CHAPTER 4. Extra-nuuital Relationships (Mistresses) In addition to tiie practice of polygamy, tliere was a tradition of men having mistresses; called Vaiaks'luila, llcikslu2, Atigavcistrci, Marji etc. indicating their vai ious (aliis. Men from tlie loyal, noble and rich 'amilies and all those who could afford had a misti ess. Ilie whole of tlie Peshwa period was a continuous period of warfare. Not a yeai passed witiiout a nihtary Cfimpaign or war. llie victors became the masters over the losers; may the>' be Hindus or Muslims, [here was only one class; victors and those who were defeated; man and woman. Powaful men could have any A'oman they pleased. One letter written to Alijabahadur; grand-son of Bajirao and Mastani, son of Samsheibaliadur, in 1789 A.D. by Maliadaji Shinde rellects the attitude. Ganibeg, matenial cousin of Alijabahadur, who was given a prestigious position in the miiy of Alijabaliadur, had forceful!) taken a i’rahniin girl and her father had complained to Shinde. Shinde warns in the letter that it was disgraceful according to the discipline and hence would not be tolerated Ganibeg had not acted in any extra-ordinary way; but such action was not to be tolerated. Men had women by force but later they married those women. They did not force the higher class women Ganibeg had forcefully taken a Brahmin girl. "fhere was a tradition of the defeated party otfering beautiful women to the victorious leader as a mark of their .submission. The beautiful daughtei-in-law of the Subhedar of Kalyan had been otTeied to Shivaji, who respectfully returned her' to her family . He set an exarn{)le which few followed in later yeai s. Wien Sambhaji t:ried to seduce a niairied Bralimin girl, Shivaji admonished him by saying that a King's ■ubjcct.i v\ ci c like liis childicr,. If' Sambhaji please,':, lie could many an)’ number of wives and enjoy them; hut he ciinnot Jiiuas'.s t!)c subjects find would iJiercJ'ore be punislied . Chatrapati Rajaram, younger brother of Sambhaji, had a beautiful mistress, in addition to 4 wives, called Saaiinabai. She had a son from him, a hjindsome child, called l^nja Kama says a vvTiter of Rakhar. Chatrapati Shahu superseded all of tliem. He had a haiaii like that of the Mogliul Emperors, vvitli soldiers to guard it. In addition to this, he had few women as secret (Gupta Marji) mistresses. One such Yamna fell in love witli her guard Chandroji, which was mutual and when it was disclosed, Chandioji was assassinated while niiirching with the forces of Fatehsingh Bhonsale. Such affairs w ae common in all the times. Chatjapati Shahu had one such special Marji, (favourite Mistjess) called Viroobai, who had entered his hfe at a critical moment. Wliai Shaliu was imprisoned by tlie Mogliuls, (1689 - 1707 A.D.) he was mairied to two girls; Ambikabai Jadhav cind Savitribai Shinde. Emperor Aurangzeb wislied to congratulate the newly weds Tm person and expressed his desire. ITie royal bride could not be exhibited in public; specially the Muslim Emperor, a stranger belonging to another faith. Hence Yesubai, mother of Shaliu, dressed Viroobai, a maidservant sent with the Shinde bride and Viroobai represented as Shahu’s bride The whole incident must have been for a short while, but Viroobai had an impact in Shaliu’s life thi'oughout her life. Even alter his release, when Shaliu married twice, Sakawarbai Shirke and Sagunabai Mohite, her status did not change. Viroobai was Wani by ca^te and she was not married to Shahu; yet she was respected and honoured as his *^egally wedded wife. Nanasalieb writes to his fathei, Peshwa Bajirao that during Nanasaheb’s visit to Satara, he w.is in the royal audience and presented Mitosliree (Respected Mother) Viroobai 2 gold Mohurs (coins) as w'as !'.e custom Viroobai made used of her status to order the Peshwa, to make certain repairs in the royal kitchen immediately Chatrapati Sambhaji of Kolhapur State, who was the cousin of Shahu, wished to improve the relations between Shahu and himself and hence urges Viroobai, calling her Vahini (sister-in-law) to take a lead in the matter He had full faith in her capiicify and hopes she would be successful ' ' ’ Viroobai mid Shaiiii had a daugfilcr caiieci Rajasbai. Aii the ceienionics ;ind rites it-gaidiiig her u'ae peifonned as if .she was a princess. Rajasbai delivered a daugliler and all the ceremonies regarding the Barnse oi' ^c\ t!' hnstening ceremon)' were conducted according to her royal status \ 7* Viroobai died in December 1740. A.D. when she was alive, she had control over Shahu's oilier wives, Sakwarbai and Sagunabai. Aflei iier death, they behaved as tiie>' pleased and dieir behaviour troubled Shahu. Viroobai was cremated at Sangani Maliuli and Fatehsingli Blionsale, whom Shatu treated as an adopted son pert'onned her I'uneral rites. Her personal property, ornaments etc. were given to Fatehsingh, who made a gold (9) stHtue of Viroobai and placed it in the family worship house it now belongs to Bhonsale family of .Akkalkot . Viioobai lived as a Queen and even aller her deatli was given a honour. But all such women w ae not so ^ucky. Thev' too were loyal and loved their mai with same devotion, but during their life time their relationships were strongly opposed and after tfieir death, they' were immediately forgotten. One such was Mastani. Thei e is no record of her exact birth date nor about her parents. She is refened in tiie life of Bajirao, sometime atler his campaign of Bundelkhand in 1729 A.D. Chatrasaal of Bundelkhand had invited Bajirao, to lielp him against tlie invasion of Mohaimied Shah Bangash. Tlien, Mastani must be 15/16 years old. Dr Bhagwandas Gupta, in Maharaja Chatrasaal Bundela, (1958) writes about tlie Raja’s children iuid states tliat tlie ^Kaja had some Muslim Upcistreeyas (wives), one of which had children called Samsherkhan, Khanjaluui and Mastani'^''. Mastani was very beautiful and a Kanchani (a dancing gul), possessing fine horsemanship and skill in handling tlie sword and the spear. .She always accompanied Bajirao in his campaigns and rode stirrup to stirrup with !u:.i. Altiiougli Muslim by birtli, she changed herself completely, in her di'ess, eating habits, and her conduct attei' she met Bajirao. Bajirao t.oo loved Mastani openly. In 1739 A.D., he vi.^iled SuUua alter a iiulitaiy Lciiiipaign l>-' pdV iu.' res[)ect'^ to the Chatrapati Shahu, and she accompanied him 'Ihere was ;t separate residence, built in the premiscv 11.5 'of ShaniwajAvada, the family residence, specially for her, Bajirao was an undefeated chieftain wliei c w.ufai e was concerned but he was defeated regarding the opjjosition I'or his lo’/e tovvaids Mastani, more from his family . menibu s tJian tlie society. r 'Die contemporary society was ready to tolerate secret mistresses. His father, Balaji Vishwanath, had a ' niistiess and two illegitimate sons, called Dhikaji and Ranoji Shinde^^"’. Mastani would have been tolerated if she had been secretly associated with Bajirao. ft was not to be tolerated that she be resided with the rest of the family )n the same premises, "Hie Brafimins of Pune insisted on a penance, which he was ready to peilbirn, but ' he was not ready to leave Mastani Bajirao was niazi ied to Kashibai, who was weak in pliysique and was well aware of it. She was in good terms with Mastani, who found a friend and protector in her lone life when she did not accompany Bajirao. Kashibai was not neglected by her husband for Mastani, Kashibai had two sons, Ragliiinathrao (bom on 1 August 1734 A.D. at Mahuli) and Janardhanrao in 1735 A.D, Ihere were complaints against Mastani-Bajirao relationship to Chatrapati Shahu. llie Chatrapati had warned Chimajiappa and Nanasalieb to leave tlie matters as tliey were, Shaliu had himself given A’iroobai tlie V .'tatus of his wife. He was aware that Bajirao was the sole support of the Maratha kingdom and as such, should ' not be olTended. Shaliu’s stand and indirect support in the matter prevented Mastam’s life from being in danger ^ ( [n 1734 A.D. Mastani gave birtli to a son, called Samshersingh. Kashibai had helped and supported her as an elder sister during this critical stage. Samsheisingli was also called Krishnasinha. Tlie name Krishna existed intheBhat family, his fathei'Bajirao’s family even before Bajirao ^ Baiirao wished to openly (real Srunsiictsin<’h 'On. which 'Oemed impossible in the contonpoi'rin' social set-up. Nanasaheb had imprisoned Mastani find Bajirao was away on tlie campaign find fell ill. Nanasaheb 1 1 r. leiit Kiishibai tuidJaiiaiYltiaiU’cio to him. Bajiiao died on tiie btuika of N.uiiiada on 28'“ April 1 710 A.D. Mastani lid not live ailei, yiihough tliere is no record of how and when she died. Kadhabai, mother of Bajirao and Chiniajiaj)pa, had in the end given up hei' opposition, but it was loo late. rX/iiniajiappa had suggested to make a gold Tank; (image inscribed on the surface of metal, as goddess) to be daced in the worship house, niis meant tliat Mastani was married to Bajirao But that does not seem )ossible, for no two persons of different faiths c<m be man ied under either faitli and without one of them being lonveiled to tlie faitli of other. Tliey [lad accepted each otlier as husband and wife. Sanisliersingh was 6 years old when he lost both his parents. He was brouglit up by Peshwa Nanasalieb as I brotlier. He was made a Saidai' in his childhood and was given tlie property Bajirao had received from ’iiaUasaal.