kaas pathar

Kaas plateau of flowers

Located 26 km away from Satara

It is an plateau with amazing variety of flowers and wildlife.

Please if you are visiting this place dont stamp on the flowers a lot of tourist are doing so and destroying the natural wonder.

Local Goverment is planning an hillstation i advise them to do something better live it alone control the number of visitors per day. Some Policing is required tourist pluck flower, litter after picnic they need to be fined and educated.

This place is best for photographers though sunlight can be an issue best time to visit is September to October. You can visit from Mahableshwar or Tapola or Satara.

It has an small lake nearby, as you are driving down the curves climbing down from Kaas Plateau you see a sign on left saying - Kas Talav. It is a natural tranquil Kaas lake surrounded by dense forests. To the left of the lake lies Sajjangad fort and Kanher Dam is to the right. It an famous picnic spot with the locals.

Bamnoli Village:
15-20 kms further Kaas lake, on thes bank of shivsagar lake formed by Koyna dam lies the sleepy village of Bamnoli. The dense forest and the smartly shining roads washed under showers of rain make the drive enchanting. Throughout the ghat you get to see amazing view of backwaters below.

Once you reach the village the breathtaking view of expanse of the lake that spreads for hundreds of square kilometers amazes you. Except of noise of hundreds of bats swinging on the high Nilgiri trees all you can hear is the few silent waves slapping on the shores.



पाऊस आलाय….भिजून घ्या

पाऊस आलाय….भिजून घ्या

थोडा मातीचा गंध घ्या
थोडा मोराचा छंद घ्या
उरात भरून आनंद घ्या..
आलाय पाऊस…..भिजून घ्या

बघा समुद्र उसळतोय
वारा ढगांना घुसळतोय
तुम्हीही त्यांच्यात मिसळून घ्या..
आलाय पाऊस…..भिजून घ्या

ऑफ़ीस रोजच गाठत असतं
काम नेहमीच साठत असतं
मनातून भिजावंसं वाटत असतं
मनाची हौस पुरवून घ्या..
आलाय पाऊस…..भिजून घ्या

सर्दी पडसे रोजचेच..
त्याला औषध तेच तेच..
प्यायचेच आहेत नंतर काढे ,
आधी अमृत पिऊन घ्या..
आलाय पाऊस…..भिजून घ्या

बघा निसर्ग बहरलाय
गारव्याने देहही शहारलाय
मनही थोडं मोहरून घ्या..
आलाय पाऊस…..भिजून घ्या

मराठी उखाणे भाग ४

हंड्यावर हंडे सात त्यावर ठेवली परात
---- बसले दारात मी जाऊ कशी घरात

हंड्यावर हंडे सात त्यावर ठेवली परात परातीवर ठेवला भात,
भातावर वाढले तुप ते झाले खुप, म्हणून नेले पंढरीला, पंडुरंगाच्या दर्शनाला,
येताना आणले खण ३, आई म्हणे मला, नणंद म्हणे मला ---- म्हणे मी तुझ्यासाठी आणुन केला गुन्हा

रातराणीच्या सुगंधाने नीशिगंध झाला मोहित
मागते आयु्ष्य ----- च्या सहीत

संथ संथ वाहे वारा मंद मंद चाले गती
देवा सुखी ठेव ------- ची जोडी

साठ्यानंची बीस्कीटे, बेडेकरंचा मसाला
--- नाव घ्यायला आग्रह कशाला

कुंकु लावत ठसठशीत, ह्ळ्द लावते किंचित,
..... आहेत माझे पूर्व संचित

वड्यात वडा बटाटावडा,
... मारला खडा
म्हणून जमला आमचा जोडा.

लागलाय श्रावण कर्ते मी महादेवाची महोभावे पुजा,
.... च्या जीवावर कर्ते मी मजा.

सौभाग्यकांक्षिणी करतात गौरईची पुजा,
..... चे नाव घेऊन घेते मी रजा.

नागपंचमीला घरोघरी होते पुरणपोऴी,
.....नी आणली माझ्याकरिता कटकीची चोऴी

श्रावण जलधारांनी शांत होते धरती,
..... च्या पुढे कर माझ्हे जुऴती

वारुळाला जाऊन मी नागाची पुजा करते,
..... चे नाव घेऊन सौभाग्याचे आशिर्वाद मागते

भाजीत भाजी मेथीची,

......माझ्या प्रितीची.

नाव घ्या नाव घ्या नावाची काय बिशाद
.........तर आहेत माझ्या डाव्या खिशात

रिमझिम जलधारा बरसतात धरतीच्या कलशात,
..... चे नाव घेते असु द्या लक्षात.

श्रावणात बरसतात धुंद जलधारा,
.....च्या नावात फुलावा माझा सौभाग्याचा फुलोरा.

हिरवा श्रावण बहरलाय दरवळली माती,
..... च्या जीवनात सदैव मिळो शांती.

अर्धनारी नटेश्वराच्या मुर्तीप्रमाणे पति पत्नीच्या
एकरुपतेने बनत असतो संसार,
..... चे नाव घेते आज आहे श्रावणी सोमवार.

धरतीताईने आकाशाला राखी बांधुनी जोडीले बंधुत्वाचे नाते,
..... च्या सोबत मी अमरप्रेमगीत गाते

भाद्रपद महिन्यात गोकुळ अष्टमीला पाळणा हलला श्रीकृष्णाचा,
..... चे नाव घेऊन निरोप घेते माहेरचा.

आज आहे श्रावणी पोळा,
..... च्या जीवावर शृंगार केले सोळा.

हरतालिकेनंतर येते गणेशचतुर्थी,
..... आहेत फार निस्वार्थी

हरतालिकेला सुहासिनी करतात महादेवाची पुजा,
..... च्या सहवासात खरी माझी मजा

हुमायुनला राखी देउन कर्मावतीची भारतीय इतिहासात अमर झाली बंधुप्रिती,
हैदरभाईंना राखी बांधुनी ..... ची व माझी सफल झाली जीवन ज्योती.

अश्वीन प्रतिपदेला देवीचे बसता घट,
..... नी आमलाय माझ्याकरिता सोंगतट्यांचा पट.

नवरातत्रीनंतर येतोय दसरा,
.....चा चेहरा नेहमी असतो हसरा.

धनत्रयोदशीला करतात धनाची पुजा,
..... च्या जीवावर करते मी मजा.

सिद्धिविनायकाच्या देवळाला सोन्याचा कळस
.....याच नाव घ्यायला मला नाही आळस

भाऊबहिणीच्या प्रेमाचे प्रतिक आहे रक्षाबंधन,
....ना करीते मी रोजच वंदन.

श्रावण महिन्यात वाजतगाजत येतात गौरी गणपती,
....चे नाव घेते ते आहेत माझे प्रेमऴपती.

तडजोड हा मंत्र आहे दोन पिढ्यांना जोडणारा पूल
...ना आवडते गावठी गुलाबाचे फुल 



अमुआ कि दालि पर बोले कोयलिआ
......के सन्ग बिते सारि उमरिया

भाग्याचे कुन्कु प्रेमाचा आहेर
रावांच्या मिठित विसरते मी माहेर

श्रावणात पडतात सरीवर सरी
-----रावा्ंचे नाव घेते ---- हि बावरी

झेन्डुचे फुल हल्ते डुलु डुलु,
आमचे हे दिसतात जसे डुकराचे पिलु

सुंदर सुंदर हरीणाचे ईवले ईवले पाय,
आमचे हे अजुन कसे नाही आले ,
गटारात पडले की काय ?

चान्दिच्या ताटात गाजराचा हलवा ,
--- रावांच नाव घेते सासुबाईना बोलवा.

गुलाबाच्या झाडाला कळ्या येतात दाट
----- नाव घेते सोडा माझी वाट

हिमालय पर्वतावर बर्फाचे खडे
....... चे नाव घेते सत्यनारायणापुढे 


फुलले गुलाब गाली, स्पर्शात (डोळ्यात) धुंद झाली प्रीती,
....ची झाले मी जन्मोजन्मीची सौभाग्यवती

दोन जीवांचे मीलन जणु शतजन्माच्या गाठी,
.....चे नाव घेते / घेतो तुमच्या आग्रहासाठी

देवब्राम्हण अग्नीसाक्षीने घेतले मी सात फेरे,
.... चे व माझे जुळले जन्मोजन्मीचे फेरे

अंगावरच्या शेलारीला बांधुनी त्यांचा शेला,
....चे नाव घेण्यास आज शुभारंभ केला

संकेताच्या मीलनाकरीता नयन माझे आतुरले,
....ची मी आज सौभाग्यवती झाले

संसाराचे गोड स्वप्न आजवर मी पाहिले,
प्रत्यक्षात ...... चे आज मी जीवनसाथी झाले.

मात्यापित्यांच्या छायेत फुलासारखी वाढले,
आजच्या दिनी ..... च्या चरणावर जीवनपुष्प वाहिले.

संतांच्या वाणीत आहे 'सोनियांच्या (ज्ञानाच्या) खाणी',
.... आहेत माझे कुंकूवाचे धनी


चान्दिच्या ताटात गाजराचा हलवा ,
--- रावांच नाव घेते सासुबाईना बोलवा.

गुलाबाच्या झाडाला कळ्या येतात दाट
----- नाव घेते सोडा माझी वाट

हिमालय पर्वतावर बर्फाचे खडे
....... चे नाव घेते सत्यनारायणापुढे

आई बापाने वाढवले मैत्रिणीने घडवले
--- चं नाव घ्यायला --- अडवले

हंड्यावर हंडे सात त्यावर ठेवली परात
---- बसले दारात मी जाऊ कशी घरात

हंड्यावर हंडे सात त्यावर ठेवली परात परातीवर ठेवला भात,
भातावर वाढले तुप ते झाले खुप, म्हणून नेले पंढरीला, पंडुरंगाच्या दर्शनाला,
येताना आणले खण ३, आई म्हणे मला, नणंद म्हणे मला ---- म्हणे मी तुझ्यासाठी आणुन केला गुन्हा

रातराणीच्या सुगंधाने नीशिगंध झाला मोहित
मागते आयु्ष्य ----- च्या सहीत

संथ संथ वाहे वारा मंद मंद चाले गती
देवा सुखी ठेव ------- ची जोडी

साठ्यानंची बीस्कीटे, बेडेकरंचा मसाला
--- नाव घ्यायला आग्रह कशाला

कुंकु लावत ठसठशीत, ह्ळ्द लावते किंचित,
..... आहेत माझे पूर्व संचित

वड्यात वडा बटाटावडा,
... मारला खडा
म्हणून जमला आमचा जोडा.

लागलाय श्रावण कर्ते मी महादेवाची महोभावे पुजा,
.... च्या जीवावर कर्ते मी मजा.

सौभाग्यकांक्षिणी करतात गौरईची पुजा,
..... चे नाव घेऊन घेते मी रजा.

नागपंचमीला घरोघरी होते पुरणपोऴी,
.....नी आणली माझ्याकरिता कटकीची चोऴी

श्रावण जलधारांनी शांत होते धरती,
..... च्या पुढे कर माझ्हे जुऴती

वारुळाला जाऊन मी नागाची पुजा करते,
..... चे नाव घेऊन सौभाग्याचे आशिर्वाद मागते

भाजीत भाजी मेथीची,

......माझ्या प्रितीची.

नाव घ्या नाव घ्या नावाची काय बिशाद
.........तर आहेत माझ्या डाव्या खिशात

5 + 4 इज इक्वल टु नाइन
..... इज माइन

गोव्याहून आणले काजू
गनपतरावान्च्या थोबाडित द्यायला मी कशाला लाजु

चांदीच्या ताटात मुठभर गहू
लग्नच नाही झाल तर नाव कस घेऊ

रिमझिम जलधारा बरसतात धरतीच्या कलशात,
..... चे नाव घेते असु द्या लक्षात.

श्रावणात बरसतात धुंद जलधारा,
.....च्या नावात फुलावा माझा सौभाग्याचा फुलोरा.

हिरवा श्रावण बहरलाय दरवळली माती,
..... च्या जीवनात सदैव मिळो शांती.

श्रावणात पडतोय रोज पारिजातकांचा सडा,
.... ना आवडतो गरम गरम बटाटेवडा.

अर्धनारी नटेश्वराच्या मुर्तीप्रमाणे पति पत्नीच्या
एकरुपतेने बनत असतो संसार,
..... चे नाव घेते आज आहे श्रावणी सोमवार.

धरतीताईने आकाशाला राखी बांधुनी जोडीले बंधुत्वाचे नाते,
..... च्या सोबत मी अमरप्रेमगीत गाते

भाद्रपद महिन्यात गोकुळ अष्टमीला पाळणा हलला श्रीकृष्णाचा,
..... चे नाव घेऊन निरोप घेते माहेरचा.

आज आहे श्रावणी पोळा,
..... च्या जीवावर शृंगार केले सोळा.

हरतालिकेनंतर येते गणेशचतुर्थी,
..... आहेत फार निस्वार्थी

हरतालिकेला सुहासिनी करतात महादेवाची पुजा,
..... च्या सहवासात खरी माझी मजा

माहेश्वरी समाजात ऋषिपंचमीला बहिण भावाला राखी बांधुन करते भावाची आरती,
..... ची आहे माझ्यावर खरीखुरी प्रिती.
 

मराठी उखाणे भाग ३

नमस्कार करता येतो मला, छान वाकून
...चं नाव घेते तुमचा मान राखून

शंकराला वाहिलं बेलाचं पान
...चं नाव घेते हं, ऐका देऊन कान

गुलाबाच्या फुलांचा येतो मंद सुगंध
...बरोबर राहताना मला होईल आनंद

गोकुळातील मेळाव्यात श्रीकृष्ण वाजवतो पावा
...सारखा जोडीदार मला जन्मोजन्मी हवा

आहे चैत्र-वैशाख महिना, सुरात कोकिळा गाते
...चं नाव ... घेते

रामाची सीतामाई झाली होती लुप्त
... अन्‌ मी राहू नेहमी तृप्त

रजिस्टर केलं लग्न, नाही चौघडा-सनई
... आता खाऊ या, मस्त मेवा मिठाई

पोळी-भाजी नको, नको वरण-भात
..., पाव-भाजी खात, करू या छान बात

नवरोजी म्हणतात -

...भोवती आहे सतत मैत्रिणींचा घोळका
पैठणी का शालू दिलाय ते सर्वांनी ओळखा

नका करू आरडाओरड तुम्ही सर्व जणी
... आहे माझी खरंच पट्टराणी

मोठ्यांसमोर सर्वच गोष्टींत मी झालो पास
....ला देतो गुलाबजामचा घास

कॉम्प्युटर-मोबाईलचा उपयोग झाला छान
... आता प्रत्यक्ष गप्पा मार, ऐकते देऊन कान

श्रावणात पडतात सरीवर सरी
-----रावा्ंचे नाव घेते ---- हि बावरी

श्रावण जलधारांनी शांत होते धरती,
..... च्या पुढे कर माझ्हे जुऴती

सौभाग्यकांक्षिणी करतात गौरईची पुजा,
..... चे नाव घेऊन घेते मी रजा.


लागलाय श्रावण कर्ते मी महादेवाची महोभावे पुजा,
.... च्या जीवावर कर्ते मी मजा.

रिमझिम जलधारा बरसतात धरतीच्या कलशात,
..... चे नाव घेते असु द्या लक्षात.


हिरवा श्रावण बहरलाय दरवळली माती,
..... च्या जीवनात सदैव मिळो शांती.


श्रावणात बरसतात धुंद जलधारा,
.....च्या नावात फुलावा माझा सौभाग्याचा फुलोरा.

श्रावणात पडतोय रोज पारिजातकांचा सडा,
.... ना आवडतो गरम गरम बटाटेवडा.

अर्धनारी नटेश्वराच्या मुर्तीप्रमाणे पति पत्नीच्या
एकरुपतेने बनत असतो संसार,
..... चे नाव घेते आज आहे श्रावणी सोमवार.

भाद्रपद महिन्यात गोकुळ अष्टमीला पाळणा हलला श्रीकृष्णाचा,
..... चे नाव घेऊन निरोप घेते माहेरचा.

श्रावण महिन्यात सर्वजण करतात श्रवणी सोमवार,
.... सह केले मी हरिद्वार किंवा आहेत दिलदार.

वसंत ऋतुत कोकीळा गाती गोड,
.....गेले गावाला तर त्यांच्या येण्याची लागते ओढ.





  गुलाबाच्या झाडाला कळ्या येतात दाट
----- नाव घेते सोडा माझी वाट


आई बापाने वाढवले मैत्रिणीने घडवले
--- चं नाव घ्यायला --- अडवले


हंड्यावर हंडे सात त्यावर ठेवली परात
---- बसले दारात मी जाऊ कशी घरात


घराच्या पुढे अंगण अंगणात सजलाय बोगनवेल ,
प्रवेश करते गृहलक्ष्मी , वाजवून ...च्या घराची बेल


गीत गोविंदात श्रीकृष्णाने खेळीला राधेशी रास,
.... चे नाव घेते सुनमुख प्रसंगी सासुबाई पुढे घातली धान्याची रास


माझ्या धान्याचे माप आज शिगोशीग भरले,
म्हणून ........ रावांची मी सॉभाग्यवती झाले


गृहप्रवेश करतांना साठविले मायेचे मोती भरभर,
..... च्या हातात हात देउन झाले मी निर्भर


माझ्या जीवनरुपी अंगणात काढीन रांगोळीच्या सुबक रेषा.
... नी त्यात विविध रंग भरावे हीच माझी मनिषा.


रुसलेल्या ज्योतीला पवन म्हणतो हास,
------ ना भरवते मी श्रीखण्ड-पुरीचा घास


अत्रावळ पत्रावळ , पत्रावळीवर होती वान्ग्याची फोड
***** हसतात गोड, पण डोळे वटारायची भारीच खोड्


मुंबई ते पुणे १५०कि.मी. आहे अंतर,
-- हयांचं नाव घेते, घास भरवते नंतर

गावठी गुलाबाला सुगंधी सुवास,
.....ना भरवते मी श्रिखंड-पुरीचा घास

सांगीतलेल्या कामात मी सदैव राहीन दक्ष,
....ना भरवीते गोड घास,तुम्ही भरा साक्ष

आदर्श पती-पत्नी म्हनुन सांगतात नल दमयंती,
....नी घास घ्यावा ही माझी पहिलीच विनंती


प्रत्येक क्षण येतो अनुभव घेऊन आगळा,
....नी लाडु खावा एक सोबत सगळा

आता घास घेतला त्याला वेगळीच होती गोडी,
....ना घास भरवतो त्यातलीच चव थोडी

मोह नसावा पैशाचा,गर्व नसावा रुपाचा
...ना घास घालते श्रीखंडपुरीचा

शेतात नांगरता नांगरता सापडली कवडी ||
.....................माझ्या गुडघ्या एवढी ||

मराठी उखाणे भाग २

झेन्डुचे फुल हल्ते डुलु डुलु,
आमचे हे दिसतात जसे डुकराचे पिलु

साठ्यानंची बीस्कीटे, बेडेकरंचा मसाला
--- नाव घ्यायला आग्रह कशाला

सुंदर सुंदर हरीणाचे ईवले ईवले पाय,
आमचे हे अजुन कसे नाही आले ,
गटारात पडले की काय ?

डाळित डाळ तुरिचि डाळ
हिच्या मांडिवर खेळविन एका वरशात बाळ

वड्यात वडा बटाटावडा,
... मारला खडा
म्हणून जमला आमचा जोडा.

नाव घ्या नाव घ्या नावाची काय बिशाद
.........तर आहेत माझ्या डाव्या खिशात

5 + 4 इज इक्वल टु नाइन
..... इज माइन

गोव्याहून आणले काजू
गनपतरावान्च्या थोबाडित द्यायला मी कशाला लाजु

चांदीच्या ताटात मुठभर गहू
लग्नच नाही झाल तर नाव कस घेऊ

श्रावणात पडतोय रोज पारिजातकांचा सडा,
.... ना आवडतो गरम गरम बटाटेवडा.


धनत्रयोदशीला करतात धनाची पुजा,
..... च्या जीवावर करते मी मजा.


मोठा मुलगा श्मभु
******रावान्च्या नाकावर एवढा मोठा टेम्बु

सासर्याच्या मांडवात पंचपक्वांनाच्या राशी,
पोट्टे पाट्टे जेवुन गेले, जावई राहीला उपाशी.

दुधाचे केले दहि, दह्याचे केले ताक,
ताकाचा केला मठ्ठा, ...... चे नाव घेतो ..... रावान् चा पठ्ठा

अत्रावळ पत्रावळ , पत्रावळीवर होती वान्ग्याची फोड
***** हसतात गोड, पण डोळे वटारायची भारीच खोड्

पुरणपोळीत तुप असावे ताजे अन् साजुक,
.... आहेत आमचे फार नाजुक.

पुण्यात बालगंधर्वला नाटक लागलय ' मोरुची मावशी ' ,
........ चे नाव घेते सत्यनारायणाच्या दिवशी.

जीवन आहे एक अनमोल ठेवा,
...... आणतात नेहमी सुकामेवा.

सावित्रीबाई फुलेंनी दिले स्त्री शिक्षणाचे धडे,
..... ना आवडतात गरम गरम साबुदाणे वडे.


मुंबई ते पुणे १५०कि.मी. आहे अंतर,
-- हयांचं नाव घेते, घास भरवते नंतर


कॉरव-पांडव युध्दात अर्जुनाच्या रथाचे श्रीकृष्ण झाले सारथी,
...... आहेत फार निस्वार्थी


सन्डासाच्या पायारीवर टमरेल ठेवते वाकून,
.....रावाना आली जोरदार म्हणून मी ठेवते दाबून्

चान्दिच्या ताटाला चन्दनाचा वेढा,
मी आहे म्हैस तर तो आहे रेडा


मितालि बिल्डींग, तिसरा मजला, घर न - ११, घराला लावलि घंटी,
वर्षा माझी बबली आणि मी तिचा बंटी


गच्चीवर गच्ची सिमेंटची गच्ची,
... माझी बायको आहे मोठी लुच्ची


इवल्या इवल्या हरणाचे इवले इवले पाय,
... घरी परतले नाहीत अजुन, कुठे पिऊन पडलेत की काय!!!


ऍश्वर्या-अभिषेक यांची छान जमली जोडी,ईशा देओलने मारली यांच्याही पुढे उडी,
ईशा देओल उडी मारत पडल खड़्यात,ऍश-अभी अडकले नवरा-बायकोच्या नात्यात,


भल्या पहाटे करावी देवाची पुजा ,
...च्या जीवावर करते मी मजा

कोकिळेच्या कुजनात वसंत ऋतू गेला झटकन
...चे नाव पाहा घेतले, की नाही पटकन

आकाशाच्या निलिम्यावर इंद्रधनुष्याचा पट्टा
...चे नाव घेते पुरे करा बाई थट्टा

वर्षा ऋतूत आकाशात लकाकतात विजा
...च्यासह केली श्री सत्यनारायणाची पूजा

पृथ्वीवर पसरते, कधी पूनव कधी आवस
...चे नाव घेते हळदीकुंकवाचा (डोहाळजेवणाचा, पूजेचा, कशाचाही) आहे दिवस

लतिकांनी भरले हिरव्या पानांचे चुडे
...चे नाव घेते मंगळागौरीपुढे

फुलांची भरली वाडी, सजवला मला साज
...चे नाव घेते डोहाळजेवण (किंवा काहीही) आहे आज

चंदेरी चांदण्यात पडली वसुंधरेला भूल
...सह मला लागली भावी बाळाची चाहूल

सायंकाळी तुळशीपाशी, मंद ज्योत तेवते
बारशाचा दिवस म्हणून ...चे नाव घेते

आशीवार्दाची फुले वेचते वाकून
...चे नाव घेते तुमचा मान राखून

चंदनाच्या झाडाला सुवासाचा वेढा
... आणि मी दोघांचा भाग्यशाली जोडा

समुद्राला आली भरती, नदीला आला पूर
...करता माहेर केले मी दूर

अरबी समुद्रात उसळल्या लाटा
...च्या सुख-दुःखात माझाही वाटा

अशोकवनात कोकिळा गाते
...चे नाव ... घेते

द्राक्षाच्या वेलीला त्रिकोणी पान
...चे नाव घेते ऐका देऊन कान
वृक्षाच्या छायेत, वनदेवी घेते विसावा
...चे नाव घेते सर्वांचा आशीर्वाद असावा

गीतात जसा भाव, फुलांत जसा सुगंध
...च्या जीवनात मला भरभरून आनंद

साधी राहणी, उच्च विचारसरणी
याच तत्त्वाने वागेल ...ची गृहिणी

भरल्या पंगतीत रांगोळी काढली चित्रांची
पंगत बसली ...रावांच्या मित्रांची

चांदीच्या करंड्याला नक्षीदार झाकण
...रावांचं नाव घेऊन सोडते कंकण

शुभ काळी शुभ वेळी आली आमची वरात
...रावांचे नाव घेते सासरच्या घरात

पानापानावर पसरले कोवळे कोवळे ऊन
...रावांचं नाव घेते ...ची सून

वर्तन असावे नम्र, शब्द असावा गोड
...रावांच्या संसाराला माझी आनंदी जोड

राजहंस पक्षी मोतीचारा भक्षी
...रावांचं नाव घेते तुम्ही सर्व साक्षी

मंगल झाली प्रभात, विहंग उडाले गात
...रावांच्या हाती दिला हात
करायला जन्मोजन्मीची साथ

नमस्कार फुकाचा, आशीर्वाद लाखाचा
...रावांसह संसार करेन तुमच्या आशीर्वादाने सुखाचा

वृंदावनात घुमला, श्रीकृष्णाचा पावा
साऱ्या हौशी पुरवायला ...सारखा पती हवा

चंद्राचं प्रतिबिंब, पडलं तळ्यात
...रावांचं नाव घेते मैत्रिणींच्या मेळ्यात

परस्परांचे झालो सोबती, सुख-दुःखाचे भागीदार
.... झालो जन्मोजन्मीचे जोडीदार

हिरकणी बुरूज अमर झाला मातेच्या प्रेमाने
...रावांचे नाव घेते प्रेमाने अन्‌ आदराने

श्रीकृष्ण अन्‌ रामाच्या सर्वत्र आहेत मूर्ती
...रावांची पसरो जगभर कीर्ती

अशोकवनात कोकिळा गाते
...रावांचे नाव ...घेते
 

मराठी उखाणे भाग १

देवयानी :
कधी सरळ चाले कधी उलटा वळॆ एकदम
काय म्हणू सांगा याला विक्रम की चक्रम

प्रिय दर्शिनी :
स्वतःला म्हणवून राजे, चालतात उंटासारखे तिरके
फ़ुटक्या माझ्या नशिबी आले रणवीर राजेशिर्के 

रागिणी :
तळ्यामधल्या चिखलात जणू उगवलय कमळ
राजेशिर्के असून देखील नील माझा निर्मळ

साक्षी :
काय सांगू तळोबा वाटे मला लाज
असा कसा अतिरेकी झाला माझा राज


chandichya tatat jilebiche tukade
ghas bharavate melya thobad kar ikade

anyways bakichehi chan aahet

आजकाल च्या लग्न ठरलेल्या मुलीसाठी..

मोबाईल वर एफ़ एम् एकते कानात हेडफोन टाकुन ......
मोबाईल वर एफ़ एम् एकते कानात हेडफोन टाकुन ......

आणि ....... रावना मिस कॉल देते एक रूपया बैलेंस राखून..



आजघर माजघर माजघराला नाही दार
गणपतरावांच्या घरात मात्र विंडोज दोन हजार


सचीनच्या बॅट ला करते नमस्कार वाकून
***** रावांचे नाव घेते पाच गडी राखून

इराण्याच्या चहा बरोबर मिळतो मस्का पाव
**** रावांची बाहेर किती लफडी ते विचारू नका राव !!


bashit bashi kachechi bashi...............
bashit bashi kachechi bashi...
Mazi bayko sodun sarv Mhashi..................






एखादी तरी सर...


दूर निघून जाण्यापूर्वी
एवढं तरी कर
अंगणात माझ्या घेऊन ये
एखादी तरी सर...

तुझ्या सरीनं पुन्हा एकदा
भरून जाऊदे अंगण
तुझ्या पुरानं पुन्हा एकदा
वाहुन जाऊदे कुंपण

पसरून माझे हात पुन्हा
झेलीन तुझ्या गारा
श्वासामध्ये भरून घेईन
सळाळणारा वारा

ओसरून जाता सर तुझी
दूर निघून जाशील
ओल्याचिंब तुझ्या आठवणी
मागे ठेऊन जाशील

जेंव्हा जेंव्हा आठवेल तुझी
दुरावलेली सर
आठवणींचा पाऊस येईल
भिजवून जाईल घर....

वाटतं कधी-कधी आपलही कुणी असावं…

वाटतं कधी-कधी आपलही कुणी असावं…..!!!!
ह्दयात कुणाच्यातरी नेहमीसाठी बसावं….,
बसून ह्दयात मग शांतपणे निजावं….!
हक्काने कुणावरतरी कधीतरी रुसावं…..,
मग त्याच्याच समजूतीने क्शणभर विसावं….!
वाटतं कधी-कधी आपलही कुणी असावं…..!!
वाटत कधी-कधी खूप मूसमूसुन रडावं……,
ह्ळूच येवून त्याने मग अश्रू अलगद पुसावं…..!
वाटत कधी-कधी कुणाचतरी होउन पाहावं…..,
कुणाच्यातरी प्रेमात आपणही न्हाउन निघावं….!.
वाटतं कधी-कधी आपलही कुणी असावं…..!!
वाटत कधी-कधी आपणही स्वप्न बघावं…..,
क्शणभर का होइना स्वतःला विसरुन बघावं……!
वाटत कधी-कधी आपणही लिहून बघावं…..,
लिहीता-लिहीता का होइना आपणही प्रेमात पडावं…..!!
वाटतं कधी-कधी आपलही कुणी असावं…..

किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा

किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
स्वप्नांचा आधार घेऊन हवेत भरारी मारण्याचा
किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
तू मजा आहे म्हणत स्वप्नात हरवण्याचा
किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
तुझ्या माझ्या अबोल प्रीतीचा
किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
मी करत आलेल्या एकतर्फी प्रेमाचा
किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
तू जवळ नसलास कि तुला अनुभवायचा
किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
सत्यात न उतरणाऱ्या स्वप्नाचा
किती छान असतो न हा खेळ मनाचा,
तू मजाच म्हणून मनाला समजावयाचा
खरच खूप छान असतो रे हा खेळ मनाचा,
सत्य माहित असूनही मनालाच फसवण्याचा.. मनालाच फसवण्याचा !!!!!!!

मराठा शेर

जिंदगी तो " शेर " जिया, करते है !
दिग्गजो को पछाड कर राज किया करते है !
अरे कोन रखता है किसके सर पे ताज !
" मराठा " अपना राजतिलक स्वयंम हि किया करते ||




गर्व नाही पण घराचे संस्कार आहेत
धमकी नाही पण धमक आहे
पैसा नाही पण मनाची श्रीमंती आहे
म्हणून तर गर्वाने म्हणतो मी मराठी आहे.

''वाघाला घाबरून सिंह चाल
बदलत नाही,
सिंहगर्जना ही धडकी बसविणारीच
असते, ओरडून
जञा गोळा करायची त्याला गरज
नसते, आम्ही मराठे आलो आहोत
हे पाहून जर घाम फुटत
असेल, तर पुढचं भविष्य
सांगायला ज्योतिषाची गरज
नसेल...''

मराठा" या शब्दातच "राठ" पणा आहे.
हा राठपणा म्हणजे रांगडेपणा मराठ्यांत भिनलाय. ते या मुळमुळीत लोकांना काय कळणार?
छक्केपंजे मराठ्याला जमत नाहीत.
मराठ्याला फक्त एकच समजतं "जो नडला त्याला पाडला".
समजलं काय...!!!

सुर्य कोणाला झाकत नाही ,
डोंगर कोणाला वाकवत नाही,
"मराठी" असल्याचा अभिमान बाळगा,
कारण "मराठी" कोणाच्या बापाला घाबरत
नाही. "जय भवानी ,जय शिवाजी"
नदी आहे,
नदीतून पाणीच वाहणार.....
ओरडून सांग उभ्या जगाला,
मी मराठा आहे मराठा,
शिवछत्रपतींची महतीच गाणार...!!

श्वासांत रोखूनी वादळ;
डोळ्यांत रोखली आग;
देव आमुचा छञपती;
एकटा मराठी वाघ;
हातात धरली तलवार;
छातीत भरले पोलाद;
धन्य-धन्य हा महाराष्टू;
धन्य जिजाऊंची औलाद...!!!
श्वासांत रोखूनी वादळ्, डोळ्यांत रोखली आग;
देव आमुचा छञपती, एकटा हिंदु वाघ;
हातात धरली तलवार, छातीत भरले पोलाद;
धन्य-धन्य हा महाराष्टू, धन्य हे आपले महाराज ||
आम्ही तलवारी सोडल्यापण हात तलवारी चालवायला विसरलो नाहीत ....,
आम्ही नांगर सोडलेपण जमीन फाडायला विसरलो नाहीत...,
तोच रक्तातला लाव्हा आजही उफाळत आहे...!
डोळ्यातला निखारा लालबुंद आहे....!
पोलादी मुठीत हत्तीचे बळ आहे...!
आडवे येऊ नका मनातला शिवाजी आजही जिवंत आहे

आभाळातून पडणारा पावसाचा प्रत्येक थेंब...

आभाळातून पडणारा पावसाचा प्रत्येक थेंब आपल् याला काही ना काही देऊन जातो, शिकवून जातो ...

जेंव्हा तो तहानलेल्या धरती वर पडतो... तेंव्हा तो मातीला एक वेगळाच गंध देऊन जातो... ओल्या मातीचा गंध...
'देण्यात' किती सामर्थ्य असतं हेच तो नकळत आपल्याला सांगून जातो...

जेंव्हा तो झाडांच्या पानांवर पडतो... जास्त वेळ थांबत नसेलही तो तिथे... पण तरीही तो त्या पानांना अगदी टवटवीत करून जातो...
'ओझरता स्पर्श'... ओझरत्या स्पर्शाची ताकद दाखवून जातो तो आपल्याला ...
कारण त्यात 'लालसा' नसते... त्यात असते एक अनामिक 'ओढ'... अन तीच आपल्याला टवटवीत ठेवते...

अन जेंव्हा तो तिच्या चेहऱ्यावर पडतो... तेंव्हा ....
तेंव्हा राहतंच काय हो ;)...

तिच्या गालावरून खाली येतांना तर तो खुद्द बेभान होऊन जातो...
बेधुंद 'जगणं' काय असतं हेच तो आपल्याला सांगून जातो...


मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत
मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

दिवस रात्र २४ तास फक्त तिलाच पुजयाच असत
तिच्याच आठवणीने स्वताला विसरायच असत
कॉलेज रूम रास्ता यात फक्त तिला शोधयाच असत
अन देवाकडे फक्त तिच्या दर्शानाच साकड़ घलायाच असत
हे नाही तर मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

जळी तळी आभाळी अन आरश्यात तिचे प्रतिबिम्ब बघायच असत
बघता बघता तिला आपण स्वताला हरवायच असत
कधी चुकून नजर भिडली तर नजरेला खाली झुकवायाच असत
अन चोरून फक्त तिला एकटक बघत बसयाच असत
हे नाही तर मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

ती रोज स्वप्नात येते म्हणुन रोज सजुन लवकर झोपायच असत
अन स्वप्नात सुद्धा तिला फक्त बघून दुरून हसयाच असत
रोज सकाळी हातांच्या ओंजाळीत तिला पहयाच असत
देवाच्या आधी चुकून तिचेच नाव वदयाच असत
हे नाही तर मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

ती समोर नसतांना तिच्यावर सिंहा सारख काव्य म्हणयाच असत
ती वर्गात येताच मग सश्या सारख बेंच खाली लापयाच असत
आपण स्वत मुद्दाम चुकून आपल्या चुकान्वर तिला हसवायाच असत
ती हसताना तिच्या हास्य मोतिंना हळूच हृदयावर झेलायाच असत
हे नाही तर मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

तिला सांगायला घाबरत असंलो तरी एकदा आवसान एकवटायच असत
भले ती स्वीकारो व ना स्वीकारो पाहिले प्रेम तिलाच अर्पायाच असत
हे नाही तर मला कुणी सांगेल का पाहिले प्रेम कस करायच असत

जेव्हा काही चुकत असेल...

जेव्हा काही चुकत असेल.....तेव्हा माझी आठवण कर......

तुला आठवेल बरोबर असलेल....

जेव्हा कधी संकटात असेल.........तेव्हा माझी आठवण कर........

तुझ्या मनात असेल तुला सावरायला.....

जेव्हा तुझ्या डोळ्यात अश्रू असेल.....तेव्हा माझी आठवण कर........

मी येईल वाऱ्‍याची झुळूक बनून तुझे अश्रू पुसायला........ ..

जेव्हा तू झोपला असेल.........तेव्हा माझीआठवण कर........

मी येईल जवळ तुझ्या तुला निजवायला....... ..

जेव्हा तू एकटा असशील तेव्हा माझी आठवण कर........

मी येईल तुझ्या एकांतात तुझ्याशी गप्पा मारायला........ .

जेव्हा तू मला आठवशील तेव्हा माझी आठवण कर.......

मी येईल एक आठवण बनून तुझ्या आठवणीत रमायला......

कारण प्रत्यक्षात तर मी येऊ शकत नाही.....

माझ तस अस्तिव हि नाही......

पण जेव्हाही तुला माझी गरज लागेल....

तेव्हा माझी आठवण कर........मी येईल....नक्की येईल....

तुझे अश्रू बनून......

तुझ्या वेदना घालवायला....... ♥♥♥

वाट....

कळत नाहीत वाटा,
तिकडे कशाला जायचं..?
आपले नव्हते जे,
त्यांना का आठवायचं..?

ज्यांना विश्वास कधी,
समजला नाही..
त्यांना का आपण,
खास काही सांगायचं..?

आहेत आपल्याकडे
शब्द मांडायला,
न ऐकनार्यांसाठी,
का ओरडायचं..?

भावना आहेत मनी,
त्यांना फक्त मांडायचं,
आपला काही चुकतं,
म्हणून गप्प का राहायचं..?

नाही सापडलं उत्तर,
तर प्रश्नांना नाही टाळायचं,
जगासमोर एक,
आपलं उदाहरण ठेवायचं..!!

ते दोघे मार्केट मध्ये गेले होते

ते दोघे मार्केट मध्ये गेले होते,
त्याच्या साठी शर्ट घ्यायचा होता.
ती त्याच्यासोबत होती. त्याने
तिचा हात पकडला होता. अचानक
तिचा हात निसटला...
... त्याच्या हातातून...
खूप गर्दी होती.. त्याच्या थोड्यावेळाने
लक्षात आला कि तिचा हात
सुटला आपल्या हातातून.
तो कावरा-बावरा होऊन इकडे तिकडे
तिला शोधू लागला. त्याला काही सुचेचना.
घाम फुटायला लागला होता. इतक्यात
त्याला ती एका ज्वेलरी च्या दुकानात
दिसली.
एक लोकेट बघत होती. तो त्या दुकानात
आला. त्याने तिच्या खांद्यावर हात ठेवला,
ती वळून म्हणाली,"छान आहे ना??"
आणि तिने त्याच्या डोळ्यात पाहिलं,
त्याचे डोळे पाणावले होते.
तिने विचारलं, "काय झालं?"
त्याने तिला आवेगाने हग केलं,
आणि लगेच सावरून म्हणाला,"
तुला आवडली आहे का ती चेन?"
ती म्हणाली," हो, खूप."
तो म्हणाला," मग हि तुला माझ्याकडून
गिफ्ट." "कसलं गिफ्ट? अरे माझा वाढदिवस
खूप दूर आहे अजून."
तो म्हणाला," हे
माझा पहीला valentine गिफ्ट तुला."
ती म्हणाली," are you proposing me
"
तो म्हणाला," हो, कारण आज
जेव्हा तुझा हात माझ्याहातून
सुटला तेव्हा मला जाणवला कि तुझ्याशिवाय
किती incomplete आहे मी..
प्लीज पुन्हा मला अशी सोडून जाऊ नकोस,
मी... मी.."
ती लगेच म्हणाली," नाही जाणार.कधीच
नाही...... नेहमी तुझ्या सोबत राहील,
शेवटच्या क्षणापर्यंत..."

हो आहे मी वेडा....

हो आहे मी वेडा....

घराला 'विसावा' किंवा 'शांती' नाव देऊन घरात सगळ्यांशी यथेच्च भांडणारे जर 'सभ्य' असतील ना... तर हो आहे मी वेडा...
गांधीजींच्या विचारांचं भांडवल करून त्यांचीच प्रतिमा असलेल्या नोटांसाठी राजकारण करणारे जर 'चाणाक्ष' असतील ना... तर हो आहे मी वेडा...
शाळा-कॉलेजात नेहमी पहिल्या नंबर वर येणारे पण वाचन, कला, संगीत, सौंदर्य यापैकी कशाचाही गंध नसणारे जर 'हुशार' असतील ना... तर हो आहे मी वेडा...
अमेरिकेची सुधारती आर्थिक स्थिती याबद्दल बोलणारे पण स्वतःच्या देशातली गरिबी हटवू न शकणारे जर 'विचारवंत' असतील ना... तर हो आहे मी वेडा...
परदेशात Six digit salary कमावणारे पण मायदेशी आपल्या आप्तेष्टांच्या सुखं-दुखात सामील होऊ न शकणारे जर 'विद्वान' असतील ना... तर हो आहे मी वेडा...
आणि आपल्या फायद्या साठी सगळ्यांशी गोड-गोड बोलणारे जर 'चांगले' असतील ना... तर हो आहे मी वेडा...

आहे मी वेडा...

♥ मुलगी नक्की कशी असते? ♥

♥ मुलगी नक्की कशी असते? ♥
तिचा प्रियकर तिला मिळायच्या आधी मुलगी म्हणते:

माझा प्रियकर परफेक्ट असायला हवा,
त्यानी माझ्यावर माझ्या पेक्षा जास्त प्रेम करावे,
... त्यानी मला कधी कध्धीच रडवू नये,
त्याने मला नेहमी समजून घ्यावे.

पण तिचा प्रियकर तिला मिळाल्या नंतर
ती म्हणते:

तो परफेक्ट नसला म्हणून काय झाले ??
तो माझा आहे. कारण मी त्याच्यावर खूप प्रेम करते.
तो माझ्यावर जास्त प्रेम करत नसला म्हणून काय झाले??
मी तर करते ना..

तो समजून घेत नसला म्हणून काय झाले??
मी तर समजून घेत आहे ना..
आणि नेहमी समजून घेत राहील,
कारण
मी माझ्या प्रियकरावर
खुप खुप खुप प्रेम करते
I LOVE HIM VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERY MUCH

अशा असतात या वेड्या मुली.

क्षणभर डोळे बंद करून विचार करावा... तुम्हाला तुमचं उत्तरं मिळेल...

आयुष्यात आपल्याला नक्की कुठली व्यक्ती आवडते हे ठरवायचं असेल ना तर क्षणभर डोळे बंद करून विचार करावा... तुम्हाला तुमचं उत्तरं मिळेल...

कारण उघडे डोळे ना धोका देतात... उघड्या डोळ्यांना फक्त वरवरच दिसतं... तर बंद डोळ्यांना आतलं दिसतं... उघड्या डोळ्यांना फक्त चेहरे दिसतात.. बंद डोळ्यांना कोणाचा चेहरा दिसत नाही... बंद डोळ्यांना फक्त खूप गरज असतांना साथ देणाऱ्या त्या हाथांचा स्पर्शच कळतो... उघड्या डोळ्यांना फक्त भौतिक सौंदर्य आणि भौतिक सुखं दिसतं... बंद डोळ्यांना भावनिक साथ दिसते... अन आयुष्याच्या प्रवासात ही साथ जास्त महत्वाची असते...

उघडे डोळे फक्त बघतात.. म्हणून ते नेहमी भ्रमात पडतात..
बंद डोळे 'अनुभवतात'... म्हणून ते नेहमी खरे ठरतात..

हास्यकट्टा

नवरा : अग, हे बघ ह्या मासिकात दिलंय ? शहामृग मोठा गंमतीचा प्राणी आहे. त्याला कमी दिसते आणि त्यांची पचनशक्ती इतकी प्रचंड आहे की त्याच्यापुढे वाटेल ते टाकले तरी तो ते खातो आणि तो ते पचवतोसुध्दा बायको : आदर्श नवऱ्याचे सगळे गुण आहेत की त्यात.


नलिनी हिरवे यांनी नवीन बंगला बांधला आणि दारावर लावण्यासाठी एका पाटीची ऑर्डर पेंटरला दिली. नावाचा फलक कसा पाहिजे त्याचा तपशील कागदावर लिहून त्यांनी पेंटरला दिला आणि त्याप्रमाणे फलक तयार करून त्या पेंटरने बाईंच्या नोकराकडे फलक पाठवला. मात्र फलक पाहिल्यावर बाई बेशुध्द पडल्या...कारण? .. ...कारण त्या फलकावरचा तपशील होता, " नलिनी हिरवे , रंग काळा , आकार दीड फुट बाय अडीच फुट, वळण चांगले हवे, बिल मिळाल्यावर पैसे मिळतील."


सान्ता की मा : 20 साल ताक मेरी कोई औलाद नही हुई. प्रेस रिपोर्टर : फिर अपने क्या किया? . . ... . . . . . . . मा : फिर मै 21 साल की हुई तो पापा ने मेरी शादी कराई फिर जा के सान्ता हुआ... :p


१ आरोपीला कोर्टात २ खुनांच्या आरोपात हजर केलेले... जज: तूम्ही तूमच्या बायकोला हातोड्याने मारल्याचा आरोप तुमच्यावर आहे.. (मागून आवाज येतो, "हरामखोर...") जज: (दुर्लक्ष करून) तसेच तूमच्या सासूला सुद्धा तूम्ही हातोड्याने मारून निर्घृण हत्या केली आहे... (पुन्हा मागून आवाज येतो, "अरे दगाबाज....") जज: (त्याच्याकडे पाहून) हे पहा तुमचा राग मी समजू शकतो... पण तूम्ही असे कोर्टात ओरडू शकत नाही.. अथवा मला तुमच्यावर पण खटला भरावा लागेल... मी ह्या आरोप्याला योग्य ती शिक्षा देणार आहे. तूम्ही कृपया शांत रहा... तो माणूस: अहो तस नाही ओ, मी ह्याचा शेजारी आहे आणि आत्तापर्यंत ३-४ वेळा ह्याच्याकडे हातोडा मागितला... आणि हा हरामखोर माझ्याकडे नाहीये अस बोलला.. :-D :-D


एकदा एक हाताचे नख दुसऱ्या नखा बरोबर लग्न करते, आणि सोमवारी त्यांना मुलगा होतो तर त्याचे नाव कायम ठेवतील ते? . . . . . . . . अंदाज सांगा पाहू. . . . . . . . NAILson MONDAYla...


एका एअरलाईन कंपनीने सर्व उद्योजक लोकांसाठी एका ट्रीपची ऑफर दिली. तुमच्या तिकिटावर तुमच्या बायकोचे तिकिट फ्री... नंतर एक महिन्याने त्या कंपनीने त्या उद्योजकाच्या बायकांना प्रतिक्रीया विचारण्यासाठी फोन केला तर सर्व बायकांचे एकच उत्तर आले, "कसली ट्रीप...??


गंपूने व्हॅलेंटाइन डेनिमित्त पिंकीला कमळाचं फूल दिलं. पिंकीने त्याला थप्पड मारली, गंपू : अगं, पण मी भाजपचा प्रचार करत होतो. पिंकी : अरे, मी पण काँग्रेसचा प्रचार करत होते!!


पहिलाः गजनीमध्ये अमिर खानने इतकी मस्त बॉडी कशी बनवली असेल रे? दुसराः मी सांगतो. तो जिमला जाऊन यायचा आणि १५ मि. नंतर विसरून जायचा आणि पुन्हा जिमला निघून जायचा...

सर्वात खतरनाक प्रपोज . मुलाने मुलिला मारलेला . . . . . . . . . . तु आमच्या घरी भांडी घासायला राहशिल का ?

एक स्कूटरचालक रस्त्याने चालला होता. त्याला एक भली मोठी, अवाढव्य अशी बाई आडवी आली. पुढचा रस्ताच दिसेना. तो घाबरला न मग काय दिली एक जोरदार टक्कर. बाई : काय रे मुडदया, तुला समोरून चाललेली माणसं दिसत नाहीत काय? स्कूटरचालक : माफ करा बाई. पण काय आहे की पेट्रोल फारच महाग झालंय ना त्यामुळे तुम्हाला एवढा मोठा गोल वळसा घालून जाणं मला परवडलं नसतं

काही मजेशीर व्याख्या

अनुभव - सभ्य शब्दात मांडलेल्या चुका

... मोह - जो आवरला असता माणूस सुखी राहतो पण आवरला नाही तर अजून सुखी होतो

शेजारी - तुमच्या स्वतःपेक्षा ज्याला तुमच्या आयुष्याची खडानखडा माहिती असते तो

सुखवस्तू - वस्तुस्थितीत सुख मानणारा

वक्तृत्व - मिनिटा दोन मिनिटात सांगून संपणारी कल्पना दोन तास घोळवणे

लेखक - चार पानात लिहून संपणाऱ्या गोष्टीसाठी ४०० पानं खर्ची घालणारा

फ्याशन - शिंप्याच्या हातून झालेल्या चुका

पासबुक/ब्यांक्बुक - जगातील सर्वोत्कृष्ठ पुस्तकाचे नाव (जर भरपूर ब्यालेंस असेल तर)

ग्यालरी- वरच्या मजल्यावरून लोकांच्या डोक्यावर कचरा फेकण्याची जागा

लेखणी - एकाच वेळी असंख्य लोकांचा गळा कापण्याचे साधन

छत्री - एकाचा निवारा, दोघांचा शॉवर बाथ

कॉलेज - शाळा आणि लग्न यामधील काळ घालवण्याचे मुलींचे एक साधन

परीक्षा - ज्ञान तपासून घेण्याचे एक 'हातयंत्र'

परीक्षा - पालक आणि शिक्षक यांच्या साडेसातीचा काळ

दाढी - 'कुरुपपणा' लपवण्याचे' रुबाबदार' साधन

थाप - आजकाल १००% लोक हि फुकटात एकमेकांना देतात

काटकसर - कंजूषपणाचे एक 'गोंडस' नाव

नृत्य - पद्धतशीरपणे लाथा झाडण्याची कला

घोरणे - नवर्याने /बायकोने केलेल्या दिवसभराच्या अन्यायाचा बदला रात्री घेण्याची निसर्गाने बहाल केलेली देणगी

मन - साली नेहमी चोरीस जाणारी वस्तू

ब्रह्मचर्य - कुठेच न जुळल्याने स्वीकारायचा मार्ग

विवाहित माणूस - जन्मठेपेचा कैदी

विधुर - जन्मठेपेतून सूट मिळालेला कैदी

श्रीमंत नवरा - चालतं बोलतं atm कार्ड

श्रीमंत बायको - अचानक लागलेली लॉटरी

IT वाला - सतत काहीतरी काम करण्याचे सोंग करणारा इसम

IT वाली - श्रीमंत नवरा मिळावा म्हणून स्पेशल ट्रेनिंग घेतलेली स्त्री

बुद्धिवादी - ज्याच्या बुद्धीविषयी चारचौघात वाद आहे असा

स्कार्फ - बॉयफ्रेंड बरोबर बाईक वरून फिरताना कोणी ओळखू नये म्हणून थोबाड लपवायचे मुलींचे एक साधन

लग्नाचा हॉल - दोन जिवांच वेल्डिंग करणारा

फुले शिकवतात

गुलाब सांगतो,
येता जाता रडायचं नसतं,
काट्यात सुध्दा हसायचं असतं


रात राणी म्हणते,
अंधाराला घाबरायचं नसतं,
काळोखात ही फुलायचं असतं


सदाफुली सांगते,
रुसुन रुसुन रहायचं नसतं,
हसुन हसुन हसायचं असतं

बकुळी म्हणते,
सावळ्या रंगाने हिरमुसायचं नसतं,
गुणाच्या गंधाने जिंकायचं असतं


मोगरा म्हणतो,
स्वत:चा बडेजावपणा सांगायचा नसतो,
सदगुणा॑चा सुगंध मैलवरुन ही येतो

कमळ म्हणतो,
संकटाच्या चिखलात बुडायचं नसतं,
संकटांना बुडवुन फुलायचं असतं

Shivaji Raje Bhosle history


Shivaji Raje Bhosle 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), with the royal title Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shivaji Maharaj (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज), was a Maratha aristocrat of the Bhosle clan who founded the Maratha Empire. Shivaji led a resistance to free the Maratha people from the Sultanate of Bijapur, and establish Hindavi Swarajya ("self-rule of Hindu people"). He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital, and successfully fought against the Mughals to defend his kingdom. He was crowned as Chhatrapati ("sovereign") of the Maratha kingdom in 1674.

He established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a well-regulated and disciplined military and well-structured administrative organizations. The prevalent practices of treating women as spoils of war, destruction of religious monuments, slavery and forceful religious conversions were firmly opposed under his administration. Shivaji was a religious Hindu. He also innovated rules of military engagement, pioneering the "Shiva sutra" or ganimi kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like geography, speed, surprise and focused pinpoint attacks to defeat his larger and more powerful enemies and built many sea-forts. From a small contingent of 2,000 soldiers inherited from his father, he created a formidable force of 100,000 soldiers who eventually defeated the mighty Mughal Empire even after his death.

Birthdate

Shivaji's birthplace on Shivneri Fort.
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near the Junnar city in Pune district. When his mother Jijabai was pregnant she went to pray to Lord Shiva for his blessings and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's name is kept after Lord Shiva. Shivaji was born in 1551 AD of Shaka calendar (Friday, 19 February 1630).[2] Dr. Bal Krishna was the first noted historian who preferred Feb, 1630 as the date of birth of Shivaji on the basis of Contemporary documents further the horoscope of Shivaji was found in Jodhpur of Rajputana State (Now Rajasthan) which confirms the same Feb, 1630 as the date of birth of Shivaji.[11] The horoscope in the possession of Mewar Museum submitted by Pandits Mithalal Vyas of Jodhpur is the most authentic evidence of Shivaji 1630 date of birth.[11] Maharashtra state government accept this as the true birthdate of Shivaji.[12]
  • the 3rd day of the dark half of Phalguna, 1551 of Shaka calendar (Friday, 19 February 1630).[13] Setu Madhavrao Pagdi mentions that this has been stated as Shivaji's birth date by his court poet Paramanand.[14] Historians such as Dr. Bal Krishna as well as the Maharashtra state government accept this as the true birthdate of Shivaji.[15]
  • the second day of the light half of Vaisakha in the year 1549 of Saka calendar.[2] Thursday, 6 April 1627, or other dates near this day. This date is supported by scholars such as Jadunath Sarkar and GS Sardesai[11][16]:14[17] This date has been almost rejected by majority of historians as the work of "Jadunath Sarkar Shivaji and His Times" was criticized for its over dependence on 91-Qalmi Bakhar (composed in 1760s) and Shivadigvijaya Bakhar (composed in 1818), the reason given by Dr Balkrishna[18] and Dr Har Bilas Sarda for this was the fact that these works are the only two unreliable and late works which support Jadunath Sarkar theory of Shivaji low caste, whereas all contemporary texts of Shivaji be it Hindu or Muslim mention Shivaji as Sisodia Rajput.[19] Further these two scholars who were close friends and never criticized each other have no opinion on Shivaji horoscope composed in the work in Jodhpur in Rajputana in 1688 AD in which Shivaji birth date is clearly mentioned 19 February 1630 with other details. Shivaji name was under the category of "Rulers of Rana Family". Rana was title used by Sisodia Rajputs.[20][21]

Childhood

Shahaji's bid for power

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's father Shahaji Bhosle served alongside Malik Ambar, who defended the Deccan region (first to be done by any Maratha in the Deccan region) against the Mughals. He always tried to free their Kingdom from the Bijapur Sultanate as well as wanted to throw out the Mughal period in India and establish a Swaraj Empire. His mother Jijabai, a pious and far sighted lady was the daughter of Lakhujirao Jadhav of Sindkhed. She is regarded to be the master or the guru of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's bravery by their court poet, Paramanand. During the period of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth, the power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates – Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda. Shahaji kept changing his loyalty between the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, Adil Shah of Bijapur and the Mughals, but always kept his jagir (fiefdom) at Pune and his small army with him. He tried to establish independent kingdom twice, but he had to surrender before onslaught of Mughals in 1636. By a treaty Shahji was forced to leave Maratha country and took up service with Adilshah in deep south. The region around pune was devastated due to continuous warfare, hence to restore peace and prosperity Jijabai remained behind.
Shivaji with Jijamata.

Teachings of Jijabai

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. This religious environment had a profound influence on Shivaji, and he carefully studied the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The morality and spiritual messages of the epics made a great impression on him. Throughout his life he was deeply interested in religious teachings, and sought the company of Hindu and Sufi (an esoteric Muslim sect) saints throughout his life.[16]

 

Friends from Sahyadri Mountains

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj drew his earliest trusted comrades and a large number of his soldiers from the Maval region, including Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Baji Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Tanaji Malusare. In the company of his Maval comrades, a young Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, hardening himself and acquiring first-hand knowledge of the land. By 1639, he commanded a hardy and loyal band of officers and soldiers.[16]

At Banglore

At the age of 12, Shivaji was taken to Bangalore where he was further formally trained along-with elder brother Sambhaji and stepbrother Ekoji I. He married Saibai, a member of the prominent Nimbalkar family in 1640.[22] At age of 14, he returned to Pune with a rajmudra (sovereign seal) and council of minister.

Confrontation with the regional sultanate of Adilshah

In 1645, at the age of 16, Shivaji managed to pursue the Bijapuri commander of the Torna Fort, named Inayat Khan, to hand over the possession of the fort to him.[16]:26[23] [24] Firangoji Narsala, who held the Chakan fort professed his loyalty to him and the fort of Kondana was acquired by bribing the Adil-Shahi governor.[16]:26On 25 July 1648, Shahaji was imprisoned by Baji Ghorpade under the orders of Adilshah in a bid to contain Shivaji.[25]
Adilshah also sent an army led by Farradkhan against Shahji's other son Sambhaji at Bangalore, and another army led by Fattekhan against Shivaji at Purandhar. Both Bhonsle brothers defeated the invading armies.

Battles

Battle of Purander

An army led by Fattekhan was defeated by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the battle of Purandhar. Meanwhile, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had petitioned Emperor Shahjahan's son, Murad Baksh, who was governor of Deccan, pledging his loyalty to the Mughals to seek his support in securing the release of his father. The Mughals recognised Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a Mughal sardar and pressured Adilshah to release Shahaji.[26] On 16 May 1949 Shahaji was released after Shivaji and Sambhaji surrendering the forts of Kondhana,Bangalore and Kandarpi.[16]

Pratapgad

A depiction of Goddess Bhavani giving the sword to Shivaji, at Tuljapur.
The Battle of Pratapgad was a land battle fought on November 10, 1659 at the fort of Pratapgad near the town of Satara, Maharashtra, India between the forces of the Maratha king Shivaji and the Adilshahi general Afzal Khan. The Marathas defeated the Adilshahi forces, which consisted of 7,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry.[27] It was their first significant military victory against a major regional power, and led to the eventual establishment of the Maratha Empire.
Adilshah's attack and negotiations
Adilshah sent Afzal Khan, an experienced and veteran general to destroy Shivaji in an effort to put down what he saw as a regional revolt. Afzal Khan desecrated Hindu temples at Tuljapur and Pandharpur hoping to draw Shivaji to the plains to retaliate with his limited military resources and thus lead him and his budding military power to easy destruction by the numerically bigger, better-armed and more professional Bijapur army. Afzal Khan may have expected Shivaji to meet his army in the plains, however Shivaji, upon carefully weighing his options, decided to meet Afzal Khan on his home turf on pretext of diplomatic negotiations. Shivaji sent a letter to Afzal Khan stating that he was eager for a meeting. The meeting was arranged between Afzal Khan and Shivaji at the foothills of Fort on the day 10 November 1659 Pratapgad.[Afzal Khan and Shivaji conference
This event is one of the most important in Shivaji's life. Shivaji got a pledge from ministers to never submit in case he fell. It is said that during this period, Shivaji had a vision of Goddess Bhavani promising full protection on the confrontation and victory.[28]
Afzal Khan was invited to a hut at the base of Pratapgad under the conditions that both the men would be armed only with a sword and attended by a follower. However, Shivaji had worn armour underneath his clothes and had concealed a Bagh nakh in his left arm, in addition to a visibile dagger on his right hand.[29] Accounts vary on whether Shivaji or Afzal Khan struck the first blow.[30][31][32] Afzal Khan was disemboweled by Shivaji and later decapitated by Sambhaji Kavji.
Battle of Pratapgarh
In the ensuing Battle of Pratapgarh fought in the dense forest of Javli on 10 November 1659, Shivaji's armies attacked Vijapur's (Afzal Khan's) forces and engaged them in swift flanking maneuvers. Maratha troops under Kanhoji Jedhe attacked Afzal Khan's 1,500 strong musketeers and routed them at the foothills of the fort. Then in a rapid march, a section of Adilshahi forces commanded by Musekhan was attacked. Musekhan was wounded and subsequently fled, abandoning his soldiers who were then set upon and decimated by the Marathas.
Commander Moropant Pingale led the infantry in a lighting attack on to the left flank of the Adilshahi troops. Adilshah's artillery was rendered ineffective by the suddenness of this attack at close quarters. At the same time commander Ragho Atre swiftly attacked Adilshahi cavalry before it was fully prepared for battle and almost completely wiped it out. Shivaji's cavalry headed by Netaji Palkar rushed towards Wai in hot pursuit of retreating Adilshahi forces who were attempting to join reserve forces stationed there. The retreating forces of Afzal Khan were engaged in battle and were routed.[8] More than 3,000 soldiers of the Bijapur army were killed and two sons of Afzal Khan were taken as prisoners.[16]:53
Fall of Bijapur Army
This unexpected and unlikely victory made Shivaji a hero of Maratha folklore and a legendary figure among his people. The large quantities of captured weapons, horses, armour and other materials helped to strengthen the nascent and emerging Maratha army. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb now identified Shivaji as a major threat to the mighty Mughal Empire. Soon thereafter Shivaji, Shahaji Raje and Netaji Palkar (the chief of the Maratha cavalry) decided to attack and defeat the Adilshahi kingdom at Bijapur. But things did not go as planned as Shahaji's health deteriorated and they were forced to postpone the planned attack. However, Netoji Palkar undertook this mission mounting smaller scale attacks and military harassment of the Adilshahi kingdom.
Subsequently, the Sultan of Bijapur sent an army composed mainly of Afghan mercenaries to subdue and defeat Shivaji before he could substantially expand his army. In the ensuing battle, Bijapur's army was defeated by the Maratha troops. This intense and bloody battle ended in the unconditional surrender of the Bijapuri forces to Shivaji.

Battle of Kolhapur

To counter the loss at Pratapgad and to defeat the newly emerging Maratha power, another army, this time numbering over 10,000, was sent against Shivaji, commanded by Bijapur's renowned Abyssinian general Rustamjaman. With a cavalry of 5,000 Marathas, Shivaji attacked them near Kolhapur on 28 December 1659. In a swift movement, Shivaji led a full frontal attack at the center of the enemy forces while other two portions of his cavalry attacked the flanks. This battle lasted for several hours and at the end Bijapuri forces were soundly defeated and Rustamjaman ignominiously fled the battlefield.[8] Adilshahi forces lost about 2,000 horses and 12 elephants to the Marathas. This victory alarmed the mighty Mughal empire who now derisively referred to Shivaji as the "Mountain Rat". Aurangzeb the Mughal emperor was now actively preparing to bring the full might and resources of the Mughal Empire to bear down on the potential Maratha threat.

Siege of Panhala

M.V. Dhurandhar's painting of Shivaji.
Per the terms of the Mughal-Adilshahi plan, Adil Shah in 1660 sent Siddi Jauhar, an accomplished general to attack Shivaji on his southern borders, preceding the expected major Mughal attack from the north. He ordered his army of 40,000 north to Kolhapur to confront and defeat Shivaji as a part of their grand alliance with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He secured the support of local chieftains such as Jasvantrao Dalvi of Palavani and Suryarao Surve of Sringarpur to defeat Shivaji.[8] At that time, Shivaji was camped at the Panhala fort near present day Kolhapur with 8,000 Marathas.
Siddi Jauhar's army besieged Panhala on 2 March 1660, cutting off supply routes to the fort.[33] Helping with siege were Baji Ghorpade and Siddi Masud from the west, Sadat Khan and Bhai Khan from the north, Rustam Zaman and Bade Khan from the east, Siddi Jauhar and Fazal Khan from the south. Netaji Palkar, the Commander of the Maratha forces was on a mission away from Panhala harassing and attacking Adilshahi territory and was not able to come to the aid of Shivaji. At this point of time, Shaista Khan had moved from Baramati to Shirwal.[33]
Panhala was a formidable fort and Adilshahi army was repulsed repeatedly by effective cannon fire and heavy rock-pelting.[33] Siddi Jauhar approached Henry Revington, the British chief at the Rajapur port to seek long-range and more powerful cannons. Henry decided to help him in return for future favours, and began pounding Panhala fort. In spite of this Marathas continued defending Panhala and persevered in keeping Siddi Jauhar at bay.[33]
Marathas even raided the Adilshahi camp a few times but without much success. However, in one such raid, Tryambak Bhaskar and Kondaji Farzand presented themselves as allies of the British and Adlishahi forces. They came down to the Adilshahi camp and met Henry Revington and his associates. They managed to kill one British officer and injured Henry. Thereafter, they sabotaged the cannons and made them ineffective. Jauhar, livid at this, tightened the siege further.[33]
Jauhar did not leave any stone unturned to ensure that the siege around Panhala was unyielding, he personally took utmost care that no one in his army was complacent. He even braved the tumultuous monsoon season and continued the siege even during heaviest downpours.[33] On hearing about the ever tightening siege of Panhala, Netaji Palkar returned from Bijapur and attacked the Adilshahi forces surrounding Panhala. He tried to break the siege but his smaller forces were pushed back by a much larger Adilshahi army.[33]
Thereafter, Shivaji decided to escape to a nearby fort Vishalgad, where he could regroup his soldiers. He then sent misleading messages to Siddi Jauhar indicating that he was willing to negotiate and was looking for accommodation and mutual understanding. With this news, Adilshahi soldiers relaxed somewhat and Shivaji escaped under the cover of a stormy night on 12 July 1660.[33]
Meanwhile Jauhar's soldiers captured a small group of Marathas apparently including Shivaji only to realize he was a look-alike named Shiva Kashid dressed like Shivaji and sent out to create a diversion and facilitate the real Shivaji's escape. Siddi Johar's soldiers realized that the imposter was Shivaji's barber and that Shivaji and his army were headed to Vishalgad, immediately thereafter a massive chase was undertaken to intercept Shivaji and deal with him and his army, once and for all.[8]

Marathas' Last Stand: The Battle of Pavan Khind

Plaque to commemorate the entrance to Paavankhind
Observing that enemy cavalry was fast closing in on them, Shivaji sought to avoid defeat and capture. Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a Maratha sardar of Bandal Deshmukh along with 300 soldiers, volunteered to fight to the death to hold back the enemy at Ghod Khind (a mountain pass in Gajapur which is 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Vishalgad) to give Shivaji and the rest of the army a chance to reach the safety of the Vishalgad fort.[8][33]
In the ensuing Battle of Pavan Khind, Baji Prabhu Deshpande fought relentlessly. He was wounded but he held on and continued the fight until he heard the sound of cannon fire from Vishalgad, signalling Shivaji had safely reached the fort. The result of this intense and heroic battle was the death of 300 Marathas and 3,000 of Adilshah's troops who were engaged in a fierce combat. The Marathas were heroically committed to this fatal fight to ensure Shivaji's reaching the fort and they held off a larger enemy force for 7 hours using 2 swords one in each hand[8] allowing Shivaji to reach the safety of the fort on 13 July 1660.[33]
Thereafter a truce was made between Shivaji and Adilshah through Shahaji Raje. In addition, as the terms of this accord, Panhala Fort was awarded to Siddi Johar.[8] Ghod Khind (khind meaning "a narrow mountain pass") was renamed Paavan Khind (Sacred Pass) in honor of Bajiprabhu Deshpande, Shibosingh Jadhav, Fuloji, people from Bandal community and all other soldiers who fought in Ghod Khind. People from the Bandal community were specially selected by Shivaji while escaping from Panhala for their knowledge of the region, rock climbing skills, and martial qualities.[33]

Clash with the Mughals

Till 1657, Shivaji maintained peaceful relations with the Mughals. Shivaji offered his assistance to Aurangzeb in conquering Bijapur and in return, he was assured of the formal recognition of his right to the Bijapuri forts and villages under his possession [16]:37. Shivaji's confrontations with the Mughals begain in March 1657, when two officers of Shivaji raided the Mughal territory near Ahmednagar.[34] This was followed by raids in Junnar, with Shivaji carrying off 300,000 huns in cash and 200 horses [16]:38. Aurangzeb responded to the raids by sending Nasiri Khanm who defeated the forces of Shivaji at Ahmednagar. However, the countermeasures were interrupted by the rainy season and the battle of succession for the Mughal throne following the illness of Shah Jahan.

Battle of Umberkhind

An Uzbek general, Kartalab Khan, was sent by Shaista Khan on a mission to attack and reduce the number of forts under Shivaji's control in the Konkan region on 3 February 1661. He left his camp near Pune with 30,000 troops. This time the Mughals did not march openly and took circuitous back country routes, as they sought to surprise Shivaji.[33] But instead Shivaji surprised them at a pass known as Umber Khind (in a dense forest, near present-day Pen), and attacked them from all sides. Marathas hidden in the dense forest executed a well co-ordinated ambush attack on the Mughal army.[33] Shivaji himself took the forward position with an elite cavalry unit. The other three sides were flanked by Shivaji's light infantry.
In a well co-ordinated movement of light infantry and cavalry, Shivaji prevailed over the attackers. A Maratha lady commander, Raibagan, who co-led the Mughal forces, analyzed the situation and realised that defeat was imminent and advised Kartalab Khan to accept defeat and initiate a compromise with Shivaji.[8][33] Within four hours into the attack the enemy accepted defeat and surrendered all the supplies, arms and assets. The Mughal army suffered high casualties. The defeated army was allowed a safe passage. Kartalab Khan and Raibagan were released with honour in accordance with Shivaji's terms and his long standing policy towards women and unarmed civilians.[8]

Attack on Shaista Khan

Upon the request of Badi Begum of Bijapur, Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle (brother of late Queen Mumtaz Mahal) Shaista Khan, with an army numbering over 100,000 along with a powerful artillery division in January 1660 to defeat Shivaji. Khan was accompanied by eminent commanders like Turktaj, Hussain, Haider, Naamdar Khan, Kartalab Khan, Uzbek Khan, Fateh Jung and Rajputs namely Bhau Singh, Shyam Singh, Rai Singh Sisodiya, Pradyuman and many more.[33] Khan was an experienced commander who had defeated Shahaji in the same region in 1636.[8] He was ordered to attack the Maratha kingdom in conjunction with Bijapur's army led by Siddi Jauhar. Aurangzeb ordered Shaista Khan to capture the Maratha kingdom to add to the empire (he intended to deceive the Adilshah), after Shivaji's expected defeat by Jauhar in Panhala fort. Shivaji now prepared to face a combined attack of Mughals and Adilshahi forces.[33]
Shaista Khan was ordered by Aurangzeb to attack Shivaji per the Mughal-Adilshahi accord. Shaista Khan, with his better equipped and provisioned army of 300,000 that was many times the size of the Maratha forces, seized Pune and the nearby fort of Chakan. At the time, Firangoji Narsala was the killedar (commander) of fort Chakan, which was defended by 300–350 Maratha soldiers. They were able to withstand the Mughal attack on the fort for one and a half month. Then, a burj (outer wall) was blown up with explosives. This created an opening to the fort allowing hordes of Mughals to breach the exterior portion of the fort. Firangoji, himself led the Maratha counter attack against a larger Mughal army.[8][33] Eventually, the fort was lost with the capture of Firangoji, who then was brought before Shaista Khan, who, appreciating his bravery, offered him a jahagir (military commission) on the condition that he join the Mughal forces, which Firangoji declined. Admiring his loyalty, Shaista Khan pardoned Firangoji and set him free. Firangoji returned home and Shivaji awarded him a fort named Bhupalgad.[33]
Shaista Khan pressed his advantage of larger, better provisioned and heavily armed Mughal army and made inroads into some of the Maratha territory. Although he held Pune for almost a year, he had little further success. He had set up his residence at Lal Mahal, Shivaji's palace, in the city of Pune.[8]
Shaista Khan kept a tight security in Pune. However, Shivaji planned an attack on Shaista Khan amidst tight security. In April 1663, a wedding party had obtained special permission for a procession; Shivaji planned an attack using the wedding party as cover. The Marathas disguised themselves as the bridegroom's procession and entered Pune. Shivaji, having spent much of his youth in Pune, knew his way around the city and his own palace of Lal Mahal.[8] Chimanaji Deshpande - one of the childhood friends of Shivaji aided him in this attack offering his services as a personal bodyguard. According to Babasaheb Purandare, since Mughal army also consisted of Maratha soldiers, it was difficult for someone to distinguish between Shivaji's Maratha soldiers and the Maratha soldiers of the Mughal army. Thus, taking advantage of this situation, Shivaji, along with a few of his trusted men, infiltrated the Mughal camp.
After overpowering and slaying of the palace guards, the Marathas broke into the mansion by breaching an outer wall. Chimnaji and Netaji Palkar entered first along with Babaji Deshpande, another of Shivaji's long time loyal associates, they approached Shaista Khan's quarters. Shivaji then personally confronted Shaista Khan in a face to face attack. Meanwhile, perceiving danger, one of Shaista's wives turned off the lights. Shivaji pursued Shaista Khan and severed three of his fingers with his sword (in the darkness) as he fled through an open window. Shaista Khan narrowly escaped death and lost his son and many of his guards and soldiers in the raid.[8]
Within twenty-four hours of this attack, Shaista Khan left Pune and headed North towards Agra. An angered Aurangzeb transferred him to distant Bengal as a punishment for bringing embarrassment to the Mughals with his ignoble defeat in Pune.

Siege of Surat

In 1664 Shivaji invaded Surat, an important and wealthy Mughal trading city, and looted it to replenish his now depleted treasury and also as a revenge for the capture and looting of Maratha territory by Shaista Khan. (Surat was again sacked by Shivaji in 1670.)[8]

Treaty of Purandar

Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber receiving Shivaji a day before concluding the Treaty of Purandar.
Aurangzeb was enraged and sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh I with an army numbering around 15,000 [35] to defeat Shivaji. Jai Singh planned and executed his battle strategies so well with his vast army that the Mughal forces under him made significant gains and captured many Maratha forts. Shivaji came to terms with Aurangzeb rather than lose more forts and men.
In the ensuing treaty of Purander, 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 with Mughals against Bijapur. He actually fought along side Raja Jai Singh's Mughal forces against Bijapur's forces for a few months. His commander, Netaji Palkar, joined Mughals, was rewarded very well for his bravery, converted to Islam, changed his name to Quli Mohammed Khan in 1666 and was sent to the Afghan frontier to fight the restive tribes. He returned to Shivaji's service after ten years in 1676 and was accepted back as a Hindu on Shivaji's advice.

Arrest in Agra and escape

In 1666, Aurangzeb invited Shivaji to Agra, along with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji. Aurangzeb's plan was to send Shivaji to Kandahar, modern day Afghanistan to consolidate the Mughal Empire's north-western frontier. However, in the court, on 12 May 1666, Aurangzeb made Shivaji stand behind mansabdārs (military commanders) of his court.[8] Shivaji took offense at this seeming insult and stormed out of court and was promptly placed under house arrest, under the watch of Faulad Khan, Kotwal of Agra. From his spies, Shivaji learned that Aurangzeb planned to move his residence to Raja Vitthaldas's Haveli and then to possibly kill him or send him to fight in the Afghan frontier. As a result Shivaji planned his escape.
He feigned almost fatal sickness and requested to send most of his contingent back to the Deccan, thereby ensuring the safety of his army and deceiving Aurangzeb. 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 getting well.[8] After several days and weeks of sending out boxes containing sweets, Shivaji and his nine year old son Sambhaji hid themselves in two of the boxes and managed to escape. Shivaji and his son fled to the Deccan disguised as sadhus (holy men). After the escape, rumours of Sambhaji's death were intentionally spread by Shivaji himself in order to deceive the Mughals and to protect Sambhaji.[8]
Dr. Ajit Joshi presented a different view in a Marathi book Agryahun Sutka, concluded that Shivaji most likely disguised himself as a Brahmin priest after performance of religious rites at the haveli grounds and escaped by mingling in within the departing priestly entourage of Pandit Kavindra Paramananda.[36]

Reconquest

Battle of Sinhgad

After this escape, both sides maintained calm and a treaty was concluded for some time. However it was broken at the end of the year 1670. Shivaji launched a major offensive against Mughals. In a span of four months he recovered a major portion of the territories surrendered to Mughals. During this phase, the valiant Tanaji Malusare won the prestigious fort of Sinhgad in the battle of Sinhgad, although he lost his life.

Battle of Vani-dindori

Subsequently, Shivaji sacked Surat for second time in 1670. When Shivaji was returning from Surat, Mughals under Daud Khan tried to intercept him, but were defeated in the Battle of Vani-dindori near present-day Nashik.

Battle of Salher

Peshwa Moropant Pingale won a number of forts in this area. Senapati Prataprao Gujar defeated Mughals in various campaigns. In order to subdue this Maratha resurgence, Dilerkhan was sent along with Bahlol khan and other generals. During this phase, the combined forces of Moropant and Prataprao defeated the Mughals in the open battle of Salher.
This was the first major battle in which Mughals were defeated by any opponent. This greatly raised the status of Marathas and Shivaji, in particular. Against this background of victories, Shivaji decided to coronate himself, thereby giving sovereignty to the Maratha people. However, a tragedy struck in that Shivaji lost his trusted cavalry general Prataprao in the following battle of Nesari.

Battle of Nesari

In 1674, Prataprao Gujar, the then Commander-in chief of the Maratha forces, was sent to push back the invading force led by the Adil Shahi general, Bahlol Khan. Prataprao's forces defeated and captured the opposing general in the battle after cutting-off their water supply by encircling a strategically located lake, which prompted Bahlol Khan to sue for peace. In spite of Shivaji's specific warnings against doing so Prataprao released Bahlol Khan who started preparing for a fresh invasion.[37]
Towers of the Raigad Fort.
When Shivaji sent a displeasure letter to Prataprao refusing him audience until Bahlol Khan was re-captured. In the ensuing days, he learnt of Bahlol Khan having camped with 15,000 force at Nesari near Kolhapur. Given the uneven match Prataprao reasoned that there was no point in leading his 1,200 cavalrymen into a suicide charge alone. Other six sardars of distinction followed him to perish with their commander. The seven Maratha officers were Prataprao Gujar, Visaji Ballal, Dipoji Rautrao, Vithal Pilaji Atre, Krishnaji Bhaskar, Siddi Hilal and Vithoji Shinde. The loss of Prataprao Gujar was a big loss to the Marathas. Anandrao Mohite managed to the withdraw army to safer areas.[38]
Marathas then avenged the death of their general, by defeating Bahlol Khan and capturing his jagir (fiefdom) under the leadership of Anaji and Hambirao Mohite. Shivaji was deeply grieved on hearing of Prataprao's death. He arranged for the marriage of his second son, Rajaram, to the daughter of Prataprao Gujar. Anandrao Mohite became Hambirrao Mohite, the new sarnaubat (Commander-in-Chief of the Maratha forces). Shivaji started preparation for coronation. Fort Raigad was newly built by Hiroji Indulkar as a capital of rising Maratha kingdom.

Coronation

Chhattrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Confederacy.
At the time of Shivaji's coronation twenty-thousand Brahmans were present at Raigad. Gaga Bhatt, an authority of Vedas officially presided over the ceremony, and had a gold vessel filled with the seven sacred waters of the rivers Yamuna, Indus, Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. He held the vessel over Shivaji's head and chanted the coronation mantras, as the water kept dripping from the several tiny holes in the vessel. After the ablution, Shivaji bowed before Jijamata and touched her feet. Nearly fifty thousand people gathered at Raigad for the ceremonies.[8] Shivaji was bestowed with the sacred thread jaanva, with the Vedas and was bathed in an abhisheka. Shivaji then had the title of "shakakarta" conferred upon him.
Shivaji then had the title of "Shakakarta" conferred upon him, as well as assumed the title 'Kshatriya Kulavantas' meaning head of Kshatriyas. Further, he preferred Chhatrapati title than Maharaja.
His mother Jijabai died on 18 June 1674, within a few days of the coronation. This was considered a bad omen. Therefore a second coronation was carried out in September 1674, this time according to the Bengal school of Tantricism and presided over by Nischal Puri.

Conquests in Southern India

Maratha Empire in 1680. (red)
In October 1674, the Marathas raided Khandesh. On 17 April 1675 Shivaji captured Phonda from Bijapuris. Karwar was occupied by mid 1675 and Kolhapur in July 1675. There were naval skirmishes with the Siddis of Janjira in November 1675. In early 1676, Peshwa Pingale engaged Raja of Ramnagar in battle en route to Surat. Shivaji raided Athani in March 1676. By the end of 1676, Shivaji besieged Belgaum and Vayem Rayim in current day northern Karnataka.
At the end of 1676, Shivaji Maharaj launched a wave of conquests in southern India with a massive force of 50,000 (30,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry).[8] He captured the forts at Vellore and Jinji that belonged to the sultanate of Bijapur and are in modern-day Tamil Nadu. In the run-up to this expedition Shivaji appealed to a sense of Deccani patriotism, that the "Deccan" or Southern India was a homeland that should be protected from outsiders.[39] His appeal was somewhat successful and he entered into a treaty with the Qutubshah of the Golconda sultanate that covered the eastern Deccan. Shivají's conquests in the south proved quite crucial during future wars. Jinji served as Maratha capital for nine years during the War of 27 years. The small bands of marathas were now moving like imperial forces ready for open battle.
His other intention was to reconcile with his stepbrother Vyankoji (his father Shahaji's son from his second wife, who came from the Mohite family) who ruled Thanjavur after Shahaji. They had talks, Venkoji (Ekoji I) showed signs of uniting with Shivaji but then no concrete result was obtained.[8] On return to Raigad, Shivaji seized most of Ekoji's possessions in the Mysore plateau. Ekoji's wife Deepabai a scholar of saintly bent of character brought reconciliation between the two brothers so they were not enemies and maintained the status quo of co-existing independent.

Death and succession crisis

Shivaji died on 2 April 1680,[40] on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti. In a span of 50 years he started from a jagir and ended with a vast empire streching from hilly terrains to southern plain. According to James Grant Duff, the first historian of Marathas in modern times, the spirit infused in the minds of people by Shivaji was more valuable than the forts and treasury left behind.
After the death of Shivaji, his widow Soyarabai Shirke started making plans with various ministers of the administration to replace Sambhaji with her son Raja Ram as the heir to the kingdom. On 21 April 1680, the ten-year old Raja Ram was installed in the throne. The news reached Sambhaji who was imprisoned in Panhala. On 27 April, he took possession of the fort after killing the commander and on 18 June, he acquired control of Raigarh. Sambhaji formally ascended the throne on 20 July, putting Soyarabai and Raja Ram in prison.[41][42]

Rule and Administration

Shivaji statue at Pratapgad.
Shivaji was an able administrator who established a government that included modern concepts such as cabinet (Ashtapradhan mandal), foreign affairs (Dabir) and internal intelligence.[43] Shivaji established an effective civil and military administration. He also built a powerful navy. Maynak Bhandari was one of the first chiefs of the Maratha Navy under Shivaji, and helped in both building the Maratha Navy and safeguarding the coastline of the emerging Maratha Empire. He built new forts like Sindhudurg and strengthened old ones like Vijaydurg on the west coast.[8] The Maratha navy held its own against the British, Portuguese and Dutch.[44]
Shivaji is well known for his benevolent attitude towards his subjects. He believed that there was a close bond between the state and the citizens. He encouraged all accomplished and competent individuals to participate in the ongoing political/military struggle. He is remembered as a just and welfare-minded king. He brought revolutionary changes in military organisation, fort architecture, society and politics.[8]
Shivaji was the first king of the medieval world to undertake the revolutionary idea of abolishing the Feudal System, 150 years before its worldwide recognition in the French revolution. For a span of about 50 years, there were no feudals in his kingdom. After the fall of Raigad in 1689, Raja Ram started giving land grants to maratha chieftans to fight against the mughals in the War of 27 years.

Administration

The organization of Shivaji's administration was composed of eight ministers of pradhaanas:[45]
  • Peshwa - Mukhya (main) Pradhan, next to the king, for supervising and governing under king's orders in his absence. The king's orders bore the Peshwa's seal.
  • Mazumdar - An auditor to take care of income and expenditure checks, keep the king informed of finances and sign districts-level accounts.
  • Navis or Waqia Mantri - to record daily activities of the royal family and to serve as master of ceremony.
  • Sur Navis or Sachiv - to oversee the king's correspondence to ensure letter and style adherence to wishes of the king and check accounts of palace and Parganas.
  • Sumant or Dabir - for foreign affairs and to receive ambassadors.
  • Senapati or Sir-nobut - To keep troops ready and the king fully informed.
  • Panditrao - to promote learning, spirituality and settle religious disputes.
  • Nyayadhish - the highest judicial authority.

Military

Sindhudurg fortress from mainland, a sea fort constructed by Shivaji.
Shivaji demonstrated great skill in creating his military organisation, which lasted till the demise of the Maratha empire. He was one of the pioneers of commando actions, then known as ganimi kava.[46] His Mavala army's war cry was Har Har Mahadev ("Hail Lord Our God", Har and Mahadev being common names of Shiva).[8] Shivaji was responsible for many significant changes in military organization:
  • A standing army belonging to the state, called paga.
  • All war horses belonged to the state; responsibility for their upkeep rested on the Sovereign.
  • Creation of part time soldiers from peasants who worked for eight months in their fields and supported four months in war for which they were paid.
  • Highly mobile and light infantry and cavalry excelling in commando tactics.
  • The introduction of a centralized intelligence department; Bahirjee Naik was the foremost spy who provided Shivaji with enemy information in all of Shivaji's campaigns.
  • A potent and effective navy.
  • Introduction of field craft, such as guerrilla warfare, commando actions, and swift flanking attacks.
  • Innovation of weapons and firepower, innovative use of traditional weapons like the tiger claw (vaghnakh) and vita.
  • Militarisation of large swathes of society, across all classes, with the entire peasant population of settlements and villages near forts actively involved in their defence.[8]
Shivaji realized the importance of having a secure coastline and protecting the western Konkan coastline from the attacks of Siddi's fleet.[8][16][47] His strategy was to build a strong navy to protect and bolster his kingdom. He was also concerned about the growing dominance of British Indian naval forces in regional waters and actively sought to resist it. For this reason he is also referred to as the "Father of Indian Navy".[48]

Forts

Suvela Machi, view of southern sub-plateaux, as seen from Ballekilla, Rajgad.
Shivaji captured strategically important forts at Murumbdev (Rajgad), Torana, Kondana (Sinhagad) and Purandar and laid the foundation of swaraj or self rule. Toward the end of his career, he had a control of 360 forts to secure his growing kingdom. Shivaji himself constructed about 15-20 totally new forts (including key sea forts like Sindhudurg), but he also rebuilt or repaired many strategically placed forts to create a chain of 300 or more, stretched over a thousand kilometres across the rugged crest of the Western Ghats. Each were placed under three officers of equal status lest a single traitor be bribed or tempted to deliver it to the enemy. The officers (sabnis, havladar, sarnobhat) acted jointly and provided mutual checks and balance.

Navy

Shivaji built a strong naval presence across long coast of Konkan and Goa to protect sea trade, to protect the lands from sack of prosperity of subjects from coastal raids, plunder and destruction by Arabs, Portuguese, British, Abyssinians and pirates. Shivaji started navy in Kalyan. Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa for building fighting navy as well as trade. He also built a number of sea forts and bases for repair, storage and shelter. Shivaji fought many lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline. The fleet grew to reportedly 160 to 700 merchant, support and fighting vessels. He started trading with foreigners on his own after possession of 8 or 9 ports in the Deccan.[16][49][50]

Promotion of Sanskrit

The house of Shivaji was well acquainted with Sanskrit and promoted the language; his father Shahaji had supported scholars such as Jayram Pindye, who prepared Shivaji's seal. Shivaji continued this Sanskrit promotion, giving his forts names such as Sindhudurg, Prachandgarh, and Suvarndurg. He named the Ashta Pradhan (council of ministers) as per Sanskrit nomenclature with terms such as Nyayadhish, and Senapat, and commissioned the political treatise Rajya Vyavahar Kosh. His Rajpurohit, Keshav Pandit, was himself a Sanskrit scholar and poet.[51]
A significant aspect of Shivaji's rule was his attempt to revive ancient Hindu political tradition and court conventions. He introduced Marathi in the place of Persian as the court language, revived Sanskrit administrative nomenclature and compiled a dictionary of official terms, 'The Rajyavyavahar Kosh', to facilitate change over.[52]

Religious Policy : Secular Maratha Empire

Shivaji was a devout Hindu but he respected all religions within the region. Shivaji had great respect for other contemporary saints, most notably Samarth Ramdas for whom he had a lot of faith. Shivaji requested Ramdas swami to move his residence to a fort named Parali & establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed Sajjangad (सज्जनगड) - Fort of the sacred. [53]
Shivaji allowed his subjects freedom of religion and opposed forced conversion.[8][54] The first thing Shivaji did after a conquest was to promulgate protection of mosques and Muslim tombs.[8]
He commanded the respect and fealty of the Muslims under his command by his fair treatment of his friends as well as enemies.[8] Kafi Khan, the Mughal historian and Francois Bernier, a French traveler, spoke highly of his religious policy. He also brought converts like Netaji Palkar and Bajaji back into Hinduism. Shivaji's sentiments of inclusivity and tolerance of other religions can be seen in an admonishing letter to Aurangzeb, in which he wrote:
Verily, Islam and Hinduism are terms of contrast. They are used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling in the outlines. If it is a mosque, the call to prayer is chanted in remembrance of Him. If it is a temple, the bells are rung in yearning for Him alone.[55]
He had many Muslims in his military and ministries.[56] His most trusted general in all his campaigns was Haider Ali Kohari; Darya Sarang was chief of armoury; Ibrahim Khan and Daulat Khan were prominent in the navy; and Siddi Ibrahim was chief of artillery.[55][57][58] Shivaji had particular respect for the Sufi tradition of Islam. Shivaji used to pray at the mausoleum of the great Sufi Muslim saint Baba Sharifuddin. He also visited the abode of another great Sufi saint, Shaikh Yacub of the Konkan, and took his blessings. He called Hazrat Baba of Ratnagiri - "bahut thorwale bhau", meaning "great elder brother".[55][57]
Shivaji also promulgated other enlightened values, prohibiting slavery in his kingdom,[8] and applying a humane and liberal policy to the women of his state.[55]

Character

During his long military career and his many campaigns his strong religious and warrior code of ethics, exemplary character and deep seated and uncompromising spiritual values directed him to offer protection to houses of worship, non-combatants, women and children. He always showed respect, defended and protected places of worship of all denominations and religions.[55][57]
Shivaji was once offered as a war booty an extremely beautiful young lady, by an uninformed Maratha captain. She was the daughter-in-law of a defeated Muslim Amir (local ruler) of Kalyan, Maharashtra. Shivaji was reported to have told the lady that her beauty was mesmerizing and that if his mother was as beautiful as her, he would have been beautiful as well. He told her to go back to her family in peace, unmolested and under his protection. His behaviour, was noted by those around him, to be always of the highest moral caliber. He clearly and unambiguously embodied the virtues and ideals of a true nobleman.[55][57]
He boldly risked his life, his treasure and his personal well being and that of his family, to openly challenge his immensely larger enemies to defend and achieve freedom and independence for his country. And in that lay the foundations of the greatness of Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was based not as much on his successes on or off the battlefields, or on the strength of his arms, or his clever strategies or his noble birth but was truly based on his selfless and courageously fierce actions he undertook against any and all enemies, on behalf of his beloved Vatan (sacred homeland/nation). He defied overwhelming odds stacked against him by the great Mughal empire and the sultanates, he overcame and succeeded in face of unprecedented level of succeedingly tough trials.[57]
He did not spend any resources on projects designed for self-aggrandizement or vanity, instead he was propelled by his sense of Dharma (sacred duty) to his people and country which lead him to directly challenge the dangerous, powerful and oppressive rule of the Adilshahis, Nizams and the Mughals. His legacy is heroism, selflessness, freedom, independence, brotherhood and unwavering courage, and as such he is a great role model for the ages.[57]
Shivaji struck a deep chord with his followers and the citizenry. The high level of admiration and respect he earned from his followers and subjects sets him apart from most other Indian kings or chieftains in the recorded Indian history. Even today he is venerated in India and especially in the state of Maharashtra with awe and admiration and is viewed as a hero of epic proportions.[57]
Swami Vivekananda portrayed Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja as:[59]
Shivaji is one of the greatest national saviours who emancipated our society and our Dharma when they were faced with the threat of total destruction. He was a peerless hero, a pious and God-fearing king and verily a manifestation of all the virtues of a born leader of men described in our ancient scriptures. He also embodied the deathless spirit of our land and stood as the light of hope for our future.

Legacy

Statue of Shivaji at Raigad Fort
Shivaji died in April 1680, and his eldest son Sambhaji took power after being challenged by his stepmother Soyarabai. Meanwhile, emperor Aurangzeb's son had a falling out with his father and joined forces with Sambhaji, thereafter Aurangzeb personally led his imperial army to attack and to completely destroy the Maratha threat once and for all. He threw the full might of the Mughal empire toward this goal and for a while it seemed that he would achieve his objective, especially after the capture, torture and the murder of Sambhaji for his refusal to bow down before him and convert to Islam.[60] Turmoil and uncertainty gripped the Maratha Confederacy, and they were forced to move their capital from Raigad near Pune to Gingee in the south in current-day state of Tamil Nadu.
The Maratha nation thereafter stabilized itself and became better organised and began to undertake fast raids on the slow moving Mughal columns. Able and courageous generals such as Dhanaji Jadhav and Santaji Ghorpade were able to take the initiative and effectively bogged down the powerful Mughal army in to an protracted 27 year war. In the last few years of this war both the Maratha generals delivered severe body blows to the Mughals on the shifting battlefieds in Maharashtra. And in 1697 Aurangzeb withdrew from the Deccan for the last time in sickness and thereafter recalled his full army a few years later. After this time the Mughals never again posed a great danger to the Marathas.
In fact the Mughals had depleted their vast treasuries in trying to subjugate the Marathas but had instead weakened their empire and were then only a shadow of their former glory. Within sixty years of Auragzeb's death the Marathas under the Peshwa's leadership soundly defeated the Mughals and forced them to sign the Ahmedia treaty whereby they relinquished their vast empire in the sub-content to the Marathas. They were allowed to keep nominal control of Delhi while the Marathas were able to collect taxes from vast swaths of present-day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, down all the way to the Southern tip of the Indian subcontinent.
At his death, Shivaji's army consisted of tens of thousands of cavalry, a sizeable infantry, horses, camels and hundreds of elephants, fighting vessels in his naval fleet and artillery pieces. His military structures included about a hundred forts built by him (including naval), and his forces were led by a number of commanders and senior generals of all castes, including Muslims.[10]

Modern influence

Because of his struggle against an imperial power, Shivaji became an icon of the Indian independence movement that followed two centuries later. He is remembered as a just and wise warrior-king. School texts in India describe Shivaji's rule as heroic, exemplary and inspiring and he is considered the founder of the modern Hindu nation; his policies were instrumental in building a distinct Hindu identity and infusing it with strong martial and moral traditions.
The World Heritage site of Victoria Terminus and Sahar International Airport in Mumbai were renamed Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport respectively in Shivaji's honour, as have many public buildings and spaces in recent years. The School of Naval Engineering of the Indian Navy is named as INS Shivaji.

Contemporary foreign accounts

Many foreign travellers who visited India during Shivaji Maharaj's time wrote about him.
  • Abbe Carre was a French traveller who visited India around 1670; his account was published as Voyage des Indes Orientales mêlé de plusieurs histories curieuses at Paris in 1699. Some quotes:[61]
Hardly had he won a battle or taken to town in one end of the kingdom than he was at the other extremity causing havoc everywhere and surprising important places. To this quickness of movement he added, like Julius Caesar, a clemency and bounty that won him the hearts of those his arms had worsted." "In his courage and rapidity he does not ill resemble the king of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus.
I forgot to mention that during pillage of Sourate, Seva-ji, the Holy Seva-ji! Respected the habitation of the reverend father Ambrose, the Capuchin missionary. 'The Frankish Padres are good men', he said 'and shall not be attacked.' He spared also the house of a deceased Delale or Gentile broker, of the Dutch, because assured that he had been very charitable while alive.
  • Warriors and statesmen in India, Sir E.Sullivan:[63]
Shivaji possessed every quality requisite for success in the disturbed age in which he lived: cautious and wily in council, he was fierce and daring in action; he possessed an endurance that made him remarkable even amongst his hardy subjects, and an energy and decision that would in any age raised him to distinction.
  • Cosme da Guarda says in "Life of the Celebrated Shivaji":[64]
Such was the good treatment Shivaji accorded to people and such was the honesty with which he observed the capitulations that none looked upon him without a feeling of love and confidence. By his people he was exceedingly loved. Both in matters of reward and punishment he was so impartial that while he lived he made no exception for any person; no merit was left unrewarded, no offence went unpunished; and this he did with so much care and attention that he specially charged his governors to inform him in writing of the conduct of his soldiers, mentioning in particular those who had distinguished themselves, and he would at once order their promotion, either in rank or in pay, according to their merit. He was naturally loved by all men of valor and good conduct.