26d
During ttM Boyal period of Haratha historyi forts vhloh vera strategleally flK>re Important were used as centres of intense politlsal activities. Shivaji selected the hill fort Bajga^ by about 1667 as his capital and thereafter shifted his seat to the Hayagad fort by about 1670 anri it continued to be the capital of the Marathas till it vas captured by the Highals in 1639 after the serciless execution of Sambhaji. Hovever, the Maratha chiefs conducted their operations from ispregnaVle strongholds IUM Paniuila and visalgad. During the period of the War of Independence Xajaram conducted the affairs of the Maratha state from Jinji, which was far away fron the Sveraj territory. The fort Jinji was a najor stronghold of Shivaji's third line of defence. Aurangseb tried to subjugate the Maratha territory while I ajaram was ce:aieged at Jinji, But the great loyal oooimander Ricnaohandra- pant Anatya, %^o vas designated as Hukamatpanah, conducted the military (derations with the help of %ratha o<»manders Santaji Ghorpade, Dhanaji Jadhav, etc. and protected the •Swaraj* in the teeth of the Mughal opposition. Pajaram could escape the siege of Jinji and return to Maharashtra, but he 269
could not withstand the hardships of th« Journey and dlsd ifflmsdiatsly, HowttTsrt Tarabal, his vlfs, suaaoned courage, assuBtd the rsins of control and gave a harioc resistance to Aurangseb ftoia Visiigad fort till his death in 1707. The life-long struggle of Aurangseb thus ended in a failure because of tha MaralKa patriots and their leaders like Tarabii. It was because of a good net*vork of forts that the Marathas could survive its utter devastation. In short, It may be said that 3hlvaji«s efforts to found and expand the Maratha power was oainly due to the assistance provided to him by forts like Pajga^ and Hayagad and his successors could protect and naintain the Haratha territory intact only because they could make use of the strongholds like Jinjl, Panha^a and Visalgad as centfes of their activities during the period of crisis.
Shivaji selected the hill forts of lajgad and Fayagad as his capitals vhen the importance of hill forts In general was oonsideraUy reduced after the advent of the Muslims in the Deccan wtio believed in land and oiarine forts. It is, therefore! interesting to know why Shivaji'^ selected these centres and the part did they play In noulding tjlie history of the mrathas.
Purandar. the first Centre By 164i, Shivaji had in Ms possession the important 260
forts ilk* Purftndw, ChSkant Slnhgad, Torani and lajgad. Prom hit earlitr aotivitittt it Meat that Purandar vas Mlacted bjr hia aa hla polltioal centre. Of thaat five forts in the Poona dlctrlet| Rajgad vaa selected finally as the capital*
Puraodar vas treated as an latportant fort since the days of the Bahiaanls* This fort stands on a site of exceptional natural defences. It Is 1363msabove the sea level and 732 M5above the Poona plain. During the middle ages this fort afforded good protection to t|n Poena province. During the age of the Nlsamshahlt It became very- In^ortant as It vas located on the border of the Adllshahl and Nlzam- shahl territories, m the 16th century the fort was strengthened by constructing fortifications of solli mbsonry. These fortifications, strongly defended all rouiid by preclpit|ous cliff, are of powerful design and construction i& themselves. Mr.- H« Goets observes, «In Purandar the fortification system was likewiss extended over the whole mountain. The very high and diffioiat cliffs on the North- glfest, west and South-Vfest sides oould easUy be controlled by a line of separate watch towers, with attached small 2 guard rooms, on projecting positions.* 261
In the jTtar 1634t th« kingdom of Ahmadnagar vas annexed and its territory was divided Into the Mughal and Adilehaiii.povera. In this dismemberment of the kingdom of Ahmadtnagari the Mughal• aequlred important forts like - - - _ -^ 3 Daulataba4, Bidar, DharuTf tJdglr and Ahmadnagar. The AdUshoha acquired the forts like Parenda; and the Konkan territory.^ Thus the boundaries of Poona and Ahmadangar districts fomed the border of the Mughal and Adilahahl territories. The Purandar fort acquired more political significance as it is situated on this strategic line. In 1636t Shahaji defected the Nizamshahl and joined the Adilshahr, and secured a Jagir which included the l^ortant forts like tinhgad anr^. Purandar. However* according to the political usage of the loedlaeyai period the Jagirdar had no control over the forts though they vere in the Jurisdiction of their Jaglr.
It stems that Chivajl vas aiming at bringing all parts of Shahaji's western Jagir under his own controlf 5 so as to form a oonip&ct state ruled by one authority. Accordingly9 he acquired the forts Kondan^ anr' Chakan. But Shivajiis activities were suddenly checked when his father Was arrested by the officers at Bljapur in 1643- During this period the headquarters of Shlvajl were at Purandar. The Oovernment of Bijapur had planned to capture KondajpA and establish its snay over the Poona 262 rtglon. FathKh«n vaS| ttMirifors, oofflmisalfmed for this task.
ParaiaiMnd givtst an account of th« battls fought bet%feen Pat«hkh«n and aiivaji in the Slvabharata. From It ve learn that Shiveji defeated Fatehkhan very astcmlsh- 'incL. Ingly vhUe remain^ hi|iaelf at the Purandar fort. TIM loBportance of thle fort vas veil recognised by the Adilshihi commander %dio admitted that the possevsion of Purandar and 7 Sinhgad forte alone had enabled Shivaji to remain stubborn. It vafi, therefore! difficult to humble down Shivaji.
Although the fort Purandar vas veil asi>ociated vith the earlier activities of ShiTaji, it vas not considered by him for conversion into (^ periaanent capital. I^^w»ted the insignificant hill fort Bajgad knovn at that tim as Murumdieo vas selected by Shivaji for establi^ing his capital, It is interesting to study vhy Shivaji s«l«cted the fort Hajgad as a capital vhen he had in his possession the impregnable forte like Purandar* Xondana and Torana,
The Purendar fort vas situated Purandar and Sinhgad. Shahaji vas relaaaad, as w« knov, vhan Shlvaji ooncad«d tiMiir damond to aurrander tha Sinhgad fort, vhloh va« bast suited for turning it into a seat of capital. But 2hi/aji had, perhtips, to giva up thiis idoa as it vaa iMst to tha Adllshahl for aotoo'* tise. Re retfilnad the Furandar fort vith him, but though well suitad for creating a aeat of cnpital, iS^iivaj i did not tak« steps in that direction. Because he could visualise tha possibility of an alliiince between the Ad 11 shah and Aurangisab causing alarea to Sbiira^ had anticipated a ) \ \ Mughal attack on hla territory and in that event Purandar i vould have become most unsafe place as capital, we know that Jai Singh, the brieve commander of Aurangzeb, selected a place betveen SiTsavad and Purandar for his encampment and beaieged the fort i\trandar in 1665. The fort Chakafi which vas (|cquired by .'>.iv^ji very early vas merely a ground fort of small ei^er More- ever it was located on the border of the ^'!ughal territory and henoe it weight have been considered useless for establiahing the seat of Govemment. We know that Shai/^stei^ khan in his Deccan campaign had besliged this fort fox nearly 55 days and destroyed it to a considerable extent. 264 The Torana fort (Pracha^i^gad} vas situated at a distance of few klloMtres from Poona. But the fort vas uneven In 8lF.e (Pig, 2_6 b ) and it could be besieged vlthout «ftfit difficulty. Thus by process of elimination, ^Ihiv^tjl must have fixed his eyes on the H&jgad, which sto'>d avay from the boundaries of the %8lis] povers and vas highly isrpregnable. The fort BfiTjgad MHS surrouwird by the curtains of hillocks that Could create several obstructions to ene^^^ies in conducting their lailiUry operations. Further the small rivulets} like K^nadi and Gunja^ani flowing by the side of Ba^giid were responsible for checkijig the activities of eneffiies, particxaariy in the rains season, AS ertr#;^ly flooded in ifionsoon, these rivers obstructed the movements of eneraiss troops. The fort P.ijgad had three extensive redoubiS or » 'Schis' that could render spacioi\s area for the construction of bulllinga and the citadel. Siivaji might have observed all thos^ faciiltlerf'and 3olcc:toc: the fort Bajgad as his fort capital. In tl« "^Shivabharat', while describing the iaportanoe of forts, fJonapant rablr ac'vises Shivyji thrit His 'iajesty should occupy «m extre .lely inaccessable place and endeavour to confuer the whole world'? Further he says, 'if the iiing ,1(- 1 ^-- -• ^iZtti-HCM^ 3« tiMe 4 r^itStjr- 1 iMAH Dooa 1 (i*»*e*M tHAiNe 4 DuSA HHatiCAi aiiiH a 'ioiAJtp d47LtDtJ*- 19 *"••»!( <;/»r« .1 20 M 31 »'«*/» rf#* i *»*C•n/N Ai in l¥AJ 13 tAOAK Of meat fAiiA:r£i k M^tl/TJ TtMPU 7 u-tT»^^> o^ tAnnnm t c/ TMoeO ttuUNJ<*N C^TV y r««»W< JA eUAHMADtO tl /W^dAZ/rtC Uft-^«i'H>tt tt "^OMjtKT/ r»NK it imptn.cnoijno wAr R/^JGAU 1^ rtf^t,£ ».V fJ-l^M.li'rtT'' t«o'=^''.'e s'"«i/fr*,«£- ,7 OPi»i S'^'Cf *MJ* •• ^•• -a i • ri jr T'*l pa i.^.-( i« ii 2^ >»i^{M^iIJi^e2iP22!S4: ». CMI.KM«r oil Ati^OuR Of VliMAlA /KiCKt/'o SiJ J Qiugani (4i$o vw C,T.9.II.I4> 5 JtmHf Of tANCMJMI 4 MMCAtim f 0HII«irw(ra It CHX 4 ATfc lo. nAMIU»fMHI • I. »M4li 0«Tr tl mof*KAt* tfiTt l< M^TffW *' rjla/4AA r? SMfL AMVJ <• tVHJAH. AAiTroir [|Wi« |.4tJO ••« »** 11 HMHtlMMt* •4STMf M Jiomr Of wr< C4Ti lb n^twa tvtm 11 *NwT*a - ao - ig iMam*it*imd so CMMMt »CATe il MUAHMtr *«»«•«« ,, •«— SJrt ^ »«*«ai4 «««^ {•«oio 26b Is stubborni the fort is In^icottaalble; if fort is impregnable» the king is strong. But if both are fragiis, 9 the enemy can reialn aggressive.' The fort Kajged vas formerly knovn ras MUruinrteo or 10 KurflunbdGot Ve loarn that the fort N^rurodeo was included in the list of the forte captured by Ahmad Bahiri, the founder of the KirBQchirhi dynasty cf Ahmet'nfegar by about 1490. In the ar« of ?^alik Amber, the fort vas handed over to ni6bat-khan, the HavsMar of the Adilshahi and thus it 12 pasted to Bijapur. Prom conterrporary records it aprears thct t»ie fort vac retained under the superYislcn of a Hindu Vatcndar of (I'jnjan Ma wax. We do not know exactly in which year valval i captured the fort Murumdeo from the Adilshahi. Accor€ presumed that the fort u-as cxcquirtd b:^ ohivo^ji earliei than 164.3. Sabhasad tells uc thtt iliivaji converted the hill 266 _ - 16 Murabad into a fort and renamed it as Pajgad. it Mens that aftar the death of Dadoji Kond&deo in 1647, "ajgad became the centre of {Political activities of flhivaji. Vie learn from the Jedhe Karir^ that Shivaji had 16 started aonetroction in 1643 *it Bdjgud fort. But it seems froffl early record that the hill was alreai'y fortlfie;^ to •t-i 17 some axtan% prior to its ucquialjon by 3hivaj 1. Shivtij i, after realising the importance of this fort, started ^nd renovating it and marcing of suitable for intense political aotivty. Viiile providing the approaches to the fort, ^r^at c&re vas taken to aake the ascents as difficvlt as possille. Hero wG find thst the asfcxlfttix uw cf the physlgnomy of the hill vas made to provide difficult ascents. The fort (13°-16» N and 73^-41' E) conprlsea three >tachis of nearly equal fceif^ht?. Th? SuvelS "achi lyii;£ to the South-Sast is at a height of lldSin^^ whereas the SanjivanI to the Couth-West is lld4aisabove the sea level. The third ?4chi Pandaiavatl is 1192a4 above the soa level and can be approached ty tv.o gateways,a.-d ?ali. The citadel 267 or i^lekilis is at • tMight of 139mstrotn the Ma^—$ev«l and coiild ba approachad by ona route, which is too difficult. Thaaa three ?€chl8 protect the citadel The vay to tha citadel llaa thoongh the Padsavatl '£chl vhlch acted as tha vatch post of the citadel. The Padnavatl Machl can be approached by tvo routes, one through the PalT gate and second by Ounj(>vaae gata.^ha approach to the Pali gate is available from the Yillage Velhe situated 66 Kms. avay from Poona. From here onm has to go to ^abe and after crossing the rivulet Kanadi and gorge Xhariv ha has to arrive at Vajegao, a small village from Where the actual ascent begins. This approach to the Miachi has been wall protected by nature as an. one sire there is the river Kanadi and gorge Khariv. The sides of the gorge always pro^d useful as the battlements uf fort, wai^. The river, particularly in the rai;iy seas ion, was anothar obstruction In the route. The ascent is troublesome because of its more steep nature than the usual winding nathod. This routa is considerably wide to take even horses and elephants to the fort and onist have Id been much In use in the mediaeval period. By this route one enters Hajgad by tha Pali or Western gate. Here again we find that the articiai gorge caused by the construction of l^ights of steps, provides the battlements to both sides from ^ra huge stones can easily be rolled down. 26a Th« Mcond routt to the PadtuSvatl nachl is from Margatanl - Oianjavans aide. If this route is followed, one enters into the presises of Hajgad through the OunJen- vane gate. The Village aun|avane is situated at the foot of the Rajged fort and it can be approached on foot from hfirgaeani, a village on the Rasaripur-Velhe road. While val|lng one has to cross tvo rivulets, viz., Kianadl and Gunjavani. Further the actual ascent is more difficult as the precipice to the hill top provlrles too narrow steps at Oertain points, one can easily conjencture how the route must have been difficult for conducting the military operations during the laedlaeiml period. ^The third route is available from the village »le. For this route, (me has to cross the present "^hatghar lake for some distance by naans of boat and to drop hinseif at the village Male froa where tvo routes, vrls. One to the Suveia HEchl through Kaleshwari or Dindi gate and another to the Sanjivani Machl through Alu gate are available. The ascent by these waf^ is most tedious owing to ths precipitiooj nature of the hill. Thus it is clear that the Rajgad vas extremsly inaccessable fort. The fort Torana, situated 6,60 Kms-away which was under ^Ivaji and coulfl have rendered valuable help to the capital in case It was besieged by the enemy.^^ Jaoes Deuglas, therefore, rightly observes, 269 •Bajehur (Pijgad) and Torna are both hills of a brea>on«ck character and wall suited for the abode of the youthful 20 chief of a turlnilent and UB«ettled country. • About the Inaocessibllit^ of the Hajgad fort Saql Must^adkham the author of Maslr-l-Alaiogiri, vrltesi •a hill second only to the fort of the towered sky. Its circuit is twelve kos. losagination cannot estiaate its height. Its thorny Jungles and specture haunted chasas can be traversed only by the wind. Nothing can descend on 21 it except rain.* .^cms The Maohls or redoubts of Bajgad fort vere tx^ated as independent forts. Sabhasad says, 'the fort Hajgad is - - 22 a group of four Mich is* Saqi '^sta^d K^an also treats the maohls of Hajga^ as three different forts. Re says,*Shiva after gaining {possession (of lajgarh) oade three terraces on three sides around li on a lover level (laachi) and there built three strong forts nanly, iuvela and Padnavati situate towards Konkan tqplands and Sanjivani on the side of Konkan lowlands.'** A glance at plan (^.^4 ^ ) reveals that the Suve}& and Sanjiranl .liohrs are ieparated from the Padnavati machi by the curtain vails ocmstructed In between them. The ciu*taln wall towards south-west distinguishes the Padniavati and ^^-:via: '^ « j 3 a J 270 San J Irani Maehis vh«r«a8 th« partition vail tovarda th« South*«a8t divides tht Juirela and Pudmavatl lochia. The at curtain valla vera provided vlth gates to facilitate the fflovements of (Shibandi' vithln the fort. But it seems that no curtain vail vas oonatructed to distinguish Suve^a aiKl 3anjivanr MSchis. The reason for the separation of thi Padoavati Machl fr ^y?la Mjphl. Shivaji undertook the construction of the eastern - 24 terrace in the first place and naoed it as SuvQ].a, vhlch signifies the isiportanes of the Bast, the direction of 26 ^' the rlslni^ sun* It comprisss of three tjars of terrace tapering at the eastern end. On the first tier, there is a natural mound, locally knovn as Duba, covered by thick bushes, vhlch is situated at ^,one half ic/ns from t{^ citadei' At a distance of fev paces front Duba, the remains of some residential quarters are tracable. It is said that 271 the quarters of /eteran Marutha chiefs like Tanajl H6il|Mlre, Yesa^l KanK| SUiabkar, etc. vere located at this place, prom the reai^nants It seems that each quarter vas provided vlth Independent vater supply. Behind the Duba', the remains of one spacious structure is tracable towards the North. It is said that it vas the Sariar or secretariat of Shivaji (Fi««2.^<3L )v Besides the residential quarters a group of tenples of Raaeshvar, Qanesh« Kaleshvar, Bhagirathi, Maruti is found here. All these temples are mostly in dilapidated condition. It is difficult to find out whether these temples vere constructed in the period of Ihivaji. Near the group of temples three vater tanks are located towards the South. Ports vere busy centres, and many people vere residing on them. We find so many temples on the fort perhaps to meet the spiritual requirements of the people residing on the fort. The second and the third tiers of the terrace or Machi are strengthened vith fortifications at the edges of their summits. The second tier is strengthened by provid ing huge bastion at its eastern end. A flight of larfee steps is provided to facilitate the movements of garriscm within the f<«rt»< (Pig.2-6a.). The third tier is of lower height and strengthened by huge bastion at its end. The outer fortification vail of the second and third tiers is 272 provided with btittlemnts for masiuitry. On th« third tier y' find Interesting etructural feature called Chilkhat or armour. Acfording to thii system the outer bastions are protected from vithin by furnishing the subsidiary structures (artnours) erected at short distance from the base and they are about 1.6 m.in height. They afford additional protecticA and cover for the defenders. Out of seventten bastions of auve^a ;^ohi, seven «^re provided vlth such ari^nirs. These additional structures not only afiOord protection to the outer fortification but can be served as retaining vall8« in case there is any breach In the bastions. But the most interesting type of the armour, rarely available in other forts, used here is the underground tunnel, locally knovn as Nal. The distance betveen the outer vail and this tunrwl is about 0.60 m»* The depth of the recess it varying and in Bom places it is about 6 ms> The tunnel has some outlets to reach to the outer vail. By this underground passage the defenders can easily reach to the iover tier of loopholes provided at the outer viall and can charge the musket fires. The space betveen the tunnel and the outer vail facilitates movements of garrison within the fort* Thus, the Suve].a Maohi, the first sub-fort of the Fajgad, was c<»istructed by Shivaji with a viev to affording maximum protection to the main fort. 273 Mtxt to th« Sitfe^a, the SanJ Ivan l£ Mftohl^vas fortified and converts into * strong sub-fort. It also consists cf three tier terrace and has, the length of 2.60 kffis. Lim the Suve^a, the Sanjlvanl Ma'chl has been also well fortified. Bach tier of this ffichl is strengthened by the bastions at its vestern end. We find the remains of residential quarters and some other structures. The existing water tanks enable us to guess that the water supply was abundant throughout the year. The provision of additional structures or armours la also found here. Nine out of nineteen bastions have been provided with amours. Further we find in the last tier of this ttaohl that the underground passage (Nal) Is constructed to allow the defenders to reach the lower row of loopholes of the outer fortification. Of the three f^chls, PadSKTvatl ^iaohI enjoyed prominent position during this period. It was not only a military centre but also the residential quarter of the king as we find plinth reoains of a big p41ace. It took four long years for its construction and the final riiape 274 26 — vas giv«n by 1663. Like other tvo, this Maohi is also v«ll fortified and provitSed with battlements. One could reach the ^fichi from the Gunjavane sir^e, situated to ths east and the Pali sids situated to the flouth. The Gioijavarie gatevay is the series of thrss successive gates constructsd at consir^erable distances from each other. The architecture of !-.he first gate is ^^Tj Simple havliig no decorations* The reauins of one vooden door Jamb vith a fev Iron hlngs shov that the gate vas having vooden doors of above 4.50 mj.in height and at least 1,36 osin breadth, A flight of dilapidated masonry steps goes op the terrace of the gate. The gate is streng thened by bastions and raniparts on the right side. On the left side there Is another vail built on the rock and of 10.60 mi In height. Both the vails are buUt of mssive stone bolilders ai»! the distance between them ia about 1.30ms. « We find that the first vail is perced vith loopholes at irregular intervals for musketry. The second gate stands about 17 msfrom the first one. The gate is having the peculiar arch. A crude sculpture is carfed here on the lintel. The figure ^ovs the earlier form of Gajalaxmi i.e. a lotus in the central Place,* flanked \ty tvo elephants holding pitchers in their 27 trunks (Fig.^^?*-). The peculiar type of sculpture, absence 276 of merlcHis and •nbrasurss In respect of this atcond gats shov that probably this gate was ccunstructed before the period of the Bahamanis* Inside the gate the recess about 1.30 as-ln height is provided as a guard roo^a. After passing the second gate some rock-cut Mid dilapidated cBSonry steps lead to the third gate vhieh is nov in ruinous condition. After crossing it one steps into the Padmavati MSchl. Patl K^^a ' It is the South-eastern access of Padiaavati ^^chi. The first gate is of considerable height and breadth that can facilitate the entrance of the elephants with their • hO¥dahs» (Fig. ^7^). The gate is flanked by two huge bastions constructed of stone boulders. Here ve find that a considerable portion of rock is excavated In front of the gate to construct a flight of steps* These two walls are no fornsd that they can be used as the barblc^ms of the gateway. After passing a distance of nearly one furlong the second gate checks further access. This gate consists of a pointed aroh and is flanked by the bastions. Here the bastions ere pierced at intervals for loopholes (Fig.2-7<^ The striking feature of this gate is that the battlennnts above the gate and bastions are provided with round embrasure flanked by the laerlons of floral design. These round embrasures were certainly useful for gunnery and 276 loopholes pierced "belov vere servlcable for musketry. Above the gatevaj a nitoh is provided to the parapet in the centre, probably for keeping a vatch when the gate is closed (Fig, 2-7^), juet above the pointed arch a crude figure of crown la carvedx (Fig. ^7*-). After crossing the second gate» the road turns iffisediately to the left side. The guard room on the right side is provided to check the entry through the gate where• as the second guard-roo^c on the left side can Keep a watch on the road leading to the fort (Pig.:^^?^). It seems that tho inaxiiBum care was taken to protect the Padmavati MSchl'9 the iaaport&nt centre of the fort. Remains - On the Padt^vatl Machl we find the remains of a nunber of buildings. Except a few an of then are in a dilapidated condition. ^Ivapurkar Deahpande Karlna gives an interesting account of the residential quarters of Shlvajl, Moropant pingale vhich vere located (m the ?&da£vati Hachl. The fouxidation plitiths of the palace and a place for royal flag Indicate the royal residence. The plinth dividedi into oany compartiaenta enables to guess that the palace vas provided with various •?tehals* like those on the Bayga4. At the backside of the Palace the remains of the rectangular hall loeasurlng about 21.30 Qsin length and 13 mvin breadth can be identified as stable. The vooden Vs^. n ML. Ronnnnrl SECOND OUNJAN OAHWAJA HAJQAD FORT SECOND P/\LI DARWAJA. HAJOAD fORr b ^NIHi^dHiM 277 b«am8 used In thii structure are still visible. The back vail of the stable is provided vith the holes for ventilation. The remains of state office or Sadar are tracable en the PadoAvati nuchl. It is a stone building consisting of three compartnsents. In the front portion of the Sidar, there are four vooden cyprus pillars with inverted bell shaped capital. The pillars are now in l^d state of preservation. In the central hall ve find four stone bases on which woorien carved pillars might be rested as the holes In the stone bases provided for then. Nov the whole structure is in a dilapidated cofidition. One another building tovards the north is also in a ruined condition. It occupies the area of 9.46 nvln length and 3.66ni5.and seems to be the granary or »AmbaTkhana• of the fort. The retnains of one building (no. 11 in Hem) loc<^ed towards North-Bastji Seea^s to be the magasine building. Here we renenber Atnatya^s advise that the powder magasine should not be near the house or near the compound of any house. The temple of Padnavati, the four-handed goddess, is situated tovards the North-west and at a distance of a few paces fona the stone*bulldIng of &kdar. The present teople is reconstructed in the later period. To the south east of this temple there is a teople of Shiva having a broken 273 •Llngaiflt in tte alttr and an loag* of •Nandl* (bull) in front of it but outsid* ^t tanpla. This ttmpla is also in a dilapidated oondltion* Towards the Horth of tha Padfl£yati taapls^ wa fliul a tank prorldad with two aiassiTS valla at tha aaat and aaat of it with an antranca gata in each* Tha inntr portions of the vails are provided vith arches and platform. Betveen the aacond Gunjavane gate and the citadel a deep veil filled vith vater is locatad. FroB the abore accounti it may be concluded that the Padoavati Mlohl was selected as the main centre bacause it rendered spacious plains for the construction of royal buildings, granary, etc« Further it assured better vater supply than the other tvo IBachls. The naio Killa » Tha ^ekilli or the citadel was the last place of reaort, on the fort. The pathway leading to tha citadel is too narrov and tedious. Tha hillock on which the citadel stands itself Is preciptAus and the flight of steps carved to go up is v9Tf steep and 1^ deep valley on one side is breath-taking (Pl.Yittb^^, The difficult ascent nade the citadel impregnable. The gate of the citadel is still in a good state of preservation. Tha central arch of the gate with two recessed 279 blank arches ia tha pointed arch (Pl.^'^^^. The gat« la flankad by maaalva octagcmal bastlcMis, both v«ll battle- mentedA^ (Pl.^^Cfb The door is hov siasing but the iTcn aocketa «nd the nitches provided on both the sides for timber bar clearly ahov that the g&te had tvo panel doors. The height of the gate is about 6*40aig Like the gate of the citadel of the Haygad fort (Pl^«-), this gate is also COTistructed vith dressed stones and the surface of the flanking vail is decorated vith rectangular panels in the Bahamatoi style (Pl.^S?^). The designs like lotus, Svastik,* etc. are carved in the panels above the gateK' (Pl.l^ <^). Although the citadel stamis on a preciptJtous hillock, a fort vail of 1.50 m$,in height vith bastions at Intervals is built around it to secure further protect 1cm. After crossing the gate one finds tvo temples on the oitadel{ One is of Janani am other of Brah:;£rlshi. The temple of Janani having the 'lingam* is in a dilapidated condition but yet it is under vorship. The other teiple is a simple rectangular structure vithout any architectural designs. Both the temples seem to be constructed in the later period anr they are dedicated to Lord Shiva, although 233 Aurangzeb hiaself vas busy In acquiring forts vith a •lev to cruahiag tha %ratha poiier once for all. At such critical staga, Bajaram and his follovers initiated the system of fed)ial decentralisation* and introduced the nev A system of conferring the *Saranjams*. The DeshHUkhs of the regions adjacent to the forts were nov engaged InlKrirlng out the b«sieging forces, when the Raj gad vas besieged by the ^lighal forces in 1704, Santajirao Silirakari the heredital^y Deshroikh of Gunjan Mavkl» offered pitched battle vith the ^^ghals when their forces were trying to breach the fortificaticm of the Suvela- Machl- - . 36 In his attempt to drive out the Mughal force i - - - 36 Suntajirao lost his life. In recognitioii of his valuable services, his son Prutapr^o was made senapancha_hajajiv With 37 an annual remuneration of 1600 hons. The widow of Santajlrao* Qodabai, was al?^ ^ranted a pension of IX hons per year for her life tiw.^ Hift the nan* Jananl of ona of th«B d«not«8 tho Mother goddess. Behind the Br ahsierishi temple * ve find an irregular row of structurea on either side of the path (Pi.HnO. It was perhaps the market place which reminds us of the spacious market at the Rayagad fort (fl^3^). Each row here oonsists of five to six sliops and the path between the rows is of 4,60 n$in widt^• Like the P.ayaga^, here also each shop contains two rocxmS| one for ^op and other for store. But for want of evidence, it is very difficult to identify these structures/market shops* The Bale^killfluis the last place of resort. So there was least possibility to provide regular loarket on the Balekilla. These structures might be the residential quarters for the garrison. All these structures are now in a bad state of preseUifrtionK (Pl.izn)«). Almost all the buildings on the citadel are in a dilapidated state. We find the traces of one buildings of lOms.in length and 3.3£> m^/in breadth. Perhaps this vas the Sadar or residence of the king. Near th» Brahmarishi temple* there is a rock*cut cistern divided into five compartments, which vas padhaps the major source of water supply to the citadel. Besides this tank, two other ponds are located here. But they are dried up at present. 281 As aliBott all the structures on the citet^el are In a (lllapiaated statei it Is very difficult to identify ' then. But it seens that Shiva J i was cautious to privide all the necessities to this last resort. Atiifflln4ttrftt4qB Being the capital of tswaraji, the fort Bajgad vas under the direot control of the Maratha kings. But for the administrative purposes, the portfolios of ioportant departeienta were entrusted to four oajor officers vis. Havaldar, Sarnobat, Sabnis and Korkhanis. we find that even In the Nisamshahl period| the Havaldar and the Deputy Havaldar oa vere appointed to look after tht fort. ^ From a c of th« adminl8tratlv« staff angaged on the fort. But as the fort v^s a busy centre of activities, during this period several clvU as veil as c^Ultary officials might have been appointed and they aiust be residing on the fort it self;L 5BO long as the fort enjoyed the status of capital« In appears from one document that tta Drahmns vera appointed to perform worship of deities on payiMnt of annual allowances, one Trinbakdey Gosavi wes earning Rs.7&/- as 'Varshasana* or 32 annual grant for performing religious ritss. Besides the Ilavildars and the Sarn6bats,the DeshaniiUi of the Gunjan ^4avai| the region adjacent to the fort, was supposed to act as a special officer (Namjad) of the fort. It seems that the troops attached to such spetf^al officers were roving bands on the fort and their main work was to <5rlve away the besieging force of the iaemy by offering pitched battles* This system was particularly introduced by £hiv<^ji and continued by his successors. But we find one change that might have taken place In the tinie of Kajaram* The vatandar of the regicm adjacent to the fort was now •ngaged as ]*^njad or special officer of the fort. As a matter of fact, Amatya condenns this system in his treatise ~ 34 •AjnSpatraS But it may be noted that after the death of Sambhaji, the country's fortune was at its lowest ebb. The clvU and military sjTStem of Shivajlfs tine absolutely collapsed, 234 to pa/ rospocts to his mother after GSb ATTMI* e epi«ocl«. During bis expedition in 1660, aialsta Khan tried to destroy the territory adjacent to the Bajga^ fort. At this critical ^unotiire Shivaji vas besieged In Panha^a by Siddi Johar. Hoveyer, v^aista Khan, as there vas no plan before hia, had to drop the iciea of capturing Raj gad* It is said that •'^ivaji spent the last three months of the year 1660 on the Raj gad in planning t^ his future prograome. In October 1660, Shiraji vas at Hajgad as ve learn from the Jedhe Sakavall that Sonaji Pandit after taking leave of £liaista Khan vent to Shivaji at Bajgad. In the year 1661 and 1662 Shivaji undertook several military opertitions against the Bijapur, the 'tughals awl the English factory at Rajapur. Although he vas busy vith military operations and constant touring, it seems that Shivaji used to return frequently to his capital for administrative purposes. In August 1661, he appointed Narhari Ananrlrao as the Peshva, AnaJIpant as the V^knis. Again in the month of April 1662, he appointed Moropant fingle as the Peshva, Nllopant as the Majumdar. Further In August 1662 he appointed Annaji fant as Surnls. 2^ In thA year 1663^ aiajtsta Khan occupied the reiidence of Shifajl at Poona knovn as Lai ^hal. It vas from the Bajgad that Shlraji attacked Shaistakhan on the nl^ht of April 6, 1663, and vounAed him. 41 On 3l8t December 1663, Shlvajl proceeded to airat (probably from Hajgad). After the death of hla father Shahajl on 23rd January 1664, Shlvajl returned to Bajgad on &th Fabruary 1664, Purlng the campaign of Jalfingh Daudkhan vas sent by him for destroying the territory In the vicinity of the forts - rajgad, Slnhgad, Rohida, etc. After concluding peace with Jai ilngh fihivaji returned to his capital Raj gad. Here it may be noted that Rajgad vas one of the twelve forts retained bgr iahiva^i in the treaty vith Jai Singh. Ve hare seen that '^liither Shaista Khan nor Jai Singh tried to besiege the fort Eajgad. Both of them selected the forts like Chakan and Purandar for reducing finally because they vere located on the border of the Mighalir^ '^ratha territories. This fact clearly shows that i>hiYaji vas ceatalnly farsight ted who preferred the fort of lajgad for his capital vhlch VttS actually In the heart of his country. Whan Jai Singh assured safety to Shivaji, he left Raj gad for Agra on the 6th March 1666 In the coapany of his 266 •Ider «on ila»thaji| rivc high officials and t* snail detachr flsent. B«for« Icaring the capital, ailvaji atde neceiscry arrsngtinants for the administration of his kingdom during tha period of his abeence. Ha mada Jijabai^ his mother, a ragant snd Moropant Pashva, IfUo^ f^tjuadar vara atkiad to vork imder har orders• After three months of conflnetoent at Agra in 1666 Shiva ji escaped froa there and reached Raj gad on the 70th August xOOD* Wa have seen earlier the major hiatorictil events ^hlch were closely Hsaociated vlth his capital Hajgad, Further it may be noted that after his return from iigra, Shivuji undertook the project of recapturing all the forts ceded to the Mlighuls* prom contemporary '•^i-ordf it appaars that the fort of Pejgad Bj^ remained at; capital upto 1G70. Probally after the birth of Rajaram in Feb, 1670, rhivaji might have shifted his capital to the Faygad, for va learn that ho /I invaded hfughal territory from Bayagad ancJ laid ssiage to 44 Junnar In the month of August 1670. A brief leview of the fate of TajgaC after 1670 would be Interesting. It aeems that even after shifting the CHpital to Fayega(J, Shivaj 1 nev r neglected Hajgad«W% learn that Shiviiji 287 had sanctioned an amount of 10000 »hons» In 107? for 45 construction aiki repairs of Rajgad for one year. Ourlng the period of Sambhajii Bajgad vas the centre for supplying forces to the adjoining regions like Fohidkhore. After the execution of ^mbhajl, the fort was captured by the ^ghals. But In Hty 1690, the fort was regaijMd by 47 Ramachandrapant Afflatya* At the tins of Rajaramt Rajgad e vas the sairi centre of political activities. After his r&tum froK Jinji, Rajaran first arrived at Rsjgad and then he left for "Coj^ana where he died in 1700. In the age of Siivaji Ilf Aurangseb undettook the elaborate project of recapturing the Maratha forts. According to one account the ftmperor himself uiarohed from Poona In Novsmtjor 1703 and besieged Kljipi^* Ve get very detailed account of this 6>iQge in M^sir-i-Alangiri, It has been mentioned that ooii;pletc tvo cQQths vsre wasted in the construction of the road througii the hill/ region. 2ven after mklng the road, seven days vertj passed to approach the fort... the Niighais e(instructed the siege toverf equal to the height of the fort \>all and started ^^i^boabardtent. On the 6bh Febniary 1904, Hughals escaladad the fort walls and after a deeislve fi^htf the fort vus surrendered by the Harathas. The fort - 49 was ren&aied bs Nabishah|p^. But th«; Mughals could not 233 retain the fort for a long titne as v« learn that the fort was again recaptured by Gumijl Savant« the Maratha chlef» in 1707. During the period of Shahu, the forts lost their significance I beeuasst the theatre of var vas shifted from the Deccan to the plains of North. But still Eajgad was treated as an important fort. Shahu planned his campaign to the Vish'l^ad foit in the yewr 1703, from 61 this fort only. S^ren imder the MCond |Nshva, a force of SOOO yas luiintained through the Ssichiv en rijgad to -52 Check the flic!uis of J&aJIra. Dsring the *ibsequent periods a number of forts passed into the hands of the several chiefs. The ^ajgad passed into the hands of the Sachiv of Bhor and it retrained with the Sttchiv family till its marker in the Indian union 53 after 1947. 239 USSSiSLM !• Toy Sidney • Th« fortiflsd cities In Indltt P.37* 2. GoetE H. - Purandhar t Its monusents and their Rlttory- Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental research Institute, Poona, Vol. XXX, 1949, P.224. 3. Sarkar J* • House of Shlyaji,P.41. 4. Ibi4^P.42. 5. Sarkar J.-Shivaji and his Tis»s, p.33. 6. Sivubharata • 17^^ c'^*^^" 7. Ibid, 17#16, 3. Ibid, 16.59. 9. Ibid, 16.61-62. 10. The Morua valley was the part of Gunjan l€val end hence the hill possessed the na^n^Muruindeo.' 11. SvaraJ/atil Teen dufg.^ P.20. 12. Rajvade, XVII,L4. 13. SCS, X, P.M. In^this docuBent the naooe of hUl Is oentioned (Shqhanriga*. 14. fCP, P.41. 16. Sabhasad • P.6. 16. 3CP, P.41. 17. Persian Sources of India History, I, 39. 13. Kulkaml A.B. - Pajgad: The first capital of Shivaji, D9W A.G.Pawar^ Felicitation volume, 1963- P.167. 19. Here ve find the choioe of Shivajl vtiUe selecting the place am a centre of his activities. The fort of Purandar, his first centre^ was assoicated with another 290 fort \rajraga4. HayagftAt hit fim^ capital, vas also astooiated vith anothar fort Llngana. 20. Douglas Jaiasa • Book of Bombay P.412. 21. Maslr - P,234. 22. Sabhaaad/P.S. Rare It may ba note4 that Sabhaaad coimta oitadal at !?Aehi 23. %slr,P.234, 24. It It interattlng to note.t]}at tha nana o^ ona of tha . fortt atntlonad In tha Banayana la Suvala (M^harathtriya Pnyankoth • P.497). 26. I^licaml A.Ry Op. oit.^ 163. 26. Altahatik Sankirna Sahitya, I^pp. 117-119. 27. Khara. O.H. - MUrti -Vldn/an - P. 27A, Purandara Daftar, III,Pp«X30-144. "^ 23. Swaraj^atU Tean Durg^ P.20. 29. XS.^ Ill/689. 30. Hajvada, VIII, 9. 31. Aitthatlk Sankirna sahitya^ I, P.70. 32. Rajvada XVIII, 67. 33. Kulkarni A.R.^ Op. cit* P.160. 34. AP^P,64. 36. Bajvada XVII, 30. 36. IbM, 24. 37. Ibid, 24. 33. Ibid, 23. 39. aSP (JS) P.22. 40. Ibid, P.22. 41. Ibid, P.22. 291 42. Ibld^ P«22, 43. Ibld^ P.24, 44. Ibid, P.26. 46. Hajvadt, VIII, 22. 46. Kulkami A.B, Op.Cit. P.l6d. 47. aCP (JS)^P,36. 43. SSP (GPS) P.6d. 49. Ma air Pp.23a<-d9. 60. Sanada Patre, P.193. 61. Rajvada, XVII, 33. W« laarn from Pashva Daftar that garrison from Raj gad vas •8p«olall7 caUad^by Shahu at rayagad vhan ha captured it from Sidldi in 1734< (Peahva'Daftar, 33.149* 160,161). ' 62. Fajvada, Vol. Ill, 10. 63. Kulkami A*R.^ Op.Cit. P.169.