A young prince is seated on the throne. His soldiers have brought a handcuffed Patil (a village chief) before him. Patil, with a thick and long moustache, had dishonored a helpless widow. In a stern and majestic tone the young prince announced the judgment, cut off his both hands and feet!! This is the least punishment for the crime he has committed. All present were taken aback at the firm devotion of the prince to justice. Not only were they wonder-struck but also pleased beyond measure. The village people began to say to one another: Ah! Look! How devoted to justice our young prince is!? He is not in the least afraid of the wicked people. He is kind and loving towards the poor, the downfallen and the wretched. He is ever determined to help them and to protect them. What is more, he regards all women as mothers!
Don't you wish to know who this young prince was? He was none other than Shivaji. At the time of this incident he was just fourteen. In another incident in Nachani village of Pune province, a ferocious and huge cheetah was creating nuisance. He used to attack villagers suddenly and run away into the jungle. Scared villagers ran to Shivaji for help. They cried, Save us from this wild animal. He has killed so many children. He attacks us especially in the night when everyone is sleeping. After patiently listening to the villagers, he said, don?t worry!! Calm down. I am here to help you. Shivaji, along with his chieftain Yesaji and few soldiers, went to the jungle. As soon as the cheetah appeared, Shivaji's soldiers frightened and backed off. But Shivaji and Yesaji bravely confronted the Cheetah and killed him in no time. Villagers rejoiced and hailed, Jay Shivaji!!
Shivaji's father's name was Shahaji. He was always away from home, fighting wars. How he became aware of this fearless and unique nature of his son is itself an interesting story. On a certain occasion, Shahaji took his son to the court of the Sultan of Bijapur. Shahaji and all others touched the ground thrice and saluted the Sultan. He asked his son Shivaji to do the same thing. But.....! Shivaji stood erect with his head unbent. He seemed to be determined that he would not bow down to a foreign ruler. He walked back from the court with a lion-like gait and bearing.
You may ask: how did Shivaji acquire all these noble virtues - courage, heroism, love of the motherland and love of Dharma? Even when he was a little child, his mother Jijabai used to tell him stories of heroes, of saints and sages who appear in the Ramayana, and the Mahabharatha. She taught him all about Hindu Samskars and patriotism. As Shivaji listened to these tales of heroism and Dharmik deeds, he grew more and more eager to be like Rama or Krishna, Bheema or Arjuna. His teacher and guide, Dadoji Kondadev was a great man. He not only taught Shivaji about all kinds of warfare tactics but also about politics and good administration. Both, Dadoji Kondadev and Jijabai, carved his personality.
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Infact Jijabai surprised all men & kingdoms (i also think she surprised her own husband). Jijabais husband at that time who was busyfighting war had no time for his family or the kingdom. Jijabai had to single handedly bring up her huge flock. Moreover she had to take care of the kingdom & groom her son-Shivaji. She ran the kingdom ably and ensured her son would be the legal able heir. She stood strong against the Moghul empire & i am sure these self-proclaimed scholars, intellectual Brahmins really must be envying this lady. The fact is the lady Jijabai braved all, by herself. And Im sure she is the one who passed on her values, able administrative skills, knowledge & protecting the kingdom to her older son- Shivaji. She guided him & that was visible in the way he protected his people.
Though Shivaji was a prince, he enjoyed playing with anyone of his age and easily mixed up with the common peple. Soon, he became the heart of all. At the age of twelve, he and his friends took the oath of defeating foreign rulers and establish swarajya where people can live fearless and happy and follow their dharma. At the young age of sixteen, he started raising his own army. In the same age, he captured one of the forts. It was the fort of Torana. Another meaning of Torana is garland. Jijabai proudly said, look! Shivaji has brought us a garland of independence!.
As Shivaji grew old, he fought many wars and defeated several lieutenants and commanders of foreign rulers. While fighting with the enemies, he put himself in a grave danger very often. He not only established his independent sovereign against all odds but also undertook reforms to make his people happy. He inspired and united the common man to fight against the tyranny of foreign rulers such as Aurangjeb, by inculcating a sense of pride and nationality in them. Isn't it great about Shivaji? Sant (sage) Ramadas was his spiritual guru (teacher). He sang in praise of Shivaji: The land and its Dharma have been uplifted. A kingdom of bliss has arisen.
After reading the thrilling and inspiring tale of Shivaji, don't we feel that we too should follow the example of Shivaji? Why is this so? It is because Shivaji underwent all hardships for the sake of his country, for the sake of its Dharma. He did not care for his own life and quite often entered the very jaws of death. Till his last breath, he lived for his country and for the Dharma of the Hindus. It is nearly three hundred years since he died but the memory of this great man lights up the torch of inspiration.
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Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"
REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran
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