Before writing about Shivaji Maharaj's Death - myths and actual reasons. We would like to introduce our great king in few words.
It takes centuries for the God to create someone who can rule millions of hearts and leave behind a massive legacy for the people to be inspired for generations. When He finally succeeds, the person creates a history with his/her valour, foresightedness, ideas, beliefs, principles, chivalry, and secularism. One such persons that could easily fall in this league is none other than the most beloved Maratha warrior king fondly called Shivaji Maharaj. Born to Jijabai on February 19, 1627 in Pune, Shivaji Maharaj is a national hero pan-India and the only king who is deified by the people of Maharashtra. And why shouldn't he be considered a god given all that he did for the freedom of the state.
The Rise of a Legend
Shivaji Maharaj was greatly inspired by his mother, Jijabai, and his teacher, Dadaji Konddev. These two people were instrumental in making him the man of great virtue. It was their teachings that instilled in him good morals. Since childhood, his mother sowed the seeds of patriotism in him and motivated to be a great warrior who could protect the poor and fight against the tyrants. With the guidance and backing from his mother, he established a band of soldiers at the tender age of 12. At 15, he took an oath to establish Hindavi-Swarajya and gave it a shape by capturing the Torna fort at 16. Thereafter, he constructed and captured several forts to fulfill his oath.
Shivaji Maharaj's Death
There have been many controversies over Shivaji Maharaj's death. Several scholars and historians have different opinions. None of them have found any concrete evidence to affirm their speculations though. Some say he died from being ill with fever and dysentery, while others believe that he was poisoned by his ministers or most probably his wife, Soyarabai since she wanted her 10-year-old son, Rajaram to sit on the throne as Sambhaji, Shivaji's eldest son, was in Panhala fort, Kolhapur at the time of his death.
There are also rumours that powerful Brahmins along with some minister may have conspired against Shivaji Maharaj since he loathed casteism and wanted to abolish the age-old discriminatory systems. His ideas and concepts of secularism also didn't go well with the upper caste people. The Mughals also spread a rumour about a curse of the Sufi saint, Jan Muhammad of Jalna to be the reason for Shivaji Maharaj's death. But then cursing people is no way of attaining Sufism.
Date of Demise
Shivaji Maharaj breathed his last on 3 April 1680 in Raigad on Hanuman Jayanti at the age of 52. The reason for his death was quoted blood dysentery, which is a medical condition that arises after consuming contaminated food, or intake of poison mixed in food.
Conclusion
Whether Shivaji Maharaj died of poisoning or from illness is tough or rather impossible to affirm it. More than his death, we should contemplate on the ideas and principles he lived by and be inspired to imbibe the same passion and love that he had for his state and country. He may be not around with us physically, but is and will remain alive in our hearts forever.
It takes centuries for the God to create someone who can rule millions of hearts and leave behind a massive legacy for the people to be inspired for generations. When He finally succeeds, the person creates a history with his/her valour, foresightedness, ideas, beliefs, principles, chivalry, and secularism. One such persons that could easily fall in this league is none other than the most beloved Maratha warrior king fondly called Shivaji Maharaj. Born to Jijabai on February 19, 1627 in Pune, Shivaji Maharaj is a national hero pan-India and the only king who is deified by the people of Maharashtra. And why shouldn't he be considered a god given all that he did for the freedom of the state.
The Rise of a Legend
Shivaji Maharaj was greatly inspired by his mother, Jijabai, and his teacher, Dadaji Konddev. These two people were instrumental in making him the man of great virtue. It was their teachings that instilled in him good morals. Since childhood, his mother sowed the seeds of patriotism in him and motivated to be a great warrior who could protect the poor and fight against the tyrants. With the guidance and backing from his mother, he established a band of soldiers at the tender age of 12. At 15, he took an oath to establish Hindavi-Swarajya and gave it a shape by capturing the Torna fort at 16. Thereafter, he constructed and captured several forts to fulfill his oath.
Shivaji Maharaj's Death
There have been many controversies over Shivaji Maharaj's death. Several scholars and historians have different opinions. None of them have found any concrete evidence to affirm their speculations though. Some say he died from being ill with fever and dysentery, while others believe that he was poisoned by his ministers or most probably his wife, Soyarabai since she wanted her 10-year-old son, Rajaram to sit on the throne as Sambhaji, Shivaji's eldest son, was in Panhala fort, Kolhapur at the time of his death.
There are also rumours that powerful Brahmins along with some minister may have conspired against Shivaji Maharaj since he loathed casteism and wanted to abolish the age-old discriminatory systems. His ideas and concepts of secularism also didn't go well with the upper caste people. The Mughals also spread a rumour about a curse of the Sufi saint, Jan Muhammad of Jalna to be the reason for Shivaji Maharaj's death. But then cursing people is no way of attaining Sufism.
Date of Demise
Shivaji Maharaj breathed his last on 3 April 1680 in Raigad on Hanuman Jayanti at the age of 52. The reason for his death was quoted blood dysentery, which is a medical condition that arises after consuming contaminated food, or intake of poison mixed in food.
Conclusion
Whether Shivaji Maharaj died of poisoning or from illness is tough or rather impossible to affirm it. More than his death, we should contemplate on the ideas and principles he lived by and be inspired to imbibe the same passion and love that he had for his state and country. He may be not around with us physically, but is and will remain alive in our hearts forever.
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