Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti or Shiv Jayanti is a special occasion not only of Maharashtra but of India as a whole. The architect of the vast Maratha empire was born on 19th February according to Gregorian calendar and the day is declared a special day by the government of Maharashtra. It is a declared holiday and at the outskirts of Maharashtra too this occasion is celebrated with ardent devotion and solemnity.
History of Chhatrapati Shivaji jayanti
The Shiv jayanti was started in the year 1869 when mahatma Fuleh first discovered the grave of Shivaji Maharaj and composed a long poem in his memory. He appealed to the government of Maharashtra that the land should be taken up. In the year 1870 Mahatma Fuleh for the first time celebrated the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Jyayanti in Pune. Thereafter, the tradition began to roll catching hold of the hand of Lokmanya Tilakji. The Maharashtra government always celebrates the birth anniversary of great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Monday March 21.
The ultimate motto behind it was that such an auspicious occasion might rouse in the minds of the people of Maharashtra sheer patriotism and rouse the inner force to fight against the British force. In the very earlier time, the Shiv Jayanti was confined within the span of Maharashtra but in the 20th century, in the first half, the occasion reached every corner of the country.
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Chhatrapati Shivaji is regarded almost by all as a wise monarch of India who never wished to bow before the foreign dominance. Even the Mughals, the then empires of India, failed to make him bow down before their total force.
Shivaji regarded as the greatest warrior king of the mighty Maratha Empire is always regarded as one of the great patriots who never tried to appease the Mughals or the British for any gains. Rather it was he who tried his best to fight with enough zeal and zest against the force with an ardent power tinged with patriotism.
The Birthday Issues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
It is almost known to the Indian people that the official celebrations take place on the very February 19, according to the calendar; the Shiva Sena tries to pay respect to the great ruler Shivaji as per the Hindu calendar, on the 3rd day of Falgun Vadya or month.
Though the celebrations are held according to Marathi traditions, the whole of India pay respect to the great soul on the very day of 19th February.
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Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in 1630, at Shivneri Fort of Pune. He is called the founder of the Maratha kingdom, was a natural leader and a great warrior.
He had won several wars against the Mughals and established the Maratha Empire. It was in the year 1674 when he was formally crowned as the 'Chhatrapati' or the emperor. According to Indian history, Shivaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsle was born on the 3rd day of the Krishna Paksha in Phalgun month as per the traditional Marathi almanac.
Debates Galore with Chahatrapati Shivaji Jayanti
There is always confusion though there is no dearth of devotion of people to this great Maratha ruler. He may be a Maratha by birth but the people of India are always ready to show their respect to this great warrior ruler. In spite of various debates, the Jayanti is celebrated between February-March and the dates vary every year.
All You Need to Know about the Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was prepared for battles very early in life and fought many battles to oust the prevailing oppression of the Mughal emperors and later on the British invaders. Maharaj showed enough courage to lay the foundation of the great Maratha Empire in 1674.
Another aspect focuses on the great ruler. He is called the father of the Indian Navy as he dared to bold a powerful naval army to protect sea trade and to stop all types of rampages going on at that very time. Shivaji Maharaj was among the few who realized the importance of naval force back. He was not prone on expanding his empire but to asset the people to a great extent who tried to earn livelihood through trading on water.
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With this specific mission he built his naval army and showed the foreign attackers that the Indians were not lagging behind by all means. It was Shivaji Maharaj who formed the first army of the Marathas. The soldiers of the army were all paid members of the army. They were neither exploited nor deprived of their rights.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a supporter of women and stood for their honor. Under his rule, no woman was harmed in the territories that he ruled.
The great ruler was beyond caste conflicts. He was known for accepting all religions without any discrimination. Even though he did not sacrifice his own religious beliefs of Hinduism, he never forced people to convert their religion.
As a war strategist he knew the importance of warfare skills quite efficiently. Maharaj was able to escape the Panhalgad fort after he was trapped all on a sudden by General Siddhi Johar’s army. He escaped with about 600 soldiers from the fort.
Shivaji Maharaj and Honesty and Faithfulness
Shivaji Maharaj acknowledged only those who righteously tried to complete their duties. The Maratha king appointed the perfect persons for the right job. He didn’t rely on skill but relied on their perfect moralities and faithfulness.
All these hint at the very importance of honesty, morality and ethics during the rule of Maharaj Shivaji. According to his rules, it was promotion that was guaranteed only if the respective candidate could prove his valor, worthiness and honesty.
Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Great Motivator
Shivaji Maharaj had great oratory power. As he spoke from the heart, his words bore the pain and anguishes of general people. The leader initially practiced the qualities of honesty and trust and thereafter won the admiration of the common people.
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Being led by his emotional intelligence majority of the Marathas who were poor farmers and daily wage earners caught hold of his hand during his period. Shivaji was a humanitarian leader who always tried to live up to his word. Since his childhood his mother Jizabai used to tell stories from the great Indian epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata teaching him the spiritual and moral values hidden in them.
The Selfless Legacy of the Great Ruler
While going on to observe the Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti we must keep it in mind that the great ruler has left a strong legacy of total selflessness, good deeds and hard work, as a role model for a perfect leader in modern India. The moment his mother laid the foundation of Swarajya in his mind and his father Shahaji tried his best to assist him; Shivaji left no stone upturned in laying the foundation of Hindavi Swaraj.
It was Chattrapati Shivaji whose Swaraj was founded on humanity, ethics, values, man management, and prolific leadership.
Maharaj was a firm believer in new technology and innovation. He researched this and provided new armaments to his men. He recognized the value of the fleet and established a great command over the Arabian Sea.
Chhatrapati Shivaji as Promising Negotiator
There are numerous stories about Shivaji’s diplomatic skills. At a very young age when he brought his father out of the clasp of Sultan of Biijapur using his wit and negotiating skills.
Respectful towards women
This was one of the most prominent aspects of Shivaji Maharaj. Women had to toil harder to survive in India before he came to power. He issued a warning to everyone about the code and ethics for the development of respect for women in general. He was a strong supporter of women's rights and honor.
Respectful towards other faith
As Maharaja of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji tried to protect religious structures, sentiments and beliefs. His treatment of men of various faiths was really commendable.
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Even one of Shivaji's critics, told of him that Shivaji made it a rule that if his followers went plundering or tried to annex any territory for expansion, they never did harm to the mosques, to the Holy Quran, or to the females.
Last but not the least
Right at this moment when the Indian people are going to pay homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti they must keep it in minds that he was such a ruler who never thought of his own men the Marathas, rather he cast his glance at the totality of India at that very period and tried to do something good for the Indian people. He was thwarted every now and then by men from his own country and people coming from abroad, but he had a lion heart. He never bowed down before all sorts of incoming pressures. He stood straight with head held high evermore until he breathed his last.
For these reasons Chhatrapati Shivaji will be remembered for the very nation building exercises and gaining support for the cause of Swarajya for the generations to come in this vast country named India.
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