Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Shivaji Bhonsle) was the founder of Maratha dynasty. He got the name Shivaji after the famous regional deity, Goddess Shivai. He was born on 19 th February 1627 (or 1630) in the famous Shivneri Fort situated in Pune, Maharashtra. Maharashtrians celebrate this day as Shiv Jayanti with great enthusiasm till date., Shahaji Bhonsle rendered his service as a general to the Bijapur Sultanate, a tripartite association between Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda. His mother, Jijabai instilled in him great patriotism and bravery. Kanhoji Jedhe and Baji Pasalkar gave him training in military and martial arts. By the time he was 15, he started accumulating the Maratha hill dwellers into his fighting force and began raiding the neighbouring territories.

Shivaji got control over many strategic regions like, Chakan, Kondana, and by 1645. He emerged as a threat to the neighbouring king, Mohammad Adil Shah. In 1648, Adil Shah captured and imprisoned Shahaji, and then later released him on a condition that Shivaji would not pursue further conquests. However, after the death of his father in 1665, he continued his conquests. Adil Shah sent one of his powerful generals, Afzal Khan, with a large army to bring Shivaji to the court dead or alive.

Form caption nakrutitj zoloto avatariya. Afzal Khan met Shivaji on 10 th November, 1659. Shivaji was skeptical and therefore, came prepared with his concealed metal tiger claw.

When Afzal Khan attacked him, Shivaji retaliated by attacking him back and in their clash, Afzal Khan was killed. Shivaji then announced an attack on Bijapur Sultanate’s contingents and won easily in the Battle of Pratapgarh. In his attempt to subdue Shivaji, Adil Shah again sent a larger army under the command of General Rustam Zaman. The battle came to be known as the Battle of Kolhapur which took place on December 28, 1658. Shivaji again got victory. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb also saw him as a threat and decided to eradicate the Maratha rule. Emboldened by his success Chhatrapati Shivaji began raiding Mughal territories like Ahmednagar and Junnar in 1657. Aurangzeb sent an army under Shaista Khan, Governor of Deccan.

‘Raja Shiv Chhatrapati’ Coming Back on Star Pravah. The great Maratha warrior Shivaji Chhatrapati Maharaj is once again all set to make inroads into the heart of every Maharashtra even as politicians of all hues scramble to take credit for the building of a might statue of.

He captured several forts and even his capital Poona. Shivaji retaliated by making a surprise attack on Poona. A large number of Mughal soldiers were killed and Shaista Khan had a narrow escape. Shivaji also attacked Surat which was an important Mughal trading center. Aurangzeb was infuriated and sent his chief general, Jai Singh I with an army of 150,000. Shivaji incurred many losses and therefore agreed to come to an agreement with Aurangzeb.

So, Shivaji and Jai Singh signed the Treaty of Purandar on 11 th June, 1665 under which Shivaji agreed to give 23 forts and a sum of 400000 Rupees as compensation to the Mughal Empire. Another noteworthy incident in Shivaji’s lifetime is his escape from his imprisonment by Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb invited him to Agra and Shivaji went there with his son, Sambhaji. Aurangzeb didn’t treat him well and put him under house arrest. However, Shivaji cunningly escaped on 17 th August, 1666 disguised as one of the sweet carriers carrying sweets to the temple, hiding his son in one of the baskets.

Shivaji declared himself the ruler of Marathas on June 6, 1674 in a coronation ceremony held at Raigarh. He assumed the title ‘Chhatrapati’, meaning ‘paramount sovereign’. He established the first Hindu Sovereignty in South India which was hitherto dominated by Muslims. After the coronation Shivaji aimed to consolidate most of the Deccan states under Hindu Sovereignty.