

The attacks on Shaista Khan and Surat enraged Aurangzeb. In response, he sent the Rajput history of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj Jai Singh I with an army numbering around 15, to defeat Shivaji. The Mughal commander succeeded in luring away several of Shivaji's key commanders, and many of his cavalrymen, into Mughal service. By mid, with the fortress at Purandar besieged and near capture, Shivaji was forced to come to terms with Jai Singh.

In the Treaty of Purandarsigned by Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 JuneShivaji agreed to give up 23 of his forts, keeping 12 for himself, and pay compensation ofgold hun to the Mughals. InAurangzeb summoned Shivaji to Agra though some sources instead state Delhialong with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji. Aurangzeb planned to send Shivaji to Kandaharnow in Afghanistan, to consolidate the Mughal empire's northwestern frontier.

However, on 12 MayShivaji was made to stand at court alongside relatively low-ranking nobles, men he had already defeated in battle. Ram Singh, son of Jai Singh, guaranteed custody of Shivaji and his son. Shivaji's position under house arrest was perilous, as Aurangzeb's court debated whether to kill him or continue to employ him. Jai Singh, having assured Shivaji of his personal safety, tried to influence Aurangzeb's decision.

He sent most of his men back home and asked Ram Singh to withdraw his guarantees to the emperor for the safe custody of himself and his son. He surrendered to Mughal forces. After Shivaji's escape, hostilities with the Mughals ebbed, with the Mughal sardar Jaswant Singh acting as an intermediary between Shivaji and Aurangzeb for new peace proposals.

Sambhaji was also restored as a Mughal mansabdar with 5, horses. Sambhaji was also granted territory in Berar for revenue collection. The peace between Shivaji and the Mughals lasted untilafter which Aurangzeb became suspicious of the close ties between Shivaji and Mu'azzam, who he thought might usurp his throne, and may even have been receiving bribes from Shivaji.

Shivaji sacked Surat for a second time in ; the English and Dutch factories were able to repel his attack, but he managed to sack the city itself, including plundering the goods of a Muslim prince from Mawara-un-Nahrwho was returning from Mecca. Angered by the renewed attacks, the Mughals resumed hostilities with the Marathas, sending a force under Daud Khan to intercept Shivaji on his return home from Surat; this force was defeated in the Battle of Vani-Dindori near present-day Nashik.

In OctoberShivaji sent his forces to harass the English at Bombay; as they had refused to sell him war materiel, his forces blocked English woodcutting parties from leaving Bombay. In SeptemberShivaji sent an ambassador to Bombay, again seeking materiel, this time for the fight against Danda-Rajpuri. The English had misgivings of the advantages Shivaji would gain from this conquest, but also did not want to lose any chance of receiving compensation for his looting their factories at Rajapur.

The English sent Lieutenant Stephen Ustick to treat with Shivaji, but negotiations failed over the issue of the Rajapur indemnity. Numerous exchanges of envoys followed history of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj the coming years, with some agreement as to the arms issues inbut Shivaji was never to pay the Rajapur indemnity before his death, and the factory there dissolved at the end of InPrataprao Gujarthe sarnaubat commander-in-chief of the Maratha forces and Anandraowas sent to push back the invading force led by the Bijapuri general, Bahlol Khan.

Prataprao's forces defeated and captured the opposing general in the battle, after cutting-off their water supply by encircling a strategic lake, which prompted Bahlol Khan to sue for peace. In spite of Shivaji's specific warnings against doing so, Prataprao released Bahlol Khan, who started preparing for a fresh invasion. Shivaji sent a letter to Prataprao, expressing his displeasure and refusing him an audience until Bahlol Khan was re-captured.

Upset by this rebuke, Prataprao found Bahlol Khan and charged his position with only six other horsemen, leaving his main force behind, and was killed in combat. Shivaji was deeply grieved on hearing of Prataprao's death, and arranged for the marriage of his second son, Rajaramto Prataprao's daughter. Prataprao was succeeded by Hambirrao Mohiteas the new sarnaubat.

Raigad Fort was newly built by Hiroji Indulkaras a capital of the nascent Maratha kingdom. Shivaji had acquired extensive lands and wealth through his campaigns, but lacking a formal title, he was still technically a Mughal zamindar or the son of a Bijapuri jagirdarwith no legal basis to rule his de facto domain. A kingly title could address this and also prevent any challenges by other Maratha leaders, who were his equals.

The preparation for a proposed coronation began in However, some controversies delayed the coronation by almost a year. On 28 May, Shivaji did penance for his and his ancestors' not observing Kshatriya rites for so long. Then he was invested by Gaga Bhatt with the sacred thread. Next day, Shivaji made atonement for the sins, deliberate or accidental, committed in his own lifetime.

All these articles, along with a lakh one hundred thousand of hun, were distributed among the Brahmins. According to Sarkar, even this failed to satisfy the greed of the Brahmins. Two of the learned Brahmins pointed out that Shivaji, while conducting his raids, had killed Brahmins, cows, women, and children. He could be cleansed of these sins for a price of Rs.

After the ablution, Shivaji bowed before his mother, Jijabai, and touched her feet. Nearly fifty thousand people gathered at Raigad for the ceremonies. He also took the title of Haindava Dharmodhhaarak protector of the Hindu faith [ 2 ] and Kshatriya Kulavantas : [ 3 ] [ ] [ ] Kshatriya being the varna [ f ] of Hinduism and kulavantas meaning the 'head of the kulaor clan'.

Shivaji's mother died on 18 June The Marathas summoned Nischal Puri Goswami, a tantric priest, who declared that the original coronation had been held under inauspicious stars, and a second coronation was needed. This second coronation, on 24 Septembermollified those who still believed that Shivaji was not qualified for the Vedic rites of his first coronation, by being a less controversial ceremony.

In the run-up to his expedition, Shivaji appealed to a sense of Deccani patriotism, that Southern India was a homeland that should be protected from outsiders. InShivaji invaded Karnataka with 30, cavalry and 40, infantry, backed by Golkonda artillery and funding. The initially promising negotiations were unsuccessful, so whilst returning to Raigad, Shivaji defeated his half-brother's army on 26 November and seized most of his possessions on the Mysore plateau.

Venkoji's wife Dipa Bai, whom Shivaji deeply respected, took up new negotiations with Shivaji and also convinced her husband to distance himself from his Muslim advisors. In the end, Shivaji consented to turn over to her and her female descendants many of the properties he had seized, with Venkoji consenting to a number of conditions for the proper administration of the territories and maintenance of Shahji 's tomb samadhi.

The question of Shivaji's heir-apparent was complicated. Shivaji confined his son to Panhala Fort inonly 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 Fort. Shivaji died around 3—5 April at the age of 50, [ ] on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti.

The cause of Shivaji's death is disputed. British records states that Shivaji died of bloody fluxafter being sick for 12 days. Another surviving spouse, Sakwarbai, was not allowed to follow suit because she had a young daughter. After Shivaji's death, Soyarabai made plans, with various ministers, to crown her son Rajaram rather than her stepson Sambhaji.

On 21 Aprilten-year-old Rajaram was installed on the throne. However, Sambhaji took possession of Raigad Fort after killing the commander, and on 18 June acquired control of Raigad, and formally ascended the throne on 20 July. The eight ministers were as follows: [ ]. Except the Panditrao and Nyayadhis, all other ministers held military commands, their civil duties often being performed by deputies.

At his court, Shivaji replaced Persian, the common courtly language in the region, with Marathi, and emphasised Hindu political and courtly traditions. Shivaji's reign stimulated the deployment of Marathi as a systematic tool of description and understanding. Shivaji commissioned one of his officials to make a comprehensive lexicon to replace Persian and Arabic terms with their Sanskrit equivalents.

Many modern commentators have deemed Shivaji's religious policies as tolerant. While encouraging Hinduism, Shivaji not only allowed Muslims to practice without harassment, but supported their ministries with endowments.