shivaji maharaj

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was founder of the Maratha kingdom of India. The kingdom’s security was based on religious toleration and on the functional integration of the Brahmans, Marathas, and Prabhus.

Early life

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was descended from a line of prominent nobles. India at that time was under Muslim rule: the Mughals in the north and the Muslim sultans of Bijapur and Golconda in the south. All three ruled by right of conquest, with no pretence that they had any obligations toward those who they ruled. Shivaji, whose ancestral estates were situated in the Deccan, in the realm of the Bijapur sultans, found the Muslim oppression and religious persecution of the Hindus so intolerable that, by the time he was 16, he convinced himself that he was the divinely appointed instrument of the cause of Hindu freedom—a conviction that was to sustain him throughout his life.

Collecting a band of followers, he began about 1655 to seize the weaker Bijapur outposts. In the process, he destroyed a few of his influential coreligionists, who had aligned themselves with the sultans. Daring and military prowess, as well as a sternness toward the Hindu oppressors, won him a lot of admiration. Several small expeditions sent to chastise him were ineffective as his depredations grew more audacious.

He tricked the Bijapur sultan into sending a 20,000-strong army against him in 1659 by pretending to be intimidated and then killing Afal Khan at a meeting to which he had lured him by submissive appeals. While the Bijapur army was distracted, a group of specially positioned troops swooped in and wiped it out. A few hours after Shivaji’s arrival, the Bijapur army’s weapons and ammunition were in his hands.

Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, was concerned about Shivaji’s growing strength and ordered his viceroy of the south to take action against him. Shivaji retaliated by launching a daring nighttime raid on the viceroy’s camp, which resulted in the loss of the viceroy’s fingers and the death of his son. As a result of this setback, the viceroy withdrew all of his troops. As if to aggravate the Mughals even more, Shivaji attacked Surat, a wealthy coastal city, and made off with an enormous amount of loot.

Mirza Raja Jai Singh, one of Aurangzeb’s most prominent generals, was sent out to lead an army estimated to be 100,000 strong. A combination of this massive force, as well as Jai Singh’s drive and tenacity, soon led Shivaji to ask for peace and promise to attend Aurangzeb’s court in Agra to become an official Mughal subject. Shivaji and his son were imprisoned in Agra, hundreds of miles away from their home, and faced the prospect of being executed.

Escape from Agra

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj remained unfazed, pretending to be sick and sending out huge baskets of sweets to the poor as a form of penance. Baskets in which he and his son were escorted by their guards were used on August 17, 1666. His escape would alter the course of Indian history, making it the most thrilling episode in a life filled with high drama. Upon his return, he was welcomed back by his followers, and within two years, he had reclaimed all of the territory he had lost and expanded his territory. His troops were reorganised and he instituted reforms to improve the lives of his subjects; he collected tribute from the Mughal regions and plundered their rich cities. Indian rulers of his time began to build naval forces after learning from the Portuguese and English traders who had already established footholds in India. He was the first Indian ruler of his time to use sea power for trade and defence.

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Aurangzeb stepped up his persecution of Hindus, imposing a poll tax on them, allowing for forced conversions, and demolishing temples and erecting mosques in their stead.

shivaji
A pictorial depiction of Shivaji’s escape from Agra jail
Rule by Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji was enthroned as an independent sovereign in the summer of 1674. There were many Hindus who had been oppressed and he became their leader. For six years, he had a cabinet of eight ministers in charge of his affairs. One of the most religious Hindus in the country, he broke with tradition by ordering the return of two of his relatives who had been forcibly converted to Islam back to Hinduism. However, despite the fact that both Christians and Muslims frequently used violence to enforce their beliefs on the population, he respected and protected the places of worship of both communities. He had a large number of Muslims working for him. During his most important campaign after his coronation, he forged an alliance with the sultans and thwarted the Mughal plan to conquer the entire subcontinent.

Shivaji had two sons and numerous wives. Last years were blighted by his son’s apostasy to the Mughals and the difficulty with which he was brought back. An early demise was brought on by the strain of protecting his kingdom from its enemies while also having to deal with domestic strife and discord within the ranks of his ministers. Indian king Thomas Babington Macaulay called “the Great Shivaji” died in Rajgarh, the mountain stronghold he had established as the capital of his empire in 1680 after an illness.

When Shivaji led his people against the powerful Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, he revived a race that had been dormant for centuries. Above all, he was one of the few rulers who practised true religious tolerance in a place and age marked by religious savagery.

Facts about Shivaji Maharaj you may not know

In India, Chhatrapati Shivaji was regarded as one of the country’s greatest leaders. Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire, was born on February 19, 1630, in the prestigious Shivneri Fort. Maharashtrians continue to celebrate the day as Shiv Jayanti with great rigour and tradition.

Shivaji established a royal name for himself in history with his administrative prowess by adhering to the Swarajya values and the Maratha heritage of his ancestors. Many of his victories were attributed to his bravery and skillful tactics. Shivaji, the greatest Maratha ruler of all time, celebrated his birthday today, and we’ve compiled a list of fascinating facts about him.

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A naval force and coastal forts were strategically established by Shivaji, who is known as the “Father of the Indian Navy,” to protect Maharashtra’s Konkan region. The Jaigad, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and other forts still stand as a testament to his efforts and concepts.

  • Shivaji was not named after the Hindu god Shiva, as is commonly thought. Shivai, a local deity, was the inspiration for his name. When his mother asked the goddess for a son, the goddess answered her prayer. It wasn’t because of his name that he was elevated to god-like status; it was because of his actions.
  • Religious tolerance was high on the secular ruler’s list of priorities. Among his troops were a large number of Muslims. Overthrow Mughal rule and establish the Maratha empire was his only goal. People who converted to Hinduism had his full support.
  • A staunch supporter of women’s rights and honour was Shivaji. When it came to violence against women, he was a staunch opponent. Under his reign, anyone found guilty of violating a woman’s rights was subject to severe punishment. In fact, women from the occupied territories were treated with respect and released intact.
  • Chitrapati Shivaji was known as the “Mountain Rat” because of his guerrilla warfare techniques. So-called because of his knowledge of geography and tactics such as ambushes, surprise attacks on his foes, he was referred to as a guerrilla. A good army was important to him, so he expanded his father’s 2000-soldier army to 10,000 soldiers with his skills.
Governance of Shivaji Maharaj

Maratha administration was established under his reign, with Chhatrapati as sovereign and eight ministers appointed to oversee the implementation of various policies. Shivaji’s eight ministers had a great deal of power in implementing the King’s policies, and they reported directly to him.

He introduced the Ryotwari system, which eliminated the need for middlemen between farmers and the state, and collected revenues directly from manufacturers and producers instead of the state collecting them through intermediaries. The Chauth and Sardeshmukhi taxes were introduced by Shivaji. Mamlatdars ruled each of the four provinces in his kingdom. Deshpande was the head of the Village Panchayat, which was the smallest unit of administration. Many strategic fortified positions were built around the Konkan and Goa coast in order to protect the borders of Shivaji’s kingdom.

Promotion of languages by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Marathi and Sanskrit were promoted in Shivaji’s court instead of Persian, the current Royal language, as a result of his efforts. In order to further emphasise his Hindu rule, he renamed all of the forts he ruled with Sanskrit names.

Religious policy of Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji, despite being a devout Hindu, promoted religious tolerance in his empire. His administration was humane and subject-friendly, and he encouraged women’s freedom in his rule. He was a staunch opponent of caste discrimination, and he employed people from all walks of life in his courts.

Military strategy of Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji’s military organisation, which lasted until the demise of the Maratha Empire, was a product of his mastery of military strategy. With the help of his ground, naval, and fortifications across his territory, he was able to thwart the attack of the enemy. His ground forces were bolstered by Telangi musketeers from Karnataka and Maratha cavalry, with the Maval infantry serving as the core. In addition, his artillery was underdeveloped and reliant on European suppliers, which further incline him to a very mobile form of combat.

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Because of his guerilla tactics, Aurangzeb and his generals dubbed Shivaji a “Mountain Rat” and referred to him as “Mountain Rat.”

Shivaji’s strategy relied heavily on hill forts. Murambdev (Rajgad) was captured, as well as Torna, Kondhana (Sinhagad) and Purandar forts. Forts in strategic locations were also rebuilt or repaired by him. The number “111” has been reported in some accounts, but it is likely that the actual number “did not exceed 18.” was built by Shivaji as well.  Shivaji had 240–280 forts at the time of his death, according to historian Jadunath Sarkar.  In order to prevent a single traitor from being bribed or tempted to hand it over to the enemy, each was placed under the command of three officers of equal rank. A mutual check and balance was provided by the officers’ joint action.

It was in 1657 or 1659 that Shivaji purchased twenty galivats from the Bassein shipyards of the Portuguese to begin the construction of his navy. According to Marathi chronicles, he amassed a fleet of 400 warships at its peak, but contemporary English chronicles dispute this figure.  Shivaji expanded his search for crews for his ships, enlisting lower-caste Hindu fishermen and Muslim mercenaries from the Arabian Sea to fill the ranks of his ships’ crew.

Shivaji, realising the strength of the Portuguese navy, hired a number of Portuguese sailors and Goan Christian converts, and appointed Rui Leitao Viegas as fleet commander. Viegas later defected back to Portugal, bringing with him 300 sailors. Shivaji built his first marine fort at Sindhudurg, which was to become the headquarters of the Maratha navy, by seizing and refurbishing coastal forts. The navy was primarily a coastal navy, with a primary focus on maritime travel and combat in the littoral areas.

Legacy of Shivaji Maharaj

Throughout his life, Shivaji was widely praised for his exemplary character and strong religious and warrior ethics. During the Indian Independence Movement, he was hailed as a national hero. The Brahmin guru Samarth Ramdas is mentioned in some accounts of Shivaji, but others argue that Ramdas’ influence has been exaggerated by later Brahmin commentators in order to enhance their own position.

A Shivaji monument or statue can be found almost everywhere in Maharashtra and throughout the rest of India. The Indian Navy’s station INS Shivaji, a slew of postage stamps, and the city’s primary airport and rail hub are all fitting tributes.

Basic facts about Shivaji Maharaj

Name: Shivaji Bhonsle
Date of Birth: February 19, 1630
Death: April 3, 1680
Birthplace: Shivneri Fort, Pune district, Maharashtra
Parents: Shahaji Bhonsle (Father) and Jijabai (Mother)
Rule: 1674–1680
Religion: Hinduism
Seat of Power: Raigad Fort, Maharashtra
Successor: Sambhaji Bhonsle