Shivaji Bhonsle (February 19, 1630 - April 3, 1680) or Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj , as he is known with his titles in India, was a Hindu Maratha ruler of Maharashtra between 1645 and 1680. He was the creator of the Maratha Empire, beginning of his strong vision of a Hindu Swarajya, or Sovereign Hindu State.

See History of Maharashtra

He was born at the Shivneri Fort. His father's name was Shahaji Bhosale and mother's name was Jijabai. He was guided in warfare tactics by a loyal of the Bhonsale family, named Dadoji Konddev up to Shivaji's age 8. But the greatest influence on him was of his mother Jijabai, both spiritually and worldly ways. His father Shahaji was also a role model to him, since he tried twice to achieve what Shivaji achieved ultimately. It is also said by many that Samarth Ramdas Swamy, a famous saint of the same era, was Shivaji's spiritual Guru. He wrote the following lines in praise of Shivaji:

Nishchayacha MahaMeru

Bahuta Janansi Aadharu

Janata Raja ...

The above translated from Marathi language means:

[Shivaji is] someone who is having very strong conviction and resolve to achieve what he decides

[Shivaji is] someone who is fair and understands and supports his citizen irrespective of their cast, creed & religion

[Shivaji is] a wise and knowledgeable king...

Because of these qualities, he was able to ignite a revolution in people's minds about opposing the oppressive Mughal rule. As a result, even after his death, Western Maharashtra fought against Aurangzeb for 27 years without stable leadership or authority structure to retain and expand the kingdom which Shivaji founded, for preserving the rights of his countrymen.

At the time, India was dominated by four major Muslim powers:

1. The Mughals at Delhi, since 1193,
2. the Adilshah dynasty of Bijapur, established in the year of 1489,
3. the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar, established in the year of 1490
4. and the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golconda, established 1512.

Shahaji Bhosle was a loyal Knight to the Bijapur Sultanate and had a Jahagir near Pune under his supervision. Shahaji bequeathed his jahagir (fiefdom) of Pune and Supa, which was practically independent, to his son, Shivaji, who founded the Maratha Rajya sometimes also referred to as Hindavi Swaraj. He united the Maratha Chiefs from Maval, Konkan and Desh regions for a higher purpose—the promotion of Maharashtra Dharma—and carved out a small kingdom. Shivaji became an inspirational leader to his people and took the onus of leadership of the Marathas. 100 years after the demise of the great Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara, when the Muslims ruled supreme in all of India, the rebellious Shivaji provided an impetus to the Marathas and other Hindus with martial tactics, which the Marathas effectively used against the sultans of the peninsula as well as the Mughals.

Some of Shivaji's close associates were also his primary army chieftains:
Tanaji Malusare
Bajiprabhu Deshpande
Firangoji Narsala
Murarbaji Deshpande
Prataprao Gujar
Kanhoji Jedhe
Kondaji Farjand
Balaji Avaji Chitanis
Netaji Palkar
Lay Patil Koli

Guerilla warfare and success in Mughal times

Shivaji and his fast forces troubled and defeated the Mughals by attacking and occupying various forts in the Western Ghats and the Konkan coast. The Bijapur Sultans were unable to handle the crafty Maratha king and sued for peace, when an agreement was reached between Afzal Khan, a general of the sultans of Bijapur and Shivaji.

Afzal Khan and Shivaji met as previously arranged in an open area sans any weapons or attendants. However, both men had secretly armed themselves, as there was no trust between them. Afzal Khan, pretending to be friendly, attempted to embrace Shiavaji with the motive of strangulating him. Afzal Khan had a giant body and was almost 6 feet in height. Shivaji immediately whipped out his famous finger grip weapon, four curving razor-hooks called tiger-claws, and gutted the general right then and there on the spot. Upon Shivaji’s signal, his fighters appeared from the hills to empty the general’s camp of supplies and recruited many of his soldiers to Shivaji’s forces.

By now Aurangzeb was the emperor in Delhi. He was watching Shivaji’s adventures and successes with consternation. He sent his trusted uncle, Shaist-e-Khan (Mumtaz Mahal’s brother), with a large army to handle Shivaji in Deccan. Within three years in 1663, Shivaji had lost most of his conquests to a relentless attack by a well-trained Mughal army.

After driving Shivaji from Pune, Shaista Khan had taken residence in a house there, which was well guarded. No Maratha was allowed in the city of Pune. One day a wedding party had obtained special permission and it was the same day a group of Maratha prisoners were being brought to Pune. In the cover of the night, the bridegroom’s party and the prisoners met at a prearranged site and quietly entered the general’s house. After disposing of the guards they broke into the house by breaking a wall and killed all the enemies. Shaista Khan had to run for his life, and Shivaji himself chased him. Fortunately for Shaista, Shivaji could cut his 4 fingers, and the Khan, fainted, and unconscious, was taken to a safe place by the servant maids. This was the easy taking back of Pune by Shivaji, for which Shaista had to fight for 3 long years.

This incident infuriated the emperor and he sent a full force of Mughal army to subdue Shivaji, after Shivaji crafted an attack on the fort at Surat. The famed Jai Singh was sent with an army of fifteen thousand to Deccan to confront Shivaji. Shivaji’s forces were outnumbered and he was forced to surrender twenty forts and a considerable indemnity as well as a personal submission to Jai Singh under strict security precautions. Jai Singh had promised Shivaji of his safety, but was to be surprised by his Supremo Mughal emperor in short time.

Shivaji had still maintained a small force and several forts. During Aurangzeb’s attack on the Bijapur sultanate in 1666, Maratha defections prompted Aurangzeb to demand that Shivaji should visit Delhi. Shivaji agreed and went to Delhi. He was insulted badly by the emperor and was retained in Delhi under house arrest, alongwith his 6 year old son Sambhaji. This called for another miraculous escape on the part of Shivaji. He hid in a basket of confectionaries which was meant to be sent to religious persons of the city and was carried outside the city gates, from where he made his way to Maharashtra, undetected. Following this the reputation of Shivaji soared and that of Aurangzeb soured.

Coronation, Death

In 1674, Shivaji was requested by his people and cabinet to elevate himself to kingship. This was intended to publish to other Indian kingdoms, that efforts and successes over the years, were for the wellfare of the poor and normal people, and were not selfish acts as were portrayed by Mughals. In an elaborate ceremony in Hindu tradition (coronation), Shivaji was proclaimed as a King of Maharashtra.

The 300th anniversary of his coronation in 1974 was marked by major celebrations by the state government of Maharashtra, and the government of (India).

"Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj", as he is known after his coronation, conducted a digvijaya by attacking Mughal encampments in Berar and Khandesh, and freed the local people from suppression by local Mughal servents. With his Maratha forces he defeated and captured the forts at Vellore and Jinji in Madras. Shivaji died in 1680 at Raigad, at the age of fifty because of severe illness. He left behind the only sovereign kingdom which could repell Mughal attacks, and an inspirational history to light the common man hearts, for the coming generations. His premature death at the age of 50 (April 5, 1680) created a vacuum, and his place in Indian history has been documented, recognised and remembered.

Quality of rule

He stabilised the state with effective civil and military administration and adopted a policy of religious tolerance to accommodate all religions and sects in his state. This distinguished him from the Mughals, as although he had fought against Mughals for a hindu kingdom, he was not fanatic, and allowed muslims, and other non-hindus in his kingdom to freely practice their religion. He was the first Maratha Chhatrapati (ruler) to start the Raj Shaka (royal era) and issue the gold coin, shivarai hon - on the occasion of his coronation (1674).

Shivaji made it a policy never to desecrate a mosque or seize women. This made many Muslim men to be loyal to him, admire him, and also serve in his army. With the help of this larger force Shivaji conquered more towns and forts along the coast, between Mumbai and Goa. Whenever the enemy forces were close on his heels and it appeared as though he would surely be captured, Shivaji would miraculously escape. This added to his stories of bravery and legendary status as a king, who could not be defeated.

He also created a government with democratic structure, where 12 ministers were elected by the public. His could be considered as a first democratic experiment in any Indian kingdom. The chief of ministers (prime minister) was chosen by the public.

He was the second only king in Indian history to have his own navy.

Maratha Rajya after his death

After his death, two of his sons competed for the kingdom and Sambhaji was the victor. He continued to antagonize Aurangzeb and remained a thorn on his side. Prince Akbar, who was rebelling against his father, was sheltered by Sambahaji. As fate would have it Aurangzeb was drawn back to Deccan to give chase to his errant son. The emperor and his entourage moved to Deccan in the 1680 never to return to Delhi until his death twenty-seven years later.

Shivaji's son, Sambhaji (1657-1689), during his short reign of nine years, in addition to domestic feuds, was confronted with the Siddis, the Portuguese and the Mughals. His cold-blooded murder (1689) by the Mughals inspired a wave of patriotism in the Maharashtra region, and the Marathas, under the leadership of his brother, Rajaram (1670-1700), waged a War of Independence against the imperial army of Aurangzeb who, until his death (1707), struggled in vain to eradicate Maratha power. Tarabai, Rajaram's widow, declared her son, Shivaji II (1700), Chhatrapati. But when Sambhaji's son, Shahu was released (1707) from Mughal captivity and gained support from the Maratha elite, a civil war ensued in Maharashtra, and Tarabai set up a separate gadi (throne) at Panhala (Kolhapur). A palace revolution (1714), removed Shivaji II and Tarabai declared Sambhaji (1698_1760), second son of Rajaram, the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, which the Shahu finally recognised by the Treaty of Warna (1731).

Remembering Shivaji

The Indians remember Shivaji with admiration, certainly much more in his homeland of Maharashtra (Both the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport and in 1996 the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, each located in Mumbai, are named after him.). The Mughal rulers against whom he fought utilizing guerilla tactics and sly means of escape from captor situations, termed him a mountain tiger. Shivaji was the lone "Hindu king" fighting for a Hindu kingdom in a land dominated by Muslims. There is the contention that he was truly fighting for universal Hindu self-governance.

His Hindu self-governant dreams, Shivaji's intention in creating an empire was just that, an attempt to galvanize an anti-Muslim movement on a pan-Indian level.

In both his lifetime and decades, even centuries after his death, the famous poets of the Hindu tradition had spent years writing fantastic odes to his bravery and dharma, making analogies to the birth of the Hindu god Krishna as savior or attempting to establish his close connection to Hindu saints of the era and as a devout follower of Shiva.

Fortunately, Shivaji's image in the larger public eye has remained relatively untainted by charges of opportunism and betrayal of the Hindu cause he had undertaken. For now, the common image of the leader, is perhaps best summarized in the words of a great Bengali historian, R. Majumdar, who had these well-known words of praise for Shivaji:

"Shivaji was not only the maker of the Maratha empire, but also the greatest constructive genius of medieval India. States fall, empires break up, dynasties become extinct, but the memory of a true 'hero as King' like Shivaji remains an imperishable historical legacy for an entire human race. The Pillar of people's hopes. The Centre of a World's desire to animate the heart, to kindle the imagination and to inspire the brain of succeeding ages to the highest endeavour".

It would be pertinent to also quote what another historian, Bamber Gascoigne, wrote about the significance of the advent and enterprise of Shivaji:

"He (Shivaji) taught the modern Hindus to rise to the full stature of their growth. So, when viewed with hindsight through twentieth century glasses, Aurangzeb on the one side and Shivaji on the other come to be seen as key figures in the development of India. What Shivaji began Lokmanya Tilak, Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose could take further … and what Aurangzeb stood for would lead to the establishment of the separate state of Pakistan." (The Great Moghuls, London: Constable)