Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
Q: Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
A: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire. He is one of the revered historical figures of Maharashtra and created an independent and sovereign state in the region.
Q: Where was Shivaji Bhonsale born?
A: Shivaji Bhonsale was born in the Shivneri Fort in Maharashtra on 19 February 1630 to mother Jijabai and father Shahaji Bhosale.
Q: What is said about his name?
A: It is said that mother Jijabai prayed to Lord Shiva in Shivneri Fort for a brave son and kept her son's name as Shivaji after the Hindu god Shiva.
Q: What did Mata Jijabai teach her son?
A: Mata Jijabai taught her son, Shivaji, stories from Hindu epics such as Mahabharata, stories of old mighty Hindu kingdoms such as Vijayanagara, and also trained him in guerrilla warfare.
Q: Who were some of the powers fighting for control over Konkan at that time?
A: At that time, there were two sea powers fighting for control over Konkan - Christian Portuguese and Muslim Siddi - as well as British and Dutch who were engaged in expanding their trade with factories on the coast. The Mughals also wanted to expand their power into South India during this period.
Q: What happened to Nizamshahi Kingdom during this period?
A: The Mughals launched a campaign to conquer Nizamshahi Kingdom which resulted in its end by 1636. Thereafter Shahaji became a Sardar of Adilshah of Bijapur posted in Karnataka while his jagir comprising Pune, Supe, Indapur, Chakan Parganas located between Bhima and Nira rivers continued under Adilshah's rule.
Q: Where did Mata Jijabai stay with her son until he turned twelve years old?
A: Until he turned twelve years old, Mata Jijabai stayed with her son at Bangalore where his father Shahaji had been assigned a jagir by Adilshah of Bijapur
