Mastani, Rakma Bai Pg30 | All about MASTANI, Chimaji, Nana Saheb Pg31 - Page 10

Originally posted by: MaddyO

Of course THE THREAD 😃  It had caused such furore for so many reasons! 😉😆

Originally posted by: MaddyO

Abhay.. please check your PM 😃😆

Originally posted by: history_geek

Views on Episode 7 to 10

Betrayal to Sambhaji ,
Self destruction by Aurangzeb , and
Post on Victory at Singhagad - 347th anniversary

I am unable to respond to the comments separately, here , due to time constraints. I hope it is alright. I am reading comments here but not able to write more. Learning lot of new things from all of you. Thanks for adding / correcting. :)

Though, please take care to write certain important things in English too as i don't understand Marathi. I can only read it a bit that too very very slowly , but i can not understand when i hear someone speaking / singing. { As mind takes too long to decode. By that time, the speaker speaks at least 100 words and i am lost. Lol. } I couldn't understand that song.

LOL I guess need to search for wording of the song on net to translate.  The lines Diksha had shared - very rough literal translation :) (though frankly the passion and emotion in the words is lost in my translation)

Myanatun usale talwarichi paat

blazing sword is drawn from the sheath

vedat marathe veer daudale saat

Seven crazed maratha warriors rode away passionately

This poem/song is about the story of how Prataprao Gujar and 6 others rode away to Mugal camp & 7 fought bravely against thousands & sacrificed their lives



Betrayal to Sambhaji

Since you are discussing who all betrayed Sambhaji. Isn't Kavi Kalash also accused time and again for betraying Sambhaji which led to his capture ?

Someone else also made this point.  I am not aware of this.  Kavi Kalash had lot of influence on Sambhaji Raje and many of his follies can also be attributed to Kavi Kalash's advice!


Aurangzeb destroyed his own empire ?
 
Also was mentioned Aurangzeb and Shivaji somewhere in previous pages. There is an interesting anecdote on Aurangzeb from Mughal account* of 1724 which says - "He virtually undid (destroyed) everything which was built by his forefathers in last 200 years." And in his death will Aurangzeb has written about how much he was fed up of Shivaji. Will write more later.

* - I think this is either biography of Mughal 'Emperor' Farukh Siyar or Muhammed Shah 'Rangila'.

Abhay I have made a separate thread here "How small Shivaji was" on the foreword of the famous book on Shivaji Maharaj - Shriman Yogi, written by Ranjit Desai. 
In the foreword historian Narhar Kurundkar has made this point.  In his obsession to defeat Marathas, Aurangzeb fought decades long war and ultimately weakened his empire & lost his life without wining the war.

Would love to read more on this, esp the will part.


Episode 7 to 10.

Didn't see much moving on history front. We have already discussed what ever is happening right now. Precap looks interesting. Balaji is to be fired from the job ? Let us see. This should not happen as this did not happen from what ever i know. But if it happens, then is this the method (dramatization) by which the makers want to show us why Balaji left the faction fo Tarabai and supported Shahu Ji later ? Let us wait and watch. Precaps can be misleading too. The kids of this show are amazing. Actually, i fall short of adjectives to describe them. Superbly talented young actors. :)



Victory at Singhagad - 347th anniversary

Right now i am here to share information about an interesting event which happened on this day (4th February) in 1670. This is related to Shivaji's re capture of Singhagarh Fort. I thought to write as we are discussing anything and everything from Shivaji - Sambhaji - Rajaram - TaraBai - Balaji - Bajirao. So, this won't be off topic.

Shivaji had to surrender this fort to Raja Jai Singh of Amer after the Treaty of Purandhar, 4 years back. This was a strategic fort and control over it meant control over entire Pune suba. If it was lost to anyone, then it was next to impossible to take it again. Even Shivaji was not sure of how will he take this fort back.

This fort was close to heart of Jija Bai, Shivaji's mother. You all can probably add more about this close association of her with this fort. I am adding what i know.

Singhagad was also related to Shahji (Shivaji's father) and even he had to surrender it at one point of time. This is also a reason.

Abhay, Sinhagad's original name was Kondhana.  This was a strategically important fort and I have read Shahaji Raje was also very fond of it.  Jijabai showed this fort from her window to Shivaji Maharaj and told him she wanted it (I guess they were on Rajgad at this time which is also a massive fort near Pune - Rajgad should not be confused with Raigad (Raigad's original name was" Rayari")


Another reason being Aurangzeb's order to demolish the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1669 and his farman to curb the religious practices of Hindus. She was quite bitter and furious at this "open insult" when the news of demolition of this ancient temple reached her. Shivaji was already quiet for 4 years (in preparation) and now she motivated him to move to capture the fort and reclaim the honor* lost. She was already around 70 by that time.

* - To some of us, these words like - "honor" / "swabhi-maan" etc may appear funny / jokes, but let us not forget that there lived people in those times for whom nothing was above these 2 words. Not even their life. Only those who understand and feel their emotions, will understand the great weight these 2 words carry! It was not the personal honor of Shivaji or Jija Bai, but a brief thought would clarify whose honor was she talking of. This was the beginning of retaliation to the policies of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

WOW! 👏👏👏  So well put.  Truly those were different times and special people. ⭐️

When Jijabai heard about demolition of Kashi Vishwanath Temple she was heart broken and refused to eat.  She wanted to know who will stop this religious torture of Hindus.  Shivaji Maharaj assured her he will.  He promised her that Kashi Vishwanath Temple will be re-built.  There is mention in the book Shriman Yogi - Shivaji Maharaj had sent a scathing letter to Aurangzeb after this.  Maybe you can find this letter draft.


Maratha Povada(s) say that Jija Bai took oath from Shivaji to capture this fort and give this fort to her as a gift for her winning a game of chess with her. {She had played a game of chess and the wager was the capture of this fort.}

Shivaji had said that any attempt to capture this fort would mean sacrificing the life of some of his best generals because it was an almost impregnable fort which, once lost, was almost impossible to be taken back*, and was guarded by some of the veteran warriors from among the Mughal and Rajput ranks. It was guarded by a Rathore chief - Uday Bhan Rathore.

* - Those who have seen Singhagad Fort will agree word by word, with the above lines.

Absolutely.  It is a majestic fort but in ruins.  Puneites are very very fond of this fort and so many visit this fort regularly especially on weekends.  I know of people who climb Sinhgad every weekend.  It is difficult to climb but nowadays roads are made, so vehicles can go part way.  It is special magnificent sight in monsoon.  It is still very steep and dangerous to climb.


Shivaji did not want to start this "HEAD ON COLLISION" so soon with Aurangzeb, because attacking this fort would mean challenging him openly. He was still making preparations.

But, Jija Bai wasn't impressed with his reasoning and threatened Shivaji with a curse if he made any pretext of not doing so.

Shivaji said - "Oh lady! All my forts are thine. But ask me not what is not mine."
"Beware a mother's curse." She cried , Its fire shall scorch thy kingdom wide. Give me Singhagad.

Shivaji knew this fort can never be won in a straight battle. This was the only fort which could not be targeted with artillery. As the surroundings were too steep and no canons could be carried till there. There was only one door leading to this fort, that too through a narrow passage. The only route was to scale the walls of this high fort using rope-ladders, and opening the doors from inside to allow Marathas rush inside and get this.

This looks "filmy". Isn't it ? Imagine the entire army scaling the fort walls ? Looks something like the misplaced heroism shown by Ranveer Singh ( Bhansali's Bajirao ) going against Nizam without any escort to battle, in Bajirao Mastani ! But, this is how Shivaji won the fort.

{ Infact, this battle deserves to explained with diagrams and detailed explanations and series of posts just like i did with Chittor Siege of 1567-68, 2 years back.}

Shivaji was thinking about whom to be sent to get this fort. Jija Bai solved this problem too. She called Tanuji Malusre and his brother Surayaji to undertake this task, both of whom considered her mother*. Tanaji (as i have read) was a childhood and most dear friend of Shivaji.

* - Marathi books have good portraits of Jija bai and Tanaji / Surayaji sitting at her feet, regarding as her mother and promising that the work would be accomplished at any cost. They are beautiful. I have got a colored one. But the B/W ones are much better.

A Maratha painting
By M.V. Dhurander

It shows Tanaji at the feet of Jija Bai. Shivaji Raje standing nearby with others.
They are Shelar mama and Raiba. I don't have substantial details about these 2.

You can see coconut and milk (?) ; probably he took oath on these 2 articles to accomplish the task.

Sucha magnificent painting.  Abhay, Tanaji Malusare's son Raiba's wedding was arranged and Tanaji Malusare and his brother Suryaji had gone to invite Shivaji Maharaj and Jijabai for this wedding.  When Tanaji Malusare learnt about Jijabai's wish to take fort "Kondhana" he asked for this mohim or assignment.  Shivaji Maharaj was reluctant and told him he should be arranging the wedding of Raiba to which Tanaji had replied  - and this  is a very famous saying "aadhi lagin Kondhanyache ani mag lagin Raibache" - meaning he will arrange Kondhana's marriage and then Raiba's.

In Maharashtrians wedding invitations are issued with "Akshata" that is rice mixed with vermilion and coconut.  So maybe it is bowl filled with Akshata and coconut in the painting.  You can see a betel leave and supari also in the painting which is also given it is called "paan-supari".


It was the night of 4th February 1670. Tanaji along with few chosen soldiers scaled the walls but an alarm was raised (while rest of soldiers were in hiding outside). A battle ensued on the narrow ramparts and many brave men fell on both sides. Though, the Marathas were successful in opening the door from inside and hence the force of Mavalas which Tanaji had brought entered the fort.

There are lot of legends associated with this.  One of them is Tanaji and Suryaji used "Ghorpad" a large mountain lizzard - they tied a rope to her and she climbed the steep almost vertical side of fort which was slightly less guarded.  Someone followed her and rope was tied and using that rope they climbed the fort at night.  The very idea of climbing even a small hill at night is difficult to think they climbed this massive difficult steep fort at night!!!

Unfortunately someone in the fort noticed this and alarm was raised,  fighting started before all the men with Tanaji could climb.  They fought fiercely and in this fight Tanaji and Uday Bhan lost their lives.  Suryaji cut off the ropes from the fort and told his men to fight till their last breath.  They did and captured the fort.

Legend has it that Tanaji had told Shivaji Maharaj to keep an eye on the Kondhana fort at night and they will light a large bonfire after taking Kondhana so Shivaji Maharaj can know of their victory immediately.  After winning the fort bonfire was lit and seeing that Shivaji Maharaj left for the fort immediately at night.  He learnt of Tanaji's demise after reaching and climbing on Kondhana.  That is when he said  "gad aala pan sinh gela".  So Kondhana was renamed Sinhgad after this, after Tanaji Malusare.

After a bitter carnage, the fort was won, but not before both Tanaji and Uday Bhan Rathore lost their lives to each others' sword during their duel - which is praised by Maratha as well as Rajput ballads !

Shivaji is said to have remarked - "Garh aala padh singh gela" which means "I won the fort but lost the lion". Lion being Tanaji, who was a very strong, tall and muscular warrior and his childhood friend.

This event is still commemorated every year at Singhagad and Tanaji is remembered. Jija Bai had asked a Povada to compose lines on valor of Tanaji which are still sung. Can any of my Marathi friends write those lines ?

Povadas are songs sung in glory of the subject - they are folk culture usually sung by men


The English translation is :

And forth to Jeeja's tower he went;

Again he laid with reverence meet,
His embroidered turban at her feet;

"I got to Singhur, lady mine,
Care for my youthful son as thine."


The Tanaji his camp doth leave His King's last mandate to receive;

"Prince, for Singhur my face is set,
My son, my Raya never forget,

If fate restores me safe from fight,
I will fulfil his marriage rite,

But if the sword overtake me there,
Be that my prince's grateful care."


Later turning to Suryaji :

"Who knows, said he, how I may fare ?
Be Raya's marriage still thy care."

Just to mention :
Tanaji had fixed his son's wedding before this assignment was given to him. He postponed it and remarked to Jija Bai now take care of my son as yours, as i am going. If i don't return then get him married as your own son.


Link to last update on Episode 6 : Here
Link to index on Page 1 : Here

Originally posted by: MaddyO