The day of Shivaji's coronation is inscribed in golden letters in Hindu history. This year on 24 June 2010 as per Hindu calendar (The 13th day (trayodashi) of the first fortnight of the month of 'Jyeshtha' as in the year 1596) the "Rajyabhisheka Day" has been observed. Shivaji was formally crowned Chhatrapati on 6 June 1674 at Raigad fort, and given the title Kshatriya Kulavantas Sinhasanadheeshwar Chhatrapati Shivaji Mahārāj. Pandit Gaga Bhatt, a renowned Brahmin from Varanasi, officially presided over the ceremony and bestowed him with the Jaanva, the Vedas and was bathed in an abhisheka by performing Indrabhishek ritual. Shivaji had started his own calendar 'Rajyabhishek Shaka'.
Shivaji espoused the ideology of Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule of the Hindu). He achieved the re-establishment of Hindu rule on their homeland after being ruled and dominated by various Muslim dynasties for few hundred years. He established an efficient and excellent non-oppressive and welfare oriented rule with the help of well regulated and disciplined military and well structured administrative organizations. The practices of treating women as war booty, destruction of religious monuments, slavery and forceful religious conversions under Muslim rule were firmly opposed under his administration. Unlike other Muslim rulers, Shivaji was a religious Hindu, and showed respect toward other religions. He also innovated rules of military engagement of that era. He pioneered "Shiva sutra" or Ganimi Kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his bigger and more powerful enemies.
Rightly did the great Hindi bard Bhushana, who forsook the royal favours of the Mughal court to come over to Shivaji to record his glories, sing :
Kashiji ki kalaa jaati, Mathura masjid hoti |
Shivaji na hote to sunnat hoti sab ki ||
(Had not there been Shivaji, Kashi would have lost its culture, Mathura would have been turned into a mosque and all would have been circumcised.).
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