Shivaji’s mother Jeejabai was a farsighted and religious minded woman. Infact, she was the original guru of young Shiva who shaped his mind. Without her the brave Shivaji could not have evolved.
It was a dark age for India and Moghul rule with a fanatical emperor Aurangzeb was in power in Delhi. He was using religion as an instrument of state and a weapon to terrorise the followers of the other faiths. He was particularly cruel to Hindus. Tormenting them and usurping their properties were his pastime. Muslim empires were on ascendence in India. Moghul empire was the mightiest of them and Maharashtra was the target of Bijapur, Nizam and Moghul empires.
The father of Jeejabai, Raja Lakhuji was a big zamindar (landlord), that estate he had received from Sultan of Ahmadnagar. Although he was a landlord but people called him Raja of Sindhkhera. Jeejabai was born in Sindhkhera in 1603. She was married to Shahuji at an early age of 12 only. Shahuji was the son of Malaji Bhonsle, an official of the Sultan of Ahmadnagar. Later, Shahuji became an officer in the army of Sultan. Thus, Jeejabai’s father, father in law and husband all three were soldiers of a muslim Sultan. They were very prosperous. But Jeejabai did not like Muslim empires and their anti-Hindu mind. Infact she hated them. That was why she preferred to live in village instead of palace provided by the Muslim ruler to her husband. Native culture and religion were deep in her blood.
She was sad at the plight of the country and the faith. For hours she would worship Lord Shiv and Maa Bhawani, the manifestation of the force divine. So intense was her devotion that often she began to vision the goddess. She would pray, “Mother Bhawani! Why do you watch silently? Where is you valour that killed the demonic Mahishasura? You are Mahakali. The enemies are plundering our land, faith and culture. The honour of our women is being outraged. Bless me with a son who should prove redeemer of our faith and tradition.”
Worshipping the goddess and hoping for a dimension were her only exercises.
The philosophies of lives of Jeejabai and Shahuji were opposite. But there was no tradition of divorce in Hindu Society. A man and a woman were bound for life. A son was born to her on April 10, 1627. She named the boy Shivaji considering him to be the blessing of Lord Shiva and Maa Bhawani. From the very beginning she began to plant sentiments regarding the country, Hindu faith, culture, traditions, honour of Hindu women and need to redeem native values from the Muslim domination. She would recite Ramayana, Mahabharata and mythological legends to young Shiva. Brought up that way, the boy by the age of ten, had intense desire to liberate the native land and the faith from alien invaders. He was taught the use of weapons, horse riding and battlecraft. Guru Ramdas declared that Shiva was the best pupil he ever had. He moulded his pupil in the ‘defender of the faith’ mindset and inculcated spirit of native patriotism. Till death Shivaji was guided by those two values or sentiments.
During that period small commanders (chieftains) used to be gifted with estates by the rulers. They kept a fixed number of soldiers under their command by paying salaries from their own pockets (earned from the estates). The ruler would use those units or brigades whenever needed. It was mutually beneficial arrangement. Shahuji was similar type of Sardar or commander who lived in Ahmadnagar as his duty, Shivaji, meanwhile, lived with his mother in the village of their estate. Growing up Shiva trained those soldiers (his father’s band) well and made them sentimentally aware of their duty to Hindu faith. Jeejabai inspired them to be ready to sacrifice everything in defence of the Hindu faith. Shiva recruited more soldiers to his band. Inspite of low salary and lack of facilities many youngmen joined the band of Shiva enthused by the talk of patriotism and defence of the faith.
With his band Shiva became a powerful entity. In making his soldiers dedicated like missionaries the inspiration was provided by Jeejabai from the background.
Fort of Singhgarh was the centre of power of a Muslim empire. There fluttered the flag of Bijapur empire. Jeejabai told her son, “Shiva, you must win that fort and put up your own flag. That will start you off as a true redeemer of native pride and faith.”
Shivaji said, “Mother, that fort is almost invincible. A large Muslim force is deployed there. It will be a suicidal mission.”
Jeejabai argued, “Son, in the battle, numbers of soldiers don’t matter much. It is the spirit and daredevilry of the commander that decides the course of war. A mere 1000 soldiers have defeated armies of 50,000 and more. There are examples, my Shiva. You are incarnation of Lord Shiva. You don’t know about it. I know. Once in battle you too will realise it.”
Shivaji took a vow, “Maa! I won’t disappoint you. You are my biggest strength. I only need your blessings.”
Shivaji, went to the fort with his small band and in a cleverly devised attack overpowered the enemy and raised his ‘Swarajya’ flag atop the fort. In that battle Shivaji lost his trusted guide and mentor Tanaji. To his mother he said, “Maa, fort I won but lost my lion.”
In Maharashtra Shivaji created a great Hindu Empire called ‘Swarajya’. In 1674, he proclaimed himself as ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji’ of Swarajya. The boundaries of his empire he extended upto Gujarat, Malva and Andhra. On June 27, 1674 Jeejabai passed away at the age of 70.
Shivaji organised Marathas so strongly that even after his death Marathas remained a force to reckon with for 200 years. Under Peshwas their rule spread upto Delhi and into Punjab. The greatness and achievements of Shivaji form a glorious chapter of our otherwise dismal history. He won back the native pride and put fanatics on back foot. He led the revival of Hindus and gave them confidence in their ownselves.
The main source of inspiration of Shivaji had undoubtedly been Jeejabai and Guru Samarth Ramdas. In Maharashtra Jeejabai is respected and worshipped like a goddess for moulding their biggest hero Chhatrapati.
