Shivaji Maharaj
| Shivaji | |
|---|---|
| Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire | |
Shivaji's portrait (1680s) in the Rijksmuseum
| |
 1st Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire | |
| Reign | 1674–1680 CE |
| Coronation | 6 June 1674 |
| Successor | Sambhaji |
| Born | c. April 1627 or 19 February 1630 Shivneri Fort, Shivneri, Ahmadnagar Sultanate (present-day Maharashtra, India) |
| Died | 3 April 1680 (aged 50–53) Raigad Fort, Raigad, Maratha Empire (present-day Maharashtra, India) |
| Spouse | Saibai Nimbalkar Soyarabai Mohite Putalabai Palkar Sakvarbai Gaikwad Kashibai Jadhav[1] |
| Issue | Sakhubai Nimbalkar[2] Ranubai Jadhav Ambikabai Mahadik Sambhaji Rajaram Rajkumaribai Shirke |
| Marathi | शिवाजी à¤ोसले |
| Sanskrit | शिवाजी à¤ोसले |
| House | Bhonsle |
| Father | Shahaji Bhonsle |
| Mother | Jijabai |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Shivaji Bhonsle (Marathi [ʃiÊ‹aË‘ÉŸiË‘ bʱoË‘s(É™)leË‘]; c. 1627/1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian warrior king and a member of the BhonsleMaratha 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.
Over the course of his life, Shivaji engaged in both alliances and hostilities with the Mughal Empire, Sultanate of Golkonda, and Sultanate of Bijapur, as well as the English, Portuguese, and French colonial powers.[citation needed] Shivaji's military forces expanded the Maratha sphere of influence, capturing and building forts, and forming a Maratha navy. Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with well-structured administrative organisations. He revived ancient Hindu political traditions and court conventions and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit, rather than Persian, in court and administration.
Shivaji's legacy was to vary by observer and time but he began to take on increased importance with the emergence of the Indian independence movement, as many elevated him as a proto-nationalist and hero of the Hindus.[3] Particularly in Maharashtra, debates over his history and role have engendered great passion and sometimes even violence as disparate groups have sought to characterise him and his legacEarly life
Shivaji was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in what is now Pune district. Scholars disagree on his date of birth. The government of Maharashtra lists 19 February as a holiday commemorating Shivaji's birth (Shivaji Jayanthi).[a][6][7] Shivaji was named after a local deity, the goddess Shivai.[8] Shivaji's father Shahaji Bhonsle was a Marathageneral who served the Deccan Sultanates.[9] His mother was Jijabai, the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhavrao of Sindhkhed, a Mughal-aligned sardar claiming descent from a Yadav royal family of Devagiri.[10][11]
At the time of Shivaji's birth, power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golkonda. Shahaji often changed his loyalty between the Nizamshahiof Ahmadnagar, the Adilshah of Bijapur and the Mughals, but always kept his jagir (fiefdom) at Pune and his small army with him.[9]
Upbringing
Shivaji was devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. His studies of the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, also influenced his lifelong defence of Hindu values.[12] Shivaji was deeply interested in religious teachings, and regularly sought the company of Hindu and Sufi saints.[13] Shahaji, meanwhile had married a second wife, Tuka Bai from the Mohite family. Having made peace with the Mughals, ceding them six forts, he went to serve the Sultanate of Bijapur. He moved Shivaji and Jijabai from Shivneri to Pune and left them in the care of his jagir administrator, Dadoji Konddeo. Dadoji has been credited with overseeing the education and training of young Shivaji.[14][15][16]
Many of Shivaji's comrades, and later a number of his soldiers, came from the Maval region, including Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Baji Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Tanaji Malusare.[17] Shivaji traveled the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range with his Maval friends, gaining skills and familiarity with the land that would prove useful in his military career.[12] Shivaji's independent spirit and his association with the Maval youths did not sit well with Dadoji, who complained to Shahaji to no avail.[18]
In 1639, Shahaji was stationed at Bangalore, which was conquered from the Vijayanagara nayaks, and asked to hold and settle the area.[19][20] 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.[21] Around 1645, the teenage Shivaji first expressed his concept for Hindavi Swarajya (Indian self-rule), in a letter.[22][23][b]
The first feather on his royal crown, 
After scaling a steep cliff and fighting a brutal battle against the Mughals, Tanaji Malusare lost his life. His brother took charge and won over the fort. Grieving this loss, Shivaji Maharaj remorsefully said, “Gad aala, pan Sinha gela” – We won the fort, but lost the lion. This explains the name and its importance in the pages of Maratha history.
An epoch-making fort in the history of Maharashtra, Raigad was the capital of the Maratha Empire. It was here that the royal coronation of Shivaji Maharaj as the official king of the Maratha Empire took place. Although the fort was purloined and wrecked by the Britishers in 1818, much of its glory still remains. Shivaji Maharaj breathed his last in this fort.
A 17th century fort, Shivneri is the birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj. The fort carries small temple of Goddess Shivai Devi after whom he was named.
A beautiful and an impregnable sea fort, Vijaydurg is considered one of Shivaji’s best victories. Used as an anchor for Maratha warships, Vijaydurg is encircled by the Waghotan creek.
Once a powerful naval base for the Maratha Kingdom, this sea fort now remains a beautiful history. It impregnates the only temple dedicated to Shivaji Maharaj and also preserves his footprints. It is a popular tourist destination and ferries are available to reach this place.
The erstwhile capital of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji Maharaj made many commandments and led history-defining moments from here. He spent almost 26 years of his life here. The fort has seen many epoch-making events like the burial of Afzal Khan's head, the birth of Shivaji's son Rajaram, the death of Shivaji's Queen Saibai, and the return of Shivaji from Agra.
Pratapgad is famous for the encounter between Shivaji and the mighty Afzal Khan. It was here that Shivaji’s true reign began after he defeated Afzal Khan, making this fort one of the most important events in the Maratha history.
Having conquered this fort twice by Shivaji Maharaj, Lohagad held its prime importance due to its strategic location. The trade route to Khandala was guarded from here.