All about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj : In Pics

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Bhosale

1st Sovereign (Chhatrapati) of the Maratha Realm

Shivaji's birthplace on Shivneri Fort.

Shivaji was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in Pune district on 6 April 1627 or 19 Feb. 1630.

A Statue of Young Shivaji with Jijabai installed at the fort of Shivneri in 1960s.

Shivaji was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. This religious environment had a great impact on Shivaji, and he carefully studied the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata; these were to influence his lifelong defence of Hindu values.

Shivaji meets his guru Samarth Ramadas

Shivaji Maharaj bowed down to Samarth Ramdas Swami and paid obeisance to Him. Ramdas Swami placed His hand on Maharaj’s head and blessed him.

Death of Afzal Khan

The two met in a hut at the foothills of Pratapgad fort on 10 November 1659. In the fight, Afzal Khan's dagger was stopped by Shivaji's armour, and Shivaji's weapons inflicted mortal wounds on the general; Shivaji then signalled his hidden troops to launch the assault on the Bijapuris.

Pratapgad Fort

In the ensuing Battle of Pratapgarh fought on 10 November 1659, The large quantities of captured weapons, horses, armour and other materials helped to strengthen the nascent and emerging Maratha army.

Plaque to commemorate the entrance to Paavankhind

In the ensuing Battle of Pavan Khind, the smaller Maratha force held back the larger enemy to buy time for Shivaji to escape. Baji Prabhu Deshpande was wounded but continued to fight until he heard the sound of cannon fire from Vishalgad, signalling Shivaji had safely reached the fort, on the evening of 13 July 1660.

Raja Jai Singh of Amber receiving Shivaji a day before concluding the Treaty of Purandar.

In the Treaty of Purandar, signed between Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 June 1665, Shivaji agreed to give up 23 of his forts and pay compensation of 400,000 rupees to the Mughals. He also agreed to let his son Sambhaji become a Mughal sardar, serve the Mughal court of Aurangzeb and fight alongside the Mughals against Bijapur.

A depiction of Shivaji in Aurangzeb's court in Agra in 1666.

Shivaji feigned severe illness and requested to send most of his contingent back to the Deccan. Thereafter, on his request, he was allowed to send daily shipments of sweets and gifts to saints, fakirs, and temples in Agra as offerings for his health. Shivaji and his son fled to the Deccan disguised as sadhus (holy men).

Statue of Shivaji The Great opposite Gateway of India in South Mumbai

Raigad Fort

Raigad is a hill fort situated in the Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built this fort and made his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering much of western and central India.

The coronation of Shivaji

Shivaji was crowned king of the Marathas in a lavish ceremony at Raigad on 6 June 1674. In the Hindu calendar it was on the 13th day (trayodashi) of the first fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha in the year 1596.

Sambhaji, Shivaji's elder son who succeeded him.

After Shivaji's death, the widowed Soyarabai made plans with various ministers of the administration to crown her son Rajaram rather than her prodigal stepson Sambhaji. However, Sambhaji took possession of the Raigad Fort after killing the commander, and on 18 June acquired control of Raigad, and formally ascended the throne on 20 July.

Sajjangad, where Samarth Ramdas was invited by Shivaji to reside, now a place of pilgrimage

Suvela Machi, view of southern sub-plateaux, as seen from Ballekilla, Rajgad.

Sindhudurg Fort provided anchorages for Shivaji's Navy.

This fort was constructed by Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. The main object was to counter rising influence of foreign colonizers (The English, Dutch, French and Portuguese merchants) and to curb the rise of Siddis of Janjira. The construction was done under the supervision of Hiroji Indulkar, in the year 1656.

Statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad Fort.

List of Shivaji Maharaj Forts

Raigad Fort Pratapgad Fort Sindhudurg Fort Shivneri Fort Sinhgad Fort Vijaydurg Fort Purandar Fort Lohgad Fort Panhala Fort Arnala Fort Ghodbandar Fort Vasai Fort Narnala (melghat) Fort Sajjangad Fort Harney Fort Murud Fort Janjira Fort Naldurg Fort Bhuikot Fort Devgiri Fort Torana Fort

Shiv Smarak (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial, Mumbai)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be laying foundation stone for the proposed Rs 3,600-crore Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial project in Arabian Sea on December 24. The main feature of the Shivaji memorial, slated to cost Rs 3,600 crore, will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the iconic Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop, roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore.