SHIVAJI

- PRAKASH ARULAPPA
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RISE OF MARATHA POWER UNDER SHIVAJI
(a) CIRCUMSTANTIAL FACTORS
1. PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE MARATHA COUNTRY
EXISTANCE OF MOUNTAINS, SCANTY RAINS, AND HARSH CLIMATE MADE THE MARATHAS
STRONG HARD WORKING AND PROVIDED THEM WITH NATURAL FORTRESSESS.
2. BHAKTI MOVEMENT LED BY TUKARAM, RAMDAS AND EKNATH WENT A LONG WAY IN UNITING
THE PEOPLE AND MAKING ALL OF THEM RELIGIOUS AND PATRIOTIC.
3. MARATHI LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE ALSO CREATED A SENSE OF COMMONNESS AMONG THE
PEOPLE.
4.THE TRAINING OF MARATHAS IN ADMINISTRATION AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, ACQUIRED IN THE
SERVICES OF BIJAPUR, GOLKANDA AND AHMADNAGAR PROVED VERY HELPFUL IN THE
FORMATION OF THE MARATHA NATION
(b) PERSONAL FACTORS
1. SHIVAJIS MOTHER JIJABAI MADE HER SON NOBLE , RELIGIOUS AND PATRIOTIC
2. SHIVAJIS GUARDIAN DADAJI KONDADEV, GAVE HIM A VERY GOOD TRAINING IN FIGHTING AND
EXPLOITS
3.SWAMI RAMDAS THE GURU OF SHIVAJI TAUGHT HIM TO MAKE DHARMA LIVE AND TO PROTECT
THE FAITH, BRAHMANAS AND COWS FROM MUGHAL TYRANNY.
EARLY LIFE
SHIVAJI WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY 19, 1630 IN THE HILLFORT OF SHIVNARY. HIS FATHER SHAHJI
BHNSLE WAS AN AMBITIOUS JAGIRDAR. HIS MOTHER WAS JIJABAI. WHEN SHIVAJI BORN SHAHJI
WAS IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. SO HE LEFT HIS WIFE AND CHILD AT HIS JAGIR OF POONA
WHICH WAS TAKEN CARE BY HIS HONEST SERVANT DADAJI KONDADEV.
EARLY INFLUENCES
SHIVAJIS CAREER WAS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY TWO PERSONALITIES
-HIS MOTHER JIJABAI
-HIS GUARDIAN DADAJI KONDADEV
EARLY CONQUESTS (1646- 57 A.D. )
SHIVAJI STARTED HIS CAREER OF CONQUESTS AT THE AGE OF NINETEEN. AFTER HE HAD BEEN
ASSIGNED THE JAGIR OF POONA IN 1641 HE GATHERED A FORCE OF SOME YOUNG
ADVENTURERS AND STARTED LEADING MILITARY EXPEDITIONS. ENCOURAGED BY THE
CONFUSION PREVALENT IN BIJAPUR, SHIVAJI CAPTURED THE FORT OF TORNA IN 1646 A.D. THEN
SHIVAJI CAPTURED THE FORT OF RAIGARH WHICH WAS REBUILT. PURANDAR AND KONDANA
WERE ALSO TAKEN POSSESSION OF. THUS SHIVAJI IN A FEW YEARS TIME CARVED OUT
CONSIDERABLE TERRITORIES FOR HIMSELF. THESE ACTIVITIES OF SHIVAJI GREATLY ANNOYED
SULTAN OF BIJAPUR ALI ADIL SHAH II,WHO IMPRISONED SHIVAJIS FATHER. SHIVAJI DID NOT
WANT TO ENDANGER THE LIFE OF HIS FATHER. SHIVAJI STOPPED HIS CONQUESTS FOR TIME
BEING. AT THE SAME TIME HE BEGAN TO NEGOTIATE WITH PRINCE MURAD EXPRESSING HIS
DESIRE TO JOIN THE IMPERIAL SERVICES. THE GOVERNMENT OF BIJAPUR OF ALI ADIL SHAH II
WAS ALARMED AT THIS AND ON THE ADVICE OF THE NOBLES LIKE SHARZA KHAN AND
RANDULLA KHAN, ORDERED THE RELEASE OF SHAHJI IN 1649 A.D. AS HE WAS RELEASED
CONDITIONALLY SHIVAJI STOPPED HIS RAIDS FROM 1649 A.D. TO 1655 A.D. HE DEVOTED THAT
PERIOD FOR CONSOLIDATING AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORKS. IN 1656 A.D. SHIVAJI RESUMED HIS
CONQUESTS. HE CONQUERED JAWALI BY KILLING ITS CHIEF CHANDER RAO.
SHIVAJI AND AFZAL KHAN (1660 A.D.)

ALI ADIL SHAH II SULTAN OF BIJAPUR WANTED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SHIVAJI. SO HE SENT A
HUGE FORCE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AFZAL KHAN TO CRUSH SHIVAJI. AFZAL KHAN WHEN
REACHED MARATHA COUNTRY FOUND THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIGHT AND DEFEAT SHIVAJI IN
THE BATTLE FIELD BECAUSE OF THE HILLY REGION. SO HE THOUGHT OF LURING SHIVAJI INTO A
TRAP. HE SENT HIS REPRESENTATIVE KRISHNAJI BHASKAR TO SHIVAJI WITH TEMPTING OFFERS.
FINALLY AN INTERVIEW WAS ARRANGED BETWWEN SHIVAJI AND AFZAL KHAN. WHEN THEY MET
AFZAL KHAN EMBRACED SHIVAJI AND THEN HELD THE NECK OF SHIVAJI IN HIS LEFT ARM WITH
AN IRON GRIP AND WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TRIED TO ATTACK SHIVAJI WITH HIS DAGGER. BUT
SHIVAJI ATTACKED AFZAL KHAN WITH TIGER CLAWS FASTENED TO HIS LEFT HAND, SHIVAJI
FORCED AFZAL KHAN TO RELAX HIS GRIP AND THEN STABBED HIM TO DEATH WIT HIS DAGGER.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MARATHAS POUNCED UPON BIJAPURI FORCES AND MASSACRED THEM
MERCILESSLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS VICTORY SHIVAJI CONQUERED THE TERRITORIES TO THE
SOUTH OF PANHALA ALONG THE BANKS OF KRISHNA.
THE FORTUNE SO FAVOURED SHIVAJI THAT HIS FORCES INCREASED, AND HE GREW MORE
POWERFUL EVERYDAY. HE CREATED NEW FORTS AND EMPLOYED HIMSELF IN SETTING HIS OWN
TERRITORIES AND IN PLUNDERING THOSE OF BIJAPUR. HE ATTACKED THE CARAVANS AND
AMASSED THE WEALTH FOR HIS WAR EFFORTS AGAINST MUGHALS. BUT HE MADE IT A RULE
THAT WHERE HIS FOLLOWERS WENT PLUNDERING , THEY COULD DO NO HARM TO THE
MOSQUES, THE SACRED LITERATURE(SACRED BOOKS) AND WOMEN OF ANYONE. WHENEVER A
COPY OF THE SACRED QURAN CAME INTO HANDS, HE TREATED IT WITH RESPECT AND GAVE IT
TO SOME OF HIS MUSALMAN SOLDIERS. WHEN THE WOMEN OF ANY HINDU OR MUSALMAN
WERE TAKEN PRISONER BY HIS MEN AND THEY HAD NO ONE TO PROTECT THEM, HE WATCHED
OVER THEM TILL THEIR RELATIONS CAME WITH SUITABLE RANSOM TO BUY THEIR LIBERTY.
WHENEVER HE FOUNDOUT THAT A WOMAN WAS A SLAVE GIRL, HE LOOKED UPON HER AS BEING
THE PROPERTY OF HER MASTER, APPROPRIATED HER TO HIMSELF. WHENEVER A PLACE WAS
PLUNDERED, THE GOODS OF THE POOR PEOPLE, THE COPPER MONEY AND VESSELS OF BRASS
AND COPPER SHOULD BELONG TO THE MAN WHO FOUND THEM. BUT OTHER ARTICLES , GOLD
AND SILVER, COINS, GEMS, VALUABLE STUFFS AND JEWELS WERE NOT TO BELONG TO FINDER
BUT WERE TO BE GIVEN UP WITHOUT THE SMALLEST DEDUCTION TO THE TREASSURY OF
SHIVAJI.
SHIVAJI AND THE MUGHALS
SHIVAJI BY HIS VICTORIES AGAINST BIJAPUR HAD BEEN GREATLY ENCOURAGED AND HE BEGAN
TO ATTACK THE MUGHAL TERRITORIES. AUARANGAZEB THE THEN MUGHAL EMPEROR COULD
NOT TOLERATE THIS AND DESCIDED TO TAKE ACTION.
SHIVAJI AND SHAYISTHA KHAN (1663 A.D.)
IN 1660 AURANGAZEB SENT HIS MATERNAL UNCLE, SHAYISTHA KHAN AS GOVERNOR OF DECCAN
TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SHIVAJI. SHAYISTHA KHAN EASILY CAPTURE POONA, NORTH KONKAN
AND THE FORT OF CHAKAN. AS RAINY SEASON SET IN SHAYISTHA KHAN DESCIDE TO CAMP AT
POONA AND TOOK HIS RESIDENCE IN THAT VERY HOUSE WHERE SHIVAJI HAD SPENT HIS
CHILDHOOD. SHIVAJI ENTERED POONA IN THE NIGHT ON 5TH APRIL 1663 A.D. WITH 400 SELECT
SOLDIERS IN THE DISGUISE OF MARRIAGE PARTY. SHIVAJI MADE A SURPRISE ATTACK ON
SHAYISTHA KHAN. IN THAT ACTION SHAYISTHA KHAN LOST HIS THUMB AND HIS SON WAS
KILLED. THIS WAS HIS FIRST MASTERLY BLOW TO THE MUGHALS.
SACK OF SURAT (1664 A.D.)

IN 1664 A.D. SHIVAJI WITH 4000 SELECT SOLDIERS MADE A FIERCE ATTACK UPON SURAT, THE
RICHEST PORT OF THE MUGHALS. SHIVAJI LOOTED SURAT AND SECURED A BOOTY OF ONE
CRORE OF RUPEES.
PRINCE MUZZAM AND JAI SINGH AGAINST SHIVAJI (1665 A.D.)
AURANGAZEB DESPATCHED A BIG FORCE OF 4000 UNDER JAI SINGH, PRINCE MUZZAM AND
DILER KHAN TO DEAL WITH SHIVAJI. THIS MUGHAL FORCE MARCHED AGAINST MARATHAS AND
KILLED MURARJI DESHPANDE. PURANDAR FORT WAS CAPTURED BY MUGHAL FORCE AND
MARCHED TOWARDS RAIGARH, THE CAPITAL. SHIVAJI WAS ALARMED AT THIS AND SIGNED THE
TREATY OF PURANDHAR WITH THE MUGHALS.
THE CLAUSES OF THE PURANDHAR TREATY OF 1665 A.D. WERE
1.SHIVAJI WAS TO SURRENDER 23 FORTS TO THE MUGHALS AND TO RETAIN ONLY 12 FORTS FOR
HIMSELF.
2. SHIVAJIS SON SAMBHAJI WAS TO BE ENROLLED AS MANSABDAR OF 5000
3. SHIVAJI WOULD PAY 40 LAKHS OF HUNS IN 13 INSTALMENTS
THE TREATY WAS A GREAT TRIUMPH FOR JAI SINGH WHO ALSO SUCCESSFULLY PERSUADED
SHIVAJI TO PAY A VISIT TO THE MUGHAL COURT.
SHIVAJIS VISIT TO THE IMPERIAL COURT (MAY 12, 1666 A.D.)
IN MAY,1666 A.D., SHIVAJI PAID A VISIT TO THE MUGHAL COURT AT AGRA. JAI SINGH HAD
GUARANTEED THE SAFETY AND GIVEN HIM HIGH HOPES THAT HE WOULD BE REWARDED AND
HONOURED BY THE EMPEROR. SHIVAJI AND HIS SON SAMBHAJI REACHED AGRA ON MAY 9 TH 1666
A.D. BUT HE WAS GRANTED AN INTERVIEW ONLY ON 12TH MAY 1666 A.D., THREE DAYS AFTER HIS
COMING TO AGRA. IN THE COURT ALSO HE WAS GIVEN PLACE AMONG THE THIRD CLASS
MANSABDARS. THUS AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO HUMILIATE HIM. SHIVAJI PROTESTED THI
MALTREATMENT. BUT HE WAS ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED. WITHIN 9 MONTHS OF
IMPRISONMENT SHIVAJI HOWEVER MANAGED TO ESCAPE IN A CAMOUFLAGED BASKET.
SHIVAJIS VICTORIES FROM 1669-74 A.D.
DURING 1668-69 SHIVAJI REMAINED QUIET AND FOCUSSED ON REORGANISATION OF THE
INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION. ON THE PERSUATION OF PRINCE MUZZAM AND JAI SINGH THE
TITTLE OF RAJA WAS CONFERRED UPON SHIVAJI AND HIS SON SAMBHAJI WAS MADE A
MANSABDAR OF 5000. IN 1670 A.D. SHIVAJI RESUMED WARFARE. HE CAPTURED THE FORTS OF
KONDANA, PURANDHAR, MABULI AND NANDED. SURAT WAS LOOTED FOR SECOND TIME AND
SHIVAJI SECURED A BOOTY OF 66 LAKHS. FROM 1670 A.D. TO 1674 A.D. SOME MUGHAL
EXPEDITIONS WERE SENT AGAINST SHIVAJI BUT THEY WERE DEFEATED SUCCESSFULLY.
SHIVAJIS CORONATION (1674 A.D.)
IN JUNE 1674 A.D. SHIVAJI CELEBRATED HIS CORONATION CEREMONY AMIDST GREAT POMP AND
SHOW. THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT RAIGARH. ABOUT 50 LAKHS OF RUPEES WERE SPENT ON
THE CEREMONY. SHIVAJI THUS BECAME CHATRAPATHI MAHARAJ.
EXTENSION OF TERRITORIES (1674 A.D.-1680 A.D.)

DURING 1674 A.D.- 1680 A.D. SHIVAJI CONQUERED MORE TERRITORIES. HE ALSO WON MANY
VICTORIES IN THE SOUTH AND CAPTURED VELLORE, JINJI AND OTHER FORTS. HIS CAREER OF
CONQUEST WAS CUT-SHORT BY HIS DEATH. HE DIED IN 1680 A.D.
ADMINISTRATION OF SHIVAJI
(a) CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
(i) THE HEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THE KING OR CHATRAPATHI SHIVAJI HIMSELF WHO
WAS ABENEVOLENT DESPOT.
(ii) THERE WAS A COUNCIL OF EIGHT MINISTERS TO ASSIST SHIVAJI IN THE ADMINISTRATION
KNOWN AS ASHTA PRADHAN.
THEY WERE
1.PESHWA OR PRIME MINISTER
2. AMATYA OR FINANCE MINISTER
3. MANTRI OR CHRONICLER
4. SAMANT OR FOREIGN SECRETARY
5. SACHIV OR HOME SECRETARY
6. PANDIT RAO OR MINISTER OF ECLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS
7. SENAPATI OR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
8. NYAYADHISH OR CHIEF JUSTICE
(iii) DEPARTMENTS FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATION THERE WERE 18
DEPARTMENTS.
(b) LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
THE STATE WAS DEVIDED INTO 3 PROVINCES, EACH BEING UNDER A VICEROY. A PROVINCE WAS
DEVIDED FURTHER INTO DISTRICTS AND PARGANAS.
(C) FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
1. SHIVAJI SET UP A GOOD LAND REVENUE SYSTEM BASED UPON MEASUREMENT OF LAND.
STATE SHARE WAS FIXED AT 30% AND LATER INCREASED TO 40% OF THE TOTAL PRODUCE.
PEASANTS WERE NOT OPPRESSED.
2. CHAUT AND SARDESHMUKHI WERE THE OTHER SOURCES OF STATE INCOME
(d) JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
HAZIR MAJLIS WAS THE HIGHEST COURT. NEXT WAS NYAYADHISH WHO HEARD APPEALS FROM
LOWER COURTS. PANCHAYATS AND PATELS DESCIDED CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES RESPECTIVELY
IN VILLAGES.

(e) MILITARY SYSTEM

1. SHIVAJI MAINTAINED A BIG STANDING ARMY OF INFANTRY, CAVALRY,ELEPHANTS, NAVY AND
ARTILLERY.
2.INFANTRY AND CAVALRY WERE WELL ORGANISED.
3.THERE WERE BOTH THE HINDUS AND THE MUSLIMS IN THE ARMY.
4.DISTINGUISHED GENERALS WERE PROPERLY REWARDED AND HONOURED.
5. SHIVAJI MAINTAINED DISCIPLINE AND MORALE IN THE ARMY.
6. SHIVAJI HAD 280 FORTS FOR PROTECTIVE PURPOSES.

- PRAKASH ARULAPPA