CHAPTER 3 Chatrapathi Shivaji the Great
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Notion Press Old No. 38, New No. 6 McNichols Road, Chetpet Chennai - 600 031 First Published by Notion Press 2017 Copyright © Prince Pratap Sinh Serfoji Raje Bhosle 2017 All Rights Reserved. ISBN 978-1-948230-94-0 This book has been published with all reasonable efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. No part of this book shall be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The Author of this book is solely responsible and liable for its content including but not limited to the views, representations, descriptions, statements, information, opinions and references [“Content”]. The Content of this book shall not constitute or be construed or deemed to reflect the opinion or expression of the Publisher or Editor. 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CONTENTS Preface vii Forewords �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xv-xxvii அணிꏍ鏁ரை ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xxix kd;dh; ruNghIp II epidtuq;fk; xxxiii Chapter 1: History of Thanjavur �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1 Chapter 2: Shahaji Maharaj� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �3 Chapter 3: Chatrapathi Shivaji the Great �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �6 Chapter 4: Dharmaveer Chatrapathi Sambhaji Maharajah� � � � � � � � � � � � 14 Chapter 5: Shree Samartha Ramdas Swamy� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 Chapter 6: Brief History of Cholas and Nayakas � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 48 Chapter 7: Bharatanatyam, Devadasi, Natyasastra and Karanas � � � � � � � 63 Chapter 8: Brief history of the Royal Thanjavur Marathas �� � � � � � � � � � � 82 Chapter 9: Maharajah Venkoji (Ekoji) (1676–1683 A�D) �� � � � � � � � � � � � 84 Chapter 10: Maharajah Shahaji II (1684–1712 A�D) �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 89 Chapter 11: Maharajah Serfoji I (1712–1728 A�D)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 104 Chapter 12: Maharajah Tukkoji (Tulaja Rajah-I) (1728–1736 A�D)� � � 107 Chapter 13: Maharajah Bava Sahib (Ekoji II) (1736–1737 A�D) �� � � � � 115 Chapter 14: Maharajah Pratap Singh (1740–1763 A�D)� � � � � � � � � � � � � 118 Chapter 15: Maharajah Tulaja Raja-II (1763–1787 A�D) � � � � � � � � � � � � 128 Chapter 16: Maharajah Serfoji Rajah II (1798–1832 A�D) �� � � � � � � � � � 134 Chapter 17: Sar aswati Mahal Library and Museum (Tmssml), The Pride of Thanjavur �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 203 vi | Contents Chapter 18: Ra jah Shivaji II (1832–1855 A�D) Last Ruler of Thanjavur �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 219 Chapter 19: Serfoji Rajah III (1855–1903 A�D)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 226 Chapter 20: H�H Prince Rajashree Pratapa Simha Rajah (A�D 1889–1969 A�D)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 228 Chapter 21: H�H Prince Rajashree Tulajendra Rajah Bhosle (1916–1999 A�D)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 234 Chapter 22: Art icle written on Maharajah Serfoji II on his 212th Birth Anniversary by Prince Tulajendra Rajah Bhosle �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 242 Chapter 23: The Saraswathi Mahal Library and Contributions of Maharajah Serfoji II �� � � � � � � � � � � � � 253 Chapter 24: The Library after 1855� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 259 Chapter 25: Sum mary of Thanjavur Maratha History from the Inscriptions of Bhonsle Vamsa Charitra� � � � � � � � 264 Chapter 26: Mah arajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall Museum, Sadar Mahal Palace Thanjavur �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 281 Chapter 27: Arulmigu Punnainallur Mariaman Temple� � � � � � � � � � � � � 284 Chapter 28: Relationship between Thanjavur and Maharashtra� � � � � � 297 Chapter 29: Geneology of Thanjavur Marathas� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 302 Chapter 30: About the Author �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 304 Bibliography ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������327 Declaration ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������335 Chapter 1 HISTORY OF THANJAVUR Thanjavur map: Area marked indicates the palace complex which is known as Raja veethi: palace complex of Thanjavur is said to be 400 years old. Thanjavur royal palace is one of the famous historical destinations of Thanjavur which is located within the fort. The Palace was constructed in 16th century by Nayakas and developed by Marathas. Presently, the Thanjavur Maratha Palace complex known locally as Aranmanai, is the official residence of the Royal Bhosle family who ruled over the Tanjore region from 1676 to 1855 A.D. Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library, Maratha 2 | Contributions of Thanjavur Maratha Kings durbar hall, Sarjah Mahal, art gallery, Sangeeth Mahal, Tamil University museum, Sadar Mahal Palace, Huzur Mahal, and the arsenal tower are the main attractions of the palace complex area. The Brahadeshwara Temple is just one kilometre away from the palace complex. Thanjavur is one of the big towns in the state of Tamil Nadu� Thanjavur was the royal city of the great Cholas, Pandiyas, Nayakas and Marathas� Thanjavur is called the Eden of the south� It is the land in which Hindu culture has made great centres of social and cultural life� It is considered to be one of the oldest towns in the country� The puranic story of Thanjavur tells that the demon Thanjasuran was killed by the deity Anandavalli of Thanjapureerswarer temple and created the town ‘Thanjapuri�’ But history tells that the Chola King Vijayalaya captured this place from a local Mutharaiyar chieftain and made it as his capital in 850 A�D� The early Cholas were ruled from Kaveripoompattinam, Pazhaiyarai etc� In point of view of antiquity, Greece is the only European country that can be compared with Thanjavur� Art, literature, education, music, Bharatanatyam and medical fields were improved and developed by Maratha King Serfoji II in Thanjavur� Now Thanjavur is a tourist spot where thousands of visitors visit every day� World heritage monuments like Brahadeshwara Temple and Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library (TMSSML) are located in Thanjavur� Just as Egypt is called the gift of Nile, so also the Maratha culture and art may be called the gift of glorious heritage, which we should feel proud of� Thanjavur paintings, Thanjavur dolls, Tanjore art plate are famous traditional art in our town which attracts tourists who visit� Thanjavur is situated 351 Km south of Chennai on the main route of the southern railways� Maratha Palace complex is a major landmark in Thanjavur� Sadar Mahal Palace was the residential Palace of King Serfoji II, built by him in 1824 A�D� His descendants still stay there� Chapter 2 SHAHAJI MAHARAJ Maharaja Shahaji (father of Chatrapathi Shivaji the great and Cholasimhasanathipathi Maharaja Venkoji [Ekoji]Raje Bhosle) was rewarded Bangalore jaghir which then became his permanent residence� Both Shivaji and Venkoji were educated in Bangalore� Shahaji nominated Venkoji as his successor in Bangalore and placed Shivaji in charge of Pune and Satara in 1640 A�D� At Bangalore, literary activities were promoted by Shahaji� His court poet Jayram Pindye composed Radha madhav vilas champu in flowery Sanskrit� His literary traditions were carried on by his sons and had strong influence on the mind of Shivaji and the Thanjavur branch� Shahaji samadhi/ tomb is at Hodigere near Channagiri (Davangere Taluk) in Karanataka� Shahaji was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosle born on 18th March 1602� He was an extremely ambitious and capable general� At a young age, Shahaji had achieved a lot� He was well known not only for his military and leadership skills but also as a man who kept his word� He had not lost a single battle in his entire life� His father Maloji Raje Bhonsle was a Maratha sardar (general) who served the Ahmadnagar Sultanate in Malik Ambar’s army� Maloji helped the Nizam Padsha of Shivagiri against Alli Adil Shah of Bijapur and obtained one fourth of the Nizam Padsha’s Kingdom as Jaghir� Maloji and his brother Vittoji both lived with Nizam Sha� Maloji died in the battle between Nizam Shah and Raja of Kolhapur� He left two sons, Shahaji (eldest) and Serfoji� Vittoji brought them up under orders of the Nizam Sha� Shahaji became a great fighter� He successfully defended the Nizam’s dominations against the Moghul army led by Alli Adil Shah and his own father-in-law Yadhava