It is not heroes that make history, but history that makes heroes.
- Joseph Stalin.
This piece is my attempt to throw a light on true Sambhaji. We will go through Sambhaji's Life journey, his governance including administrative, religious policies, his social and literary contributions. Please feel free to comment.
मराठी आवृत्ती करता येथे क्लिक करा.
Early Life
Sambhaji or Shambhu Raje, as he was fondly called, was the elder and beloved son of Great Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji. He was the second Chhatrapati of Swarajya(Self Rule). He was born at Purandar fort on May 14, 1657. His mother was Shivaji's first wife Saibai from Nimbalkar clan of Phaltan. Saibai died when Sambhaji was just two years old. Sambhaji was raised by Jijabai, his grand mother.
Sambhaji was married to a minor Yesubai, daughter of Pilajirao Shirke. This was a political marriage. Pilajirao came to service of Shivaji Maharaj after defeat of a powerful Deshmukh he was serving. This matrimonial alliance strengthened Maratha power in the coastal area. On one side it provided access to coastal area and the other side it strengthened the naval power of Marathas.
Sambhaji was well educated and highly sophisticated. Keshav Bhat and Umaji Pandit who were ancestral teachers of Bhosale family were assigned the work of schooling of Sambhaji. Both of them not only initiated alphabets learning but nurtured him the traditional Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Further Sambhaji was also imparted basic military education such as horse riding, military campaigns, guerilla warfare, etc. By the time when Sambhaji was eight years old, he was physically fit and mentally alert due to proper education.
Purandar Treaty and Agra Meet
In year 1666, Aurangzeb sent Mirjha Raja Jaysingh, A Rajput Sardar to check on Shivaji. Shivaji Maharaj had to do a political treaty with Mirjha Raja to avoid battle and losses. As per treaty he surrendered 23 forts and an amount of 4 Lakh Hons (currency at the time) to Mughals. Sambhaji was taken as a collateral by Mughal sardar until he possessed all the forts of treaty. Sambhaji had to enter in politics and he was asked to shoulder some responsibilities. Sambhaji was just 9 years old at the time.
Also according to treaty, Shivaji and Sambhaji both had to visit Agra to meet Aurangzeb on his 50th birthday. Aurangzeb dishonored Shivaji by making him stand in row behind his generals. This made Shivaji furious and he left Darbar. Aurangzeb imprisoned Shivaji. Sambhaji had to visit Aurangzeb daily in that period. Shivaji and Sambhaji escaped dramatically with wit. Sambhaji was left behind for few months with a Brahmin family in Mathura and Shivaji Maharaj left for Maharashtra. Sambhaji came to Maharashtra after few months. In that period Sambhaji also acquired knowledge of Brij language.
Depart and Reunion
Many of Shivaji's ministers including Annaji Datto, Moropant pingale, and Hiroji Farzand didn't remain loyal throughout. They started misusing power for their own benefit. Sambhaji spotted these inaccuracies. They wanted to oust Sambhaji to enhance their own positions and importance in the affairs of the state and use it to their advantage. They left no stone unturned to malign Sambhaji's image and alleged Sambhaji frequently.
These frequent complaints against Sambhaji increased tensions between Shivaji and Sambhaji. Humiliated by these allegations, Sambhaji left Swarajya to join Mughal Sardar Diler Khan in quest to prove his bravery. Realizing the fact that Sambhaji was reluctant to get into war against Shivaji, Diler Khan planned to arrest Sambhaji and take him to Delhi. After realizing his mistake Sambhaji returned back to Swarajya. Shivaji Maharaj helped him to escape Mughal base safely.
*Other analysis of the incident by historian Dr. Shivade says that, defection of Sambhaji to Mughals was rather a part of a plan. Shivaji just had his southern quest. Military and animals needed to rest for few months. Sambhaji was acting as defected to Mughals just to delay military clashes. If we study Shivaji Maharaj thoroughly, he indeed have used many such tricks against enemy.
Coronation
Shivaji Maharaj died on April 3, 1680. Annaji and others conspired again and made an attempt to arrest Sambhaji at the Panhala Fort, where he was staying at the time. They wanted to crown his minor stepbrother, Rajaram as Maratha king and wanted to take control over Maratha Kingdom. Rajaram's mother, Soyarabai, was involved in the plan.
Supreme Commander of Maratha forces Hambirrao Mohite, who was Soyarbai's brother, was sent to imprison Sambhaji. However he supported Sambhaji as the rightful heir to the throne. It was mainly because of Hambirraos support that Sambhaji was able to ascend to the throne on January 16, 1681. Sambhaji pardoned all involved in conspiracy and reappointed Moropant Pingale as a Peshwa. After the death of Moropant his son Nilopant was appointed as Peshwa by Sambhaji which strengthened his side.
 |
| Second Chhatrapati of Marathas Sambhaji Maharaj |
Major Military Clashes
Attack on Burhanpur
Mughal Sardar Bahadurkhan Kokaltash was in charge of Burhanpur, a Mughal stronghold. He left Burhanpur to attend a wedding, giving the charge of Burhanpur to Kakarkhan. Bahadurkhan also took with him most of the territorial army.
Sambhaji used this opportunity. He tricked Mughals into thinking that Marathas were going to attack Surat that had been twice plundered by Shivaji. However Sambhaji along with Hambirrao attacked Burhanpur within a fortnight of his coronation. In face of sudden surprise attack the Mughals could not save Burhanpur.
The Marathas plundered all the Mughal treasure in Burhanpur, about twenty million rupees. The people of Burhanpur, especially women and children, were not harmed.
Peril of Aurangzeb
Fourth son of Aurangzeb, Akbar revolted against Aurangzeb and fled to Maharashtra. He had ambition to dethrone Aurangzeb and be a Mughal emperor. Akbar knew that there was only one king in Hindustan capable of helping him against Aurangzeb was Sambhaji. In an act of political acumen, Sambhaji gave shelter to Akbar. Sambhaji giving refuge to Akbar, incensed Aurangzeb to no end. He took it very personally.
 |
| Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb |
Aurangzeb marched to Maharashtra in 1682 with about half a million troops, which at that time was perhaps the largest army in the world. Aurangzeb's army was about ten times the Maratha army. It was a disproportionate battle in all senses.
Mughal commanders started attacks from small Ramshej fort near Nashik which we will come back to later.
In the meantime, conspiracies against Sambhaji were continued by Annaji, Moropant, Hiroji Farzand and Soyarabai. They poisoned Sambhaji's food but Sambhaji was fortunately saved as the plot was uncovered. They even tried using Akbar's help to dethrone Sambhaji. Akbar uncovered all this to Sambhaji. Sambhaji arrested these ministers and had them executed under Elephants feet. Soyarabai was kept imprisoned. She died a year later.
Battle of Ramshej Fort
Aurangzeb’s army had started attack on Maratha Kingdom from Ramshej fort. Ramshej is a small fort near Nashik. The fort had a natural defence and no easy access point. It only had about 700 Maratha army on fort. Mughal commanders claimed that they would win the Ramshej fort within hours.
Maratha army gave a tough fight and didn't let Mughals enter the fort. Sambhajiraje and his other army batallions would do surprize attacks on Mughal army encircling the Ramshej fort. Aurangzeb sent thousands of army and even tried changing the commanders twice in disguise but, the fight for the fort lasted for years. It was only after when new Sardar Suryaji Jedhe was bribed by Mughals, they could enter the fort. It took six and half ears for Mughals to enter this fort.
Janjira (War Against Siddis)
The island of Janjira was under the control of the Siddis. Janjira was strategically very important and impregnable fort in the Arabian Sea, with cannons embedded all around. It also had high economic importance as the traders had to pay large amounts to pass by this fort. The Marathas had earlier tried conquering Janjira many times but failed. Siddis often used to plunder into Kokan area. This was a big problem. People were frightened of Siddis. Sambhaji planned to capture Janjira.
Sambhaji planted spies in the Janjira fort headed by Kondaji Farzand and he was waiting for them to blow up the gunpowder store in the fort. Unfortunately the spies were caught as the plan got disclosed to Siddis. Except one, all of them were killed.
Marathas headed by Sambhaji attacked the fort from all sides. Siddis retaliated with their cannons and ships and did not give up. Sambhaji then decided to build a bridge of stones from the shore to the island fort. The construction was very risky, difficult and consumed time. When about half of the bridge had been built, news came that Aurangzeb had sent troops on Raigad to ravage the Maratha kingdom. Sambhaji had to leave Janjira to counter the Mughal army. Siddis never tried to interfere into Maratha territory thereafter.
Remains of the half built bridge can still be seen at the Jajira.
War Against Portuguese
There were chances of Portuguese providing supplies to Mughals and allowing unloading of Mughal ships at the Portuguese ports in Goa. Portuguese were driven by arrogance and were trying to take advantage of Mughal attack on Marathas. Portuguese were dreaming to take a half of Maratha territory while Sambhaji was busy fighting Mughals.
Sambhaji undertook a campaign against the Portuguese. Marathas stormed Goa and started conquering Portuguese territory and forts. Portuguese weren’t able stand the Marathas. Marathas took about three fourth of the Goa territory. Common people in Goa rose in rebellion and started thrashing the priests, whom they accused of carrying out forced conversions. Sambhaji controlled the irate people of Goa.
Lost of all hopes, Portuguese ruler Count De Alwore and his ministers even took out the body of St. Xavier and started praying for their safety. And, to their astonishment, Sambhaji had to depart from Goa, as Aurangzeb's son Muazzam was marching with about 40,000 troops to run wild in the Maratha kingdom.
Battle of Mysore
To take advantage of the situation that massive Mughal army is onto Maratha territory, Chikka Devaraya also started intrusion into Maratha territory. Sambhaji sent his emissary to Chikka Devaraya. The emissary was insulted in the Mysore court. Furious at this, Sambhaji decided to attack Mysore. He sought help from his step-uncle Ekoji Raje of Jinji as well.
Chikka Devaraya decided to stop the Marathas before they could reach Mysore’s territory. Maratha army was greeted with a heavy shower of arrows. The long-ranged metallic arrows from the Mysore bowmen started inflicting fatal wounds on the Marathas. Thus, realizing the increasing Maratha casualties, Sambhaji had to retreat for the time being and camped nearby.
Sambhaji then ordered all the local cobblers to prepare leather clothing. Marathas made bows and arrows using locally available wood. The Mysore bowmen had longer, stronger and better quality bows and arrows than the Marathas. But, their arrows proved futile, as the oil-laden leather clothing neutralized the effects of the arrows. To counter them, Maratha bowmen began responding with lit arrows. Some of them struck the explosive stores and caused explosions in the fort. This led to high casualties in the Mysore army. Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort fell into Maratha hands. Chikka Devraya realising the situation sued for peace and agreed to abide by the terms of the Marathas. This victory was a success point in the military intelligence of Sambhaji.
 | |
| Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort! Sambhaji Maharaj took this fort with powerful attack. |
Epilogue
Sambhaji thwarfted two major Mughal attacks, by using well proven strategy of cutting of Mughal supplies, raiding Mughal territory to draw off the Mughal army, and seeking peace with Bijapur, Golkonda, the Portuguese and English. warned Siddis and Chikkadev Rai to refrain from helping Mughals in any way. Aurangzeb wanted to somehow arrest Sambhaji to put end to the long war.
Fall of Bijapur and Golkonda
Sambhaji had made allegiance with Adilshah of Bijapur and Qutubshah of Golkonda seeking to concentrate on Mughals. Aurangzeb,
with the help of a
massive army, defeated the Adilshah and Qutubshah
empires one by one (1686 - 1687), as they were not helping Mughals
against Sambhaji. Aurangzeb acquired two generals, Mukarrab Khan and
Sarjakhan, from Qutubshahi and Adilshahi empires respectively.
Capture and execution
In early 1689 at Samgameshwar, while moving from Panhala to Raigadh with a small contingent, Sambhaji was captured by Mughals. Ganoji Shirke, one of Sambhaji's brother-in-laws, turned a traitor and helped Aurangzeb's commander Muqarrab Khan to locate, reach and attack Sangameshwar.
Sambhaji, Kavi (Poet) Kalash and his men were surrounded from all sides. Marathas took out their swords, roared ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and pounced upon the far too numerous Mughals. A bloody skirmish took place and Sambhaji was captured on 1 February 1689.
 |
| Stone arch at Tulapur confluence where Sambhaji was executed |
Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash were kept captive for about 40 days. In this period Aurangzeb offered to pardon Sambhaji's life in return of surrender of all his forts and give all the names of Mughal generals who were helping Sambhaji. Sambhaji didn't bent to this and didn't give any alms to Aurangzeb's offerings. He was tortured mercilessly in this about 40 days period. After killing Kavi Kalash, a few days later on March 11, 1689 Sambhaji was beheaded and body was cut into pieces and thrown on a bank of Bhima river. It is said that Mahar people from village Vadhu (which is half kilometer away from Tulapur) collected those pieces and did Sambhaji's funeral ceremony.
Governance
Rajmudra (Official Stamp)
श्री शंभो: शिवजातस्य मुद्रा द्यौरिव राजते।
यदंकसेविनी लेखा वर्तते कस्य नोपरि।।
Meaning in Marathi:
शिव पुत्र श्री शंभो यांची राजमुद्रा आकाशाप्रमाणे अमर्याद आहे व ज्याच्या
अंकाच्या आधारावर आश्वस्त अशी मुद्रा कोणाच्याही वर छत्र म्हणून राहील।
Attempted Translation in English:
Kingdom of Sambhaji, Shivaji's son is endless as sky. And it will always be shelter for all the people.
This is a stamp was used by Sambhaji Maharaj on his official letters, Orders etc.
People's King
The nature was against the state. There was a drought situation which continued for two years 1687-1688. Due to scarcity of food and water the state was in difficulties. Sambhaji was able to face these adverse conditions by strict adherence towards the policy and plan to eradicate drought conditions.
The construction, repairs of forts, palaces and irrigation dams amply illustrate the patronage of Sambhaji towards art and architecture. His appreciation of art and and his aesthetic sense can be studied on the basis of available evidences of his period.
Religious Policy
Sambhaji was not against Muslims. He continued the policy of Shivaji to support the peaceful Muslim saints and prophets. He even had a Muslim Guru Yakubbaba Auliya along beside Ramdas and Tukaram.
Shivaji Maharaj reverted Netaji Palkar to Hinduism who was forcibly converted into islam. Sambhaji carried the legacy of his father. Sambhaji Maharaj held ‘reconversion ceremonies’ for the Hindus who had earlier converted into other religions due to allurement, force and deceit.
Respect for Women
Sambhaji treated women with respect and of equal to men. He gave many rights of administration to his wife Yesubai. It was a bold move at those times. Yesubai even had a stamp of her own.
Sambhaji: A Pandit
Sambhaji knew many languges including Marathi, Sanskrit, English and Kannada.
Sambhaji was poet by heart. He wrote some excellent poetries at very young age. Some of them include Budhbhushan in Sanskrit, Nayikabhed, Saatsatak, Nakhshikha in Brij language.
 |
| Original Manuscript of Budhbhushan |
Sambhaji Maharaj wrote Budhbhushan when he was in Shringarpur region between the year 1676-1678. The main focus of the book is politics. First Shloka praises Lord Ganesha and second is tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. One can infer reading this book that Sambhaji had read thoroughly Hindu literatures viz., Ramayan, Mahabharat etc.
In Budhbhushan Sambhaji praises Shivaji Maharaj with following lines:
कलिकालभुजंगमावलीढं निखिलं धर्मवेक्ष्य विक्लवं य: । जगत: पतिरंशतोवतापो: (तीर्ण:) स शिवछत्रपतिजयत्यजेय: ॥
Meaning: As demon anaconda swirls around and diminishes the righteousness, A great Shivaji Raje took incarnation to save the earth! Hail to glory of King Shivaji.
After Sambhaji Maharaj
After Shambhu Raje's death Marathas continued fight with Mughals. Rajaram was coronated as Chattrapati. The Commander-in-Chief of Maratha army, Mhaloji Ghorpade, who succeeded Hambirrao Mohite, died in the ambush at Sangameshwar. A few days after Sambhaji's death, the capital Raigad fell to the Mughals and Sambhaji's wife Yesubai and son Shahu were captured. However, Rajaram shifted the Maratha capital to Jinji in deep South. Marathas under Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav kept harrasing the Mughal army!
After Sambhaji, Aurangzeb continued his grim war against the Marathas for another 18 years, though he occupied the whole of Maharashtra and nearly the whole of India except Mysore and Tamil Nadu yet he could not capture the whole territory of Marathas and ended up wasting resources. Aurangzeb died at the age of 90 in Aurangabad still fight with Marathas on. He lacked a good successor which hastened the end of the Mughal Empire.
Legacy
Sambhaji Maharaj fought against Aurangzeb's army of about half a million for nine years bravely and at the end offered his head for Swarajya, for independance and sovereinity of people but didn't loose a single important fort and didn't surrender. He instilled a new pride and zeist amonst people in the period most critical and strengthened Swarajya in many ways including military, ideals of independance on the sloulders of which Maratha empire kept fighting against enormous army of Mughals and made Aurangzeb's conquest a fail.
 |
| Samadhi place Sambhaji Maharaj and Kavi Kalash |
There have been many controvercies surrounding this national hero until recent findings. Marathi dramas and ballads have been downplaying Sambhaji, painting his character as a drunk and of loose character. There are no findings to support such allegations. These are nothing but false allegations against this war like prince.
*War like prince: As used by Portuguese papers.
American historian Steward Gordon in his book The Marathas 1600-1818 emphasizes:
During Sambhaji's reign we find no evidence to support notions made popular by Marathi drama and ballads that Sambhaji was constantly drunk or drugged or in his harem. Quite to the contrary there are extant administrative orders right upto the month of his execution.
It is his whole life, his struggle, valor and sacrifice for Swarajya that Sambhaji Maharaj is and will be remembered and keep inspiring us for ages to come. Truly, a people's king!
I shall take a pause with the famous quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero:
Poor is the nation that has no heroes, but poorer still is the nation that having heroes, fails to remember and honor them.
Jay Hind!
References:
1. Sambhaji by Vishwas Patil.
2. The Marathas 1600-1818 by Stewart Gordon
3. Struggle and Sacrifice: A research paper by M. N. Karbhari
4. संभाजी महाराजांचे साहित्य
5. Budhbhushan
