19 February-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

Never bend your head always hold it high…Chhatrapati Shivaji

Though there are dispute on the birth day of Shivaji but the Government of Maharashtra celebrates 19 February as a holiday commemorating Shivaji’s birth. Therefore, 19 February every year is celebrated as Shivaji Jayanti.

Who was Shivaji?

Shivaji was born to Shahaji Bhonsle and Jijabai. His father served serving the Deccan Sultanetes as a Maratha General. Shivaji got his name after a local deity, the goddess Shivai. His maternal grand father was Lakuji Jadhavrao of Sindhkhed who was a Mughal aligned sardar.

It is said that the mother Jijabai had a great influence on Shivaji. He was a great believer of Ramayana and the Mahabharata. His father had one more wife ‘Tuka Bai’ from the Mohite family. His father left Shivaji and his mother Jijabai from Shivneri to Pune in the care of his jagir administrator ‘Dadoji Konddeo’.

Shivaji Contribution towards Marathi and Sanskrit

Shivaji had got education in Sanskriti and learnt many books. His father also supported sanskrit scholars like Jayram Pindye. He had a great love for the language, so later he promoted the language in his court. He followed Marathi and Hindu traditions in his court. Until than Persian was the language that was followed in the court by other rulers.

His contribution and love towards the sanskrit language could be understood from the fact that he even named Ashta Pradhan council of ministers as “Nyaayaadheesha” and “Senaapati” which are Sanskrit language. He even appointed a Sanskri scholar “Keshav Pandi” as the Rajpurohit in his court.

Death and Succession

The eldest son of Shivaji was Sambhaji who was irresponsible and incapable prince. Shivaji infact confined his son to Panhala in 1678 so that he could run away with his wife but he again returned home unrepentant. He was again confined to Panhala.

Shivaji health deteriorated due to fever and dysentery in late March 1680. He died at the age of 52 due to this and the approx date of his death was between 3-5 April 1680.

It is sure that he when he died it was Hanuman Jayanti which is one of the famous festival of Hindus. His eldest wife, Putalabai who did not have any child committed sati and burned herself into his funeral pyre.

His one more wife was Sakwarbai who had a little young daughter so she was not allowed to get sati with his funeral pyre.

He had one more wife whose name was Soyarabai who had a 10-year-old son Rajaram with him that time. It is also said that she had given Shivaji poison and was behind his death so that she could see his son on the throne.

Soyarabai made plans and tried hard to sit his son on the throne. He was crowned on 21 April 1680 instead of her stepson Sambhaji. But Sambhaji killed the commander and took the possession of Raigad fort on 18 June. He took the full control of Raigad, and became the Kind on 20 July. He also imprisoned Rajaram, his wife and the step mother Soyrabai.

Shivaji had laid a strong foundation during his lifetime. But after his death no one could be of that strong from Maratha. Soon after his death in 1981 Aurangzeb tried to capture the territories held under Marathas and was quite successful in doing so. Lot of things happened, Sambhaji was captured, imprisoned and finally executed in the year 1689.

After his death, Rajaram became the ruled and then Rajaram’s widow Tarabai. But nothing could be ever same as was in Shivaji time. Mughal and Marathas conflict got deeper and deeper.

Great Legacy of Shivaji

Chhatrapati Shivaji was well known for his ethical values and his beliefs. He strongly believed in Hindi culture and the moral values.

He was also emerged as the great emotional hero during the Indian Independent Movement for freedom.