Shivaji Maharaj thinking about Independence even in sleep!

Magh Krushna Asthami

To commemorate Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the occasion of his birth anniversary on 19th of this month let us study an incident regarding his passion for freedom and how he was thinking about Independence even in sleep.

By Shri. Sanjay Mulye, Ratnagiri

Siddhis of Janjira, the enemy obstructing Independence

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was trying for 15 years incessantly to conquer Janjira Fort which was in Siddhis’ possession; but he was not successful in it. He attacked Janjira in 1669. He conquered the huge land at the sea shore, 7 Forts and places like Danda and Rajpuri at the opening of Janjira Fort. Shri. Vijay Deshmukh writes about some incidences taking place regarding Janjira Fort on 10th February 1671 in the biography, ‘Shakakarte Shivrai’ – ‘It was ‘Holi’ that day and Shivaji Maharaj used to celebrate Holi by hunting. This year his attention was drawn towards Janjira. Though he had succeeded in many campaigns he was not able to conquer Siddhis at Janjira. Maharaj was very keen on conquering them. He was negotiating with British-Portuguese too, but in vain. Siddhis had a strong hold on Murud-Janjira. With a resolve to conquer it on the occasion of Holi, he announced prize of offering 1 maund gold and other presents to the one who would conquer Janjira.

He had gone to a village about 5-6 miles from ‘Raigad’, his residence, to celebrate Holi; but he was engrossed in the thinking about Janjira all the time..

Marathas celebrated Holi as usual at Danda-Rajpuri near Janjira which they already had conquered. They were not fully alert at that night time. Janjira was ruled by Siddhi Kasim, Siddhi Yakut and Siddhi Khairiyat. They were also aware of Maharaja’s intent of conquering Janjira. Hence they thought of attacking Marathas only before Maharaja attacked them. They attacked Rajpuri from both land and sea on that night itself. Siddhi Khairiyat attacked with 400-500 men from the land carrying things like ropes, ladders and other implements necessary to conquer it; whereas taking 30-40 light boats Siddhi Yakut reached below the wall of the Fort Rajpuri by sea.

Powerful blast in the ammunition store house

Marathas woke up in confusion. They fought with Siddhi Khairiyat very bravely. Siddhi Yakut in the mean time was coming from the sea route and started climbing the ladders to climb the wall of the fort. Some Marathas ran there and they pushed many Siddhis into the sea from the wall. But the Siddhis too were quite powerful. There was a tough fight inside the fort. Finally the Marathas opened the store of ammunition and started attacking the Siddhis with that; but suddenly the storehouse caught fire and there a powerful blast. About 10-12 Sidhis were killed instantly. Due to smoke nothing was visible. The soldiers were in panic; but Yakut encouraged them to kill the Marathas and finally Rajpuri was conquered by Siddhis.

A thing to be noted here that when this was happening at Rajpuri, Maharaj was sleeping at a distance of 40 miles from that place in a village. When there was the powerful blast at Rajpuri He got up startled and said to the close associates, ‘Danda-Rajpuri are in danger!’ Immediately spies-messengers were sent and people realized the truth shortly. One can realize from this how deep rooted was His passion for Janjira!

What a subtle sensation of the heart!

While narrating this incident Shivshahir B.M. Purandare writes in the book, ‘Raja Shivchatrapati’ written by him —— And Sleeping at a distance of 5-6 miles from Raigad, Shivaji Maharaj got up startled. His mind often contemplating upon Janjira Fort all the time was alert then. What a subtle sensation of the heart! Seeing him get up so suddenly the people closed to him asked what happened? He was very restless at that time. He said, “Danda-Rajpuri seems to be certainly in danger!” All were surprised. The spies and messengers were sent immediately and the news brought by them was same that was predicted by Maharaj earlier.

The rulers at present and the people electing them should learn from this that how alert the king ought to be about any attack on any place in his country; when in spite of Pakistan’s attack on Mumbai (No, on Bharat), rulers make shameless statements like, ‘Attack like this is bound to take place in a place like Mumbai!’

Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat