Maharaj Shiv Chhatrapati

इंद्र जिमि जृंभपर !
बाडव सुअंभपर !
रावण सदंभपर !
रघुकुल राज है !!
पौन वारिवाह पर !
संभु रतिनाह पर !
ज्यो सहसवाह पर !
राम द्विज राज है !
दावा दृमदंड पर !
चिता मृगझुंड पर !
भूषण वितुंड पर !
जैसे मृगराज है !!
तेज तमअंस पर !
कान्न्ह जिमि कंस पर !
त्यों म्लेंच्छ बंस पर !
शेर शिवराज है !!
शेर शिवराज है !!
शेर शिवराज है !!
शेर शिवराज है !!
शेर शिवराज है !!
–कवीराज भूषण.

Kaviraj Bhushan has used the abovesaid words to describe Shivaji. He further says

काशी की कला जाती, मथुरा में मस्जिद होती,

अगर ना होते शिवराय, तो सून्नत होती सबकी।।

The above couplet is just to give my readers an idea about how Shivaji must have worked in his lifetime. Am not going into the story telling part today but would love to highlight his few qualities, so that we all can pay a befitting tribute to the great warrior king.

Complete and unwavering trust in God : हे राज्य व्हावे, ही श्रींची इच्छा. This kingdom is being built on the wishes of the Almighty. Utmost trust in God at any age is a rarity in this world. Even today we might have a few people like him who trust God completely.

Self Confidence : With a small group of 5-7 Mavlas (soldiers), 2-3 mules and a few rupees (asharfi as it was called then), a young boy of 13-14 years, decides to build a kingdom to kick out the kings who behaved like masters and treated their people like slaves. What a self confidence! Our kids at the age of 13-14 cannot even decide their future career.

Great Planner : As seen in both the instances of Afzal Khan Vadh and Attack on Lal Mahal at night to kick out Shaistekhan from Maharashtra again require lots of planning. It also shows his capabilities of understanding his own limitations. Fighting the Mughals or the Bijapur Kingdom is plains would have been a harakiri, so draw them into a situation favourable to us.

An Astute Statesman : During the war of Fort Purandar, he signs a treaty with Maan Singh and surrenders 23 forts to the Mughal Emperor and agreed to go to Delhi, but on his conditions. Maan Singh agreed to Shivaji’s conditions, but before that Shivaji had mentally disturbed Maan Singh by arousing the Rajput pride in him. Shivaji’s dealings with the Adilshahi, Nizamshahi and the Mughals is a best example of his statesmanship.

Bravery : He always led his men from the front. His idea of “Ganimikava” is a matter of study for students of warfare even today. After killing Afzal Khan, he led his men to Kolhapur winning all the forts on his way in a spam of 40 odd days.

There are many such qualities of Shivaji Maharaj which can be talked about. All these qualities were imbibed into him by his Mother Jijabai. Jijabai under her guidance had moulded Shivaji into what he was. His mentor Dadaji Konddev, a trusted lieutenant of Shahaji, Shivaji’s father, also has played a major role in his upbringing.

I, bow down to this great warrior on His birthday and end with an “Aarti” written by Veer Savarkar.
जयदेव जयदेव जय जय शिवराया !
या या अनन्य शरणा आर्यां ताराया !!धृ!!
आर्यांच्या देशावरि म्लेंच्छांचा घाला
आला आला सावध हो भूपाला
सद् गदिता भूमाता दे तुज हाकेला
करुणारव भेदुनि तव ऱ्हिदय न कां गेला?…..१
श्री जगदंबा जीस्तव शुंभादिक भक्षी
दशमुख मर्दुनी जी श्रीरघुवर संरक्षी
ती पूता भूमाता म्लेंच्छाही छळता
तुजविण शिवराया तिज कोण दुजा त्राता?…….२
त्रस्त अम्हि दीन अम्हि शरण तुला आलो
परवशतेच्या पाशी मरणोन्मुख झालो
साधु परित्राणाया दुष्कृती नाशाया
भगवन् भगवतगीता सार्थ कराया या……….३
ऐकुनिया आर्यांचा धावा गहिवरला
करुणोक्ते स्वर्गी श्री शिवनृप गहिवरला
देशास्तव शिवनेरी घेई देहाला
देशास्तव रायगडी ठेवी देहाला
देशस्वातंत्र्याचा दाता जो झाला
बोला तत् श्रीमत्शिवनृप् की जय बोला……….४
बोला शिवाजी महाराज की जय….

शिवगर्जना
राजाधीराज छत्रपती शिवराय दुर्गपती गजअश्वपती
भूपती प्रजापती सुवर्णरत्नंश्रीपती
अष्टावधानजागृत
अष्टप्रधान वेष्टीत
न्यायालंकार मंडीत
शस्त्रास्त्रशांस्त्र पारंगत
राजनीती धुरंधर
पौढप्रताप पुरंदर
क्षत्रीयकुलावतंस सिँहासनाधीश्वर
राजाधिराज महाराज श्रीमंत
श्री छत्रपती
श्री शिवाजी महाराज कि जय..