When people ask why we refer to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation as “Hindu Samrajya Din.” We must study history prior to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, both before and after his coronation. No one can refute the atrocities and devastation inflicted on Bharatiyas, particularly Hindus, by the Mughals, Nijams, and Adils. The horrific massacres, molestation and rapes of our mothers and sisters, coerced conversion, heavy looting of resources and money, grabbing land, destroying temples and cultural sites, and the imposition of Sharia law in several states were the order of the day. A vast area of Bharat was once under the awful influence of these invaders. The Hindus had lost everything, including their faith in their own capabilities, strength, and path of Dharma. Someone had to instil confidence and a heroic attitude in Hindus, and none other than “Chhatrapati Shivaji The Great” succeeded.
A few centuries after the Hindu empires of Indraprastha (Delhi), Karnavati, Devagiri, Ujjain, and Vijaynagar fell to invaders, Bharat had no independent Hindu emperors. Many Hindu princes were forced to accept Mughal or local Muslim rulers’ vassalage. Before Shivaraya’s rule, the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara in Karnataka was the world’s most civilised, affluent, and glorious state. This kingdom thrived after being founded by two brothers, Harihararai and Bukkarai. Adilshah, Nizamshah, Beridshah, and Qutbshah, Muslim Sultans, banded together to destroy this empire. Thousands of Sultanate troops stormed Vijayanagara. Vijayanagara was assaulted by millions of Sultanate troops. King Ramraya was thrown into the maze of sultans. Vijayanagar fell. Thousands of our warriors were killed. Ram Raya was beheaded by Nizamshah and his head was impaled on a spear. Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur removed Ram Raya’s head and placed it in the mouth of a filthy opening in Bijapur, causing the filth from the opening to flow out of Ram Raya’s mouth. The entire Deccan was teeming under the sultans’ terrible boot.
The Hindus have realised that they have lost everything to the cruel Muslim invaders and that they can do nothing to change their fate. So, when everything seemed to be working against Hindus and wonderful culture, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a renowned Hindu warrior and disciple of Sanatan Dharma, made things appear possible. The crowning of Raje sent a Hindu wave across the country, reminding Hindus that they must band together and battle against these terrible invaders to reclaim what had been lost and restore glory to Hindutva and the nation.
The goal of Hindu Samrajya was to defend Hindu society while overthrowing Islamic rulers. Even when Hindu culture was anticipated to be utterly obliterated and its identity erased, Shivaraya and the Maratha Empire proved that a Hindu can even defeat the mighty enemies and rule them as a Chhatrapati
At this time, we recognise the significance of the world’s ancient and cultured Hindu culture, as well as Shivaraya’s coronation. The goal of the state formed by Shivaji Maharaj was mostly met. Its goal was to defend Hindu society while, overthrowing Islamic rulers. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj worked diligently to restore Hindu society’s splendour. Even when Hindu culture was anticipated to be utterly obliterated and its identity erased, Shivaraya and the Maratha Empire proved that a Hindu can even defeat the mighty enemies and rule them as a Chhatrapati. Not only that, but it was demonstrated that this time cycle might be reversed. He built an ideal for future generations in which whatever difficulty his generation faces, even if it appears impossible, can be brought within the realm of possibility. The true meaning of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindu Swarajya, or Shivshahi, is “nothing is impossible.” Shivshahi reversed India’s history of Islamisation. There is no other similar example in world history. This historical lesson will be valuable to us in the future.
Grammar (Bhasha Shuddhi )
Our language was also tainted as a result of the foreign invasion of India. As many terms entered Marathi from Persian and Arabic, the Marathi language was on the point of extinction. As a result, Shivaji Maharaj chose to replace Persian and Arabic terms in Marathi with Sanskrit words. This assignment was assigned to Raghunath Hanmante and Dhundiraj Lakshman Vyas. A total of 1380 Persian terms were substituted by Sanskrit words, and a dictionary called ‘Rajvyavaharkosha’ (राजव्यवहारकोष) was developed.
Mudra
Shivaraya created his own mudra from the Sanskrit language. When Swarajya first began, a seal bearing Shivaraya’s name was produced. Mortab was similarly prepared. While Shahaji Raje and Jijausaheb’s Mudras were in Persian, Shivaji Raja’s Mudras were in Sanskrit. It was a sign of sovereignty and the influence of Hindu culture on Raje.
प्रतिपच्चंद्रलेखेव
वर्धिष्णुर्विश्ववन्दिता ।
साहसुनोः शिवस्यैषा मुद्रा भद्राय राजते ॥
The meaning of this Sanskrit mudra is, “The one who grows like the crescent moon of Pratipada, the one who receives salutation of the world. This mudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the son of Shahaji, is seen as an adornment for the welfare of the people.” Shiva Raya’s goal is embodied in this mudra. Shiva Raya’s motto was also humble, “Maryadayan Virajate”. (मर्यादयं विराजते)
Strength of Defense Forces – The Maharaja’s army was only one thousand to twelve hundred Mawlas at the time of the first major invasion of Swarajya on the occasion of Fattekhana in 1648. For the following thirty-two years, Maharaja was responsible for fortifications. Good governance was established. One lakh cavalry, one lakh infantry, and superb armour were raised. The Maharaja had set aside 1,75,000 hons (currency) for fort defence and 1,25,000 hons to fight the Mughals.
Hindu temple redevelopment
Hindus’ self-esteem and culture were reinstated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. When foreign invaders came to our land, they attempted to destroy the community by demolishing the monasteries and temples. Examples of such destruction include Babar’s demolition of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya to build a mosque and Aurangzeb’s demolition of the Kashi Vishwanath and Mathura temples. The constructions that the Muslim invaders erected in place of these temples are extremely offensive to us. Mr. Arnold Toynbee, a well-known historian, observed in a lecture in Delhi in 1960, “You have preserved the mosques erected by Aurangzeb in your country, though they were very humiliating.” When Russia annexed Poland in the early nineteenth century, they built a Russian Orthodox Church in Warsaw’s centre to commemorate their victory. When Poland gained independence during World War I, one of the first things it did was demolish Russian-built churches and eliminate reminders of Russian dominance. Because the church served as a continual reminder of their humiliation at the hands of the Poles. For this reason, nationalist organisations in India launched the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Actually, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has already started this work. Temples at Saptakoteshwar in Goa, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Samudrattirperumal in Tamil Nadu were restored by Maharaja.
“If you demolish our temples and insult our culture and harm our self-respect, then we will rebuild them stubbornly” was the message Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gave to the Muslim invaders through his actions.
Shivaji Maharaj’s destruction of the mosque at Kalyan-Bhiwandi is also mentioned in Kavindra Parmanand Gobind Nevaskar’s book Shivbharata (chapter 18, verse 52). In a letter dated 1678, Jesuit priest Andre Fair says in Historical Miscellany issued by BISM, Pune (1928, p 113), that Shivaji Maharaj destroyed Muslim mosques.
Dharma and culture cannot be taken away from any country. Self-esteem can never be taken away. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj taught us: if foreign aggressors attack our self-esteem, we must respond appropriately by erasing the marks of enslavement and restoring our dignity.
Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, states, “If Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is taken as an example, he is remembered for what he did for the protection of Hindu dharma.” Shiva Raya wields as much force as the saffron flag. Shiva Raya is an inspiration to everybody who remembers history by seeing the flag and taking inspiration from it. Shivaraya resurrected the flag that had truly fallen in the dust, giving life to Hindu dharma and reawakening the dying Hindutva. So, if you want to have someone as a role model, maintain Shivaraya.”
Many Indian and foreign authors, especially Communists, attempted to denigrate the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for money, fame and ideological reasons. The hero rescued millions of people from horrible foreign invaders and reestablished “Ram Rajya” to save a magnificent culture. As the Amrit Parva of India’s freedom is already underway, this year’s Jyeshta Shuddha Trayodashi, June 2, 2023, marks the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. This is an unforgetful event in Bharatiya history. Let us take part in this holy celebration to awaken patriotism throughout Bharat and disseminate the glorious and inspiring heritage of Shiva Raya. On the 350th “Hindu Samrajya Din,” we honour this great leader and warrior.
(Reference: राजाश्रीशिवछत्रपती- बाबासाहेबपुरंदरे, स्वराज्यरक्षणाचालढा- श्री. पांडुरंग, श्रीसुधीर, श्रीमोहन)
