Facts about Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Coronation of Shivaji ‎ ‘Shivaji Maharaj’ Only king of India whose coronation ceremony is celebrated even after 350 years with large enthusiasm and large participation of people. 
Shivaji War Tactics  Only king of India whose war tactics are still studied in America and other european countries. 
Vietnaam general Follower of Shivaji  Shivaji Maharaj, an inspiration for vietnaam soldiers and hence American army still couldn’t capture vietnaam. Vietnaam general Ho Chi Minh is the follower of Shivaji Maharaj 
Statues of Shivaji maharaj The Statue of Shivaji Maharaj is built in Many countries like Malaysia, Myanmar, America, England etc. 
Americans Followers of Shivaji American Soldiers used the war tactics of Shivaji Maharaj (Night raid on Lal mahal to kill Shaistakhan) to Kill Osama Bin Laden. 
Hitler Follower of Shivaji Maharaj 
Hitler followed Shivaji Maharaj’s strategy in early phase of World War 2. Hitler mentioned this in his meeting with Netaji Subhashchandra Bose. 
Quotes of Ambedkar on Shivaji Maharaj  
Once Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar said, “while writing constitution of India i didn’t had to take much efforts as i was visualizing the Hindavi Swaraj of Shivaji Maharaj.” Shivaji Maharaj the Only King of India whose legend is protrayed in a theatrical drama like ‘Sivaji’ in Regional language (telugu) by Sivaji ganesan. Even a film is released in 2007 named ‘Chandrahaas’ in telugu where famous Telugu actor krishna played Shivaji maharaj’ role. Shivaji Maharaj indeed was the Greatest of Great and hence it is said that ‘उपर इंद्र, नीचे बाली और यहा छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज’ Jhansi ki Rani idolized Shivaji Maharaj - See more at: http://rajputanas.com/tag/shivaji-and-hitler/#sthash.gSZz3SWg.dpuf

Scorched earth technique introduced by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Mughal-Maratha Wars[edit]

Shivaji Maharaj had introduced scorched earth tactics known as Ganimi Kava^[14]—his forces looted traders and businessmen from Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's empire, and burnt down his cities. But they were strictly ordered not to rape or hurt the innocent civilians, and not to cause any sort of disrespect to any of the religious institutes.^[15]

Shivaji's son, Sambhaji Maharaj, was detested throughout the Mughal Empire for his scorched earth tactics until he and his men were captured by Muqarrab Khan and his Mughal Army contingent of 25,000.^[16] On 11 March 1689, a panel of MughalQadis indited and sentenced Sambhaji to death for condoning casual torture, arson, looting, and massacre of the emperor's subjects, but most prominently for giving shelter to Sultan Muhammad Akbar, the fourth son of Aurangzeb, who sought Sambhajiraje's aid in winning the Mughal throne from his emperor father. Sambhaji was particularly condemned for the three days of ravaging committed after the Battle of Burhanpur.^[17][17]

In the year 1747, the Marathas, led by Raghoji I Bhonsle, began to raid, pillage and annex the territories in Odishabelonging to the Mughal Empire's Nawab of Bengal, Alivardi Khan. The Maratha cavalry numbering 40,000 had sacked the town of Midnapore and set granaries and villages ablaze.^[18]

Vietnam’s ideal Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Vietnam is one such country that took inspiration from Hindustan which is a history. The war between Vietnam and USA was going on for 20 years. America was under the impression that Vietnam could be destroyed within short span of time; means just few hours; but America had to pay dearly for the war with Vietnam because Vietnamese warriors adopted the strategy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj keeping him as ideal. After the war was won by Vietnam, the President of that country was asked by reporters the secret behind defeating superpower like USA. The President had said, “It was quite clear that our country defeating superpower was not possible; but during the war, I came across an autobiography of a brave king from Hindustan. We took inspiration from him and planned our strategy and determinedly implemented it. It was observed within few days that we were winning.” Then the reporters asked who that brave Hindustani king was ? The President replied, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ! Had this great king been born in our country, we would have ruled over the whole world.” The President had written his last wish before death that ‘It may be written on his grave as ‘One soldier of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is laid to rest here’. That sentence can be seen even today.

Vietnam’s Lady Foreign Minister was once visiting India few years ago. As per the protocol, she was taken to see Red Fort and ‘samadhi’ of Mahatma Gandhi. After seeing that, she asked where was the ‘samadhi’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ? The Indian officers were quite taken aback on hearing her question. They informed her that it was at Raigad in Maharashtra. She said that she wanted to go there and pay her obeisance. She could not go back without prostrating before his ‘samadhi’ who was the inspiration behind their country to defeat most powerful country like USA. She went to Raigad; had ‘darshan’ of ‘samadhi’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; collected little soil from there and kept it in her purse with lot of devotion; not only this; but she also moved her soiled hand over her forehead as if applying ‘Tila’ of that holy soil on her head. The officers from our Foreign Ministry were not only surprised to see this but were also overwhelmed. Reporters and some officers present there asked her about the same when she said, “This is the soil of brave warriors. A great king like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born in this soil. Now after going back to my country, I will mix this soil with the soil of Vietnam so that great valiant leaders will be born even in my country.” Many years have passed since this incident took place. Recently, this incident was published in detail, in one periodical named ‘Sashakta Bharat’ in its November edition.  

A small country from South-East fought with most powerful, nuke country like USA and even won the war taking inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. America was the winner of Second World War; but her powerful army in Vietnam never used to know where, how and in which manner, they used to be attacked. American soldiers never came to know where and how Vietnamese guerillas used to hide in dense forests. The dream of USA to divide Vietnam could never be fulfilled. Chhatrapati had also defeated Mughals using the same strategy. Vietnam soldiers followed his path. In fact, USA had so sensitive machines that their light used to get switched on wherever there was human urine in the area. They used to find where Vietnamese guerillas were hiding and bombed that part killing guerillas. There again, strategy of Chhatrapati was found useful. They started collecting human urine in earthen pots and hanging such pots to trees. As a result, American machine started getting signals of presence of large number of guerillas. America also used bed-bugs to find guerillas. Bugs used to go in the direction of human for sucking blood; but guerillas used gas to kill all bugs. Many such schemes were used by USA but Vietnamese proved to be ‘one up’ using counter strategies of Chhatrapati. Finally, USA realized it and had to withdraw. Shri. Milind Gadgil, a war-journalist has written a very interesting book on guerillas strategy. Vietnamese guerillas adopted Chhatrapati’s teachings and won which is a thing of pride for us.

Chhatrapati Shivaji history in short,

Chhatrapati Shivaji

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. He is considered to be one of the greatest warriors of his time and even today, stories of his exploits are narrated as a part of the folklore. King Shivaji used the guerrilla tactics to capture a part of, the then, dominant Mughal empire. Read this biography to get more information on the warrior and his life history:

Early Life
Shivaji was born on 19th February 1630, to Sahaji and his wife, Jijabai, in the Shivneri Fort, situated almost 60 km to the north of Pune. He was named as Shiva, after the local Goddess Shivai, to whom his mother Jijabai had prayed for a son. After being defeated by the combined forces of the Mughals and Adil Shah, Sahaji was offered a jagir near the present-day Bangalore. However, he was allowed to keep his holdings in Pune. So, Sahaji left his son Shivaji to manage the Pune holdings, under the care of his mother Jijabai.

With a small council of ministers, Shivaji began managing his estate. His ministers included Shamrao Nilkanth as Peshwa, Balkrishna Pant as Muzumdar, Raghunath Ballal as Sabnis and Sonopant as Dabir. At the same time, Kanhoji Jedhe and Baji Pasalkar were appointed to look after Shivaji's training. In the year 1644, Shivaji undertook full administrative responsibilities of his estate. Thus was started his career as an independent young prince of a small kingdom. His mother, Jijabai, was instrumental in instilling in Shivaji's mind a love for independence and distaste for external political domination.

Career
The first aggression in the life of Shivaji came at the age of sixteen, when he seized the Torna fort of Bijapur kingdom. By 1647, he had gained control over Kondana and Rajgad forts, with complete power of the Pune region. With time, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj secured the forts in the Western Ghats as well as those along the Konkan coast. Shivaji also fought against the army of Adilshah at Purandhar. In November 1659, he fought the battle of Pratapgarh and defeated Afzal Khan. Immediately after this success, King Shivaji occupied the area stretching upto the Panhala fort.

The battle of Kolhapur took place in December 1659. In the battle, Shivaji crushed the army of Bijapuri general, Rustemjaman. In 1660, Siddi Johar's huge and daunting army attacked him at Panhala fort. Shivaji managed to escape from the fort. However, he soon launched an attack on Siddi Johar. The result was the surrender of Panhala and a truce between Shivaji and Adilshah. After the death of Adilshah, Aurangzeb attacked Golconda and Bijapur. Shivaji used guerilla-style tactics and captured more and more of the Bijapuri and Mughal territories. However, by 1663, he had lost most of his conquests to the Mughal army.

In the next few years, Shivaji again started seizing forts belonging to both Mughals as well as those of Bijapur. Aurangzeb sent Jai Singh, his Hindu general, to capture Shivaji. Shivaji surrendered to Jai Singh at Purander in 1665 and agreed becoming a Mughal vassal. In 1666, he managed to escape form his house arrest in Agra and lay low for the next few years. However, in January 1670, Shivaji launched an attack on Mughal garrisons in Maharashtra. Within a period of six months, he won back most of his lost empire. The period of 1670 to 1674 was spent by Shivaji Maharaj in expanding his empire at the cost of the Mughals.

In 1670, Shivaji launched an assault, under his General - Tanaji Malusare, to capture Kondana fort on the outskirts of Pune. The battle was won but he lost Tanaji. In the honor of Tanaji, the Kondana fort was renamed as Sinhagad. Shivaji was formally crowned as Chatrapati (meaning the Chief, Head or King of Kshatriyas) in June 1674 at the Raigad fort. He was given the title of Kshatriya Kulavantas Simhasanadheeshwar Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The end of 1676 saw Shivaji commencing attacks in the southern parts of India.

Death and Succession
Shivaji breathed his last on 3rd April 1680 in the Raigad fort, the capital for Maratha Empire. He was succeeded by his elder son, Sambhaji.

List of all the forts of "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj"

Showed some dance moves during trek from Rajgad to Torna

Rahul the Dancer

First Trek To Harishchandra Gad (video)