Soyarabai Bhonsle (née Mohite) was a prominent member of the 17th‑century Maratha aristocracy. She is widely known as one of the wives of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha polity, and as the mother of his second son, Rajaram. Her family ties—she was the younger sister of the important Maratha commander Hambirrao Mohite—placed her at the centre of court politics during a turbulent era.
Background and family ties
Born into the Mohite family, Soyarabai belonged to a leading Maratha household whose members held military and administrative posts. Her marriage into the Bhonsle household strengthened political alliances. Besides Rajaram, she belonged to a network of relatives and courtiers who shaped events at Shivaji's court during his later years.
Role in the succession crisis
When Shivaji died in 1680, a contested succession followed. Soyarabai sought to secure the throne for her young son Rajaram and to act on his behalf. For a short period she led a faction at court that moved to enthrone Rajaram while Shivaji's elder son, Sambhaji, was absent. Sambhaji returned, consolidated support among key nobles and soldiers, and the rival faction was suppressed.
- Known facts: mother of Rajaram; sister of Hambirrao Mohite; involved in post‑1680 succession events.
- Date of death: 1681.
Historical assessments differ about her motives and methods. Some sources portray her as a determined advocate for her son's rights; others emphasize the factional nature of Maratha politics after Shivaji's death. Regardless, Soyarabai's actions contributed to a defining episode in the early development of the Maratha kingdom in western India, illustrating how family ties and military patronage shaped succession and state formation.
Legacy
Soyarabai is remembered chiefly for the brief regency attempt and the ensuing struggle that helped set the course for Sambhaji's rule and Rajaram's later kingship. Her life highlights the active political roles that royal women and kinship networks played in 17th‑century Deccan politics.