The Rise of Shivaji — Foundation of Maratha Power

Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part-I | Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas

Chapter Overview — Who Were the Marathas?

The Marathas^? were a people native to the Deccan plateau, primarily in present-day Maharashtra. They are closely identified with the Marathi language, which has had a rich literary tradition since the 12th century. From modest origins, this community rose to become one of the most powerful political forces in Indian history, eventually controlling vast parts of the subcontinent before the British takeover.

During the 13th century, much of Maharashtra was governed by the Yadava dynasty^? from their capital at Devagiri (modern-day Daulatabad). In the early 14th century, the Khilji Sultanate from Delhi overpowered the Yadavas. Despite such political upheavals, the region's cultural traditions persevered, especially those rooted in the bhakti^? movement.

Between the 7th and 17th centuries, bhakti saints from diverse social backgrounds composed devotional songs and poetry in local languages, allowing their messages to reach far and wide. In Maharashtra, revered saints like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, and Ramdas translated important philosophical texts such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi. Some also focused on social organisation and political awareness, much like the Sikh Gurus. This movement gave the Maratha people a strong cultural identity that later served as the foundation for their political unity.

Foundation of Maratha Power — The Rise of Shivaji

By the 17th century, some Maratha chiefs had already attempted to establish independent rule, but these efforts failed. It was Shivaji, born in 1630 into the Bhonsle clan, who finally united the Marathas into a formidable political power.

Shivaji was the son of Shahji and Jijabai. While Shahji served the Deccan sultanates and remained frequently away, young Shivaji grew up in his father's jagir^? at Pune under the care of his mother Jijabai and trusted officials. The Pune region at that time suffered greatly from constant infighting between the Deccan sultans.

At the age of just sixteen, Shivaji launched his military campaigns. He began by consolidating control over the Pune region, capturing neglected and unoccupied forts and strengthening their defences. His vision of an independent sovereign kingdom — Swarajya^? — grew over the years, encompassing political, economic, and cultural dimensions.

Building the Maratha Navy

Shivaji's realm soon extended to the western coast of India. Recognising the strategic importance of coastal resources, he took the revolutionary step of establishing a navy. This was remarkable because even the Bijapur Sultanate only maintained merchant ships without a full naval force, and the Mughal Empire's use of a navy was extremely limited. The Maratha Navy went on to achieve legendary feats on the seas.

Guerrilla Warfare and Key Battles

To protect his people against much larger enemy forces, Shivaji employed the tactic of guerrilla warfare^? — using small, nimble groups with speed, surprise, and knowledge of the terrain to overcome bigger armies. His growing successes drew the attention of the Bijapur Sultanate, which dispatched the experienced general Afzal Khan to confront him.

Through clever strategy, Shivaji's advisers convinced Afzal Khan to meet Shivaji for a one-on-one encounter at the base of Pratapgad fort, amid dense forests. In that meeting, Shivaji killed Afzal Khan using a small weapon called the wagh nakh (tiger's claw), and the Maratha forces, hidden in the mountains, routed the Khan's army through swift guerrilla strikes.

Daring Raids and Expanding Horizons

Following the Pratapgad victory, the Mughal nobleman Shaista Khan invaded Shivaji's territories with a large army, occupying them for three years. Shivaji then organised a daring night raid on Shaista Khan's camp with just a handful of soldiers. The Khan barely escaped, losing several fingers in the attack, and promptly withdrew from Maharashtra. This audacious raid was comparable to what we today call a surgical strike^?.

As a retaliatory measure for the prolonged Mughal attacks, Shivaji sacked Surat — a wealthy port city of the Mughal Empire in present-day Gujarat — and obtained enormous treasure worth nearly one crore rupees, an extraordinary sum for that era. However, Shivaji was careful to spare religious places and even the home of a well-known charitable man named Mohandas Parekh. He raided Surat again a few years later. These events became so famous that they were reported in the London Gazette, a newspaper of the time.

The sacking of Surat was a severe blow to Mughal prestige. Emperor Aurangzeb sent Jai Singh, a distinguished Rajput general, to subdue Shivaji. Against Jai Singh's formidable force, Shivaji had to concede defeat at Purandar Fort (near Pune) and agree to a treaty. He was compelled to surrender a significant portion of his kingdom, and his son Sambhaji had to enter Mughal service.

The Agra Escape

Jai Singh persuaded Shivaji to visit the Mughal court at Agra. There, he was made to stand before Aurangzeb alongside a Mughal general whom he had previously defeated — a deliberate insult. Furious, Shivaji stormed out of the court, and Aurangzeb placed him under house arrest.

To escape, Shivaji devised a brilliant stratagem. He began sending large baskets of fruits and sweets as gifts to holy men and Mughal officials. The guards initially inspected the baskets but soon grew complacent. Seizing this opportunity, Shivaji and his son Sambhaji hid inside the baskets and made their escape. Aurangzeb was never able to capture Shivaji again.

Coronation and Southern Conquest

In 1674, Shivaji was formally coronated with full Vedic rites at the mountain fortress of Raigad. His official title became 'Shri Raja Shiva Chhatrapati', and he established his own era, the Rajyabhisheka shaka, signifying a new beginning for the Maratha people.

After his coronation, Shivaji launched a major campaign southward — the dakshina-digvijaya — conquering parts of present-day northern Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This southern extension later provided the Marathas with vital strategic depth against the Mughal invasion.

A fever ended Shivaji's life at the age of fifty. Within his lifetime, he had become a legendary figure across India and beyond. Europeans compared him with ancient generals like Alexander. The Bundela prince Chhatrasal, inspired by Shivaji's struggle, created an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand. The celebrated Hindi poet Bhushan travelled specifically to Maharashtra to meet Shivaji and composed verses in his honour that remain well-known today.