The Expedition Of Siddi Jauhar

After routing Afzalkhan, Shivaji Maharaj captured Adilshahi forts of Panhala, Vasantgad, Khelna. He renamed Khelna as 'Vishalgad'. Adilshah sent Siddi Jauhar, the Sardar of the Karnul region, against Shivaji Maharaj in AD 1660.Adilshah gave Siddi the title 'Salbatkhan'. Shivaji Maharaj took shelter in Panhala fort. Siddi's soldiers laid siege to the fort for about 5 months. Siddi showed no signs of relenting. So, Shivaji Maharaj opened talks with Siddi. This led to slacklessness in the siege. Taking advantage of this situation, Maharaj escaped through Panhalgad and proceeded Vishalgad. Siddi came to know this. His army pursued Shivaji Maharaj. Bajiprabhu Deshpande  accepted the responsibility of stopping Siddi's army at the foot of Vishalgad. Bajiprabhu stopped Siddi's army at the Ghod pass near Gajapur. He fought with greatest valour.He died a hero's death. Also, while proceeding to Vishalgad Shivaji Maharaj crushed  Adilshahi Sardars Dalvi of Palwan and Surve of Shringarpur. Maharaj reached Vishalgad safely. While Shivaji Maharaj was trapped at Panhala, Mughal sardar Shaistekhan had invaded Pune province. Shivaji Maharaj realized that it was not safe to fight both powers at the same time. So, Maharaj entered into treaty with Adilshahi. As per the treaty, he returned the fort of Panhala to the Adilshahi.

Defeat Of Afzalkhan

Shivaji Maharaj had started capturing the forts in the jagir and the surrounding area in the Adilshahi territory. The work of founding of swaraj had gained momentum on the Konkan coast.All these matters were a challenge to the Adilshahi rule.

At that time, Badi Sahiba was looking after the administration of Adilshahi. She sent Afzalkhan, a powerful and experienced Adilshahi General, to curb Shivaji.

Afzalkhan came from Bijapur to Wai via Tuljapur, Pandharpur and Rahimatpur harassing people. A meeting between Shivaji Maharaj and Afzalkhan took place on 10th November 1659 at the foot of Pratapgad near Wai. At the meeting, Afzalkhan attempted treachery. In consequence, Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzalkhan.  

Shivaji Maharaj paid compensation to the soldiers who were injured. He rewarded those who fought well. The soldiers and officers of Afzalkhan who felt in the hands of Shivaji Maharaj recieved a good treatment.

The Capture Of Javali

Chandrarao More of Javali in Satara ditrict was a powerful sardar in the Adilshahi. He opposed the founding of Swaraj. Shivaji Maharaj attacked Javali and captured it in AD 1656. He also captured Raigad. He captured Kalyan and Bhiwandi on the Konkan coast. There he came into contact with Portugese and British powers. Shivaji Maharaj realized that to fight these powers, it was necessary to build strong naval.

Towards The Swaraj

The Forts situated within the jagir of Shivaji Maharaj were not under his control, but under the control of Adilshah. So, Shivaji Maharaj decided to acquire the forts that were within his own jagir.

He captured the forts of Murumbdev, Torana, Kondhana, and Purandar and laid the foundation of Swaraj. He repaired the fort of Murumdev and renamed it as Rajgad. Rajgad was First capital of the Swaraj.

Rajmudra(Royal Seal)

The objective of Shivaji Maharaj in founding Swaraj is clearly expressed in his official seal of that time. The following Sanskrit Lines are inscribed in it:

'प्रतिपच्चंद्रलेखेव वार्धिष्णुर्विश्ववंदिता 1 

शाह्सुनो: शिवस्येशा मुद्रा भद्राय राजते 11 '

Through his mudra, Shivaji Maharaj has assured his people that 'Ever-Increasing Like The Crescent Moon, The Kingdom Of Shivaji, The Son Of Shahaji, will always seek the welfare of the people.'

Companions and Associates of Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji Maharaj started the work of founding the Swaraj in the Maval region. The Maval Terrain was full of hills and valleys and is not  easily accessible. After creating a feeling of trust and affection among the peoples, many companions and associates joined him. On the strength of these associates, Shivaji Maharaj undertook the cause of Swaraj.

The Foundation Of Swaraj

Shivaji Maharaj was born at the Shivneri fort near Junnar in Pune district on the day of Phalgun Vadya Tritiya in the Shaka year 1551, that is, on 19 February 1630.

His father's name was Shahajiraje and his mother's name was Jijabai.

Shahajiraje received a jagir from Adilshah of Bijapur. Shahajiraje entrusted the administration of the Pune jagir to Shivajiraje and Veermata Jijabai. Dadaji Kondev, a loyal and experienced officer was commissioned to accompany them.Dadaji established peace and order in the jagir.

The Work Of Sants

Sant Dnyaneshwar

         In Maharashtra, the tradition of Sants was carried on by Sants coming from various strata of the Society. Sant Dnyaneshwar composed 'Bhavartha Deepika' or 'Dnyaneshwari' to explain meaning of  BhagvatGeeta.. He also composed 'Amritanubhava'. He laid the foundation of the varkari movement.

Sant Namdeo

Sant Namdeo's abhanga  compositions are well-known. His verses are included in 'Granth Sahib' of Sikhs. He spread the message of Bhagwat Dharma from village to village.

Sant Eknath

Sant Eknath's compostions have lot of variety. They include bharuda, abhanga, gaulan, etc. His bharudas and gaulans uphold the tradition of folk theatre. He asked the Sankrit scholars forcefully,"संस्कृत वाणी देवे केली 1 तरी प्राकृत काय चोरापासुनि झाली ?"  i.e., 'If sanskrit language is created by God , then marathi language is created by theif or what?'

Sant Tukaram

Sant Tukaram's abhangas are very pleasing and very lucid. Sant Tukaram' s abhangas are precious jewels in the treasure of Marathi literature.

Sant Ramdas explained the importance of physical fitness to people. He urged people to unite. He condemned a life of idleness. He gave the message of industriousness.

The Calamity Of A Famine

                        Agiculture was dependent on rainwater. If it did not rain, crops would fail. It became difficult for the people to get foodgrains and other things.

                        A great famine occured in Maharashtra in AD1630. People were greatly distressed due to this famine. It has been described in these words ---'People were ready to sell themselves for a piece of bhakri, but there was nobody to buy them'.

Pargana

                   Many villages together made a Pargana. Pune Pargana consisted of 290 villages. Deshpandes and the Deshmukhs were the watandar officers of the Pargana. The Deshpande was the chief of all the Kulkarnis in the Pargana.

Mauja

                      Most of the people lived in villages. The villages were also known as 'Mauja'. The chief of the village was the Patil. A Kulkarni helped the Patil in his work. The Kulkarni kept the record of the revenue collected.

Maharashtra Before The Times Of Shivaji Maharaj

                      At the beginning of seventeenth centuary AD, most of the territory was in the possession of the Nizamshah of Ahmednagar and the Adilshah of Bijapur. In the coastal belt of Konkan, there were two sea powers --- the Portugese and the Siddi. The British and the Dutch also had their factories on the coast. There was constant conflicts among these. These conflicts had led to instability and insecurity in Maharashtra.