SHIVAJI MAHARAJ WAS A GOD SENT MAN
DR K Prabhakar Rao

Chatrapathi Shivaji maharaj is the most successful crusader in history of medieval India who has shown light to the disheartened and demoralized Hindu race when Islam was at its peak and was persecuting Hindus in every corner of the country. Emperor Aurangzeb had his sway throughout India in that evil hour. There was helplessness and desperation among Hindu masses everywhere. No one believed that Hindu revival could be achieved in such evil times. Vijay nagar empire ceased to exist in south India that warded off Islam for 300 long years with great determination. But Shivaji Maharaj surfaced on the scene. The credit must go to Rajmata Jija bai mother of Chatrapathi maharaj Shivaji who was the instrumental in bringing up the young child with utmost ethics, morals and patriotism. Shahaji Raje father of Shivaji Maharaj was away in the service of Bijapur sultan as a General who in heart and heart struggled to establish an Hindu kingdom. The circumstances were not in his favor. But he fore saw the future and sent away young Shivaji maharaj to pune along with his trusted lieutenants and mother Jijabai. Shivaji from beginning dreamt of Swaraj. His character was spotless. When he grew up, he displayed blemish less character towards women at a time when womanizing was the order of the day. He was thus indeed a god sent warrior. Lord Krishna said in Bhagavadgita Gita long ago:

Yada yada hi dharmasya
Glanirbhavathi Bharatha
Abhyuddhanam Adharmasya
Tadatmanam srujamyaham

“Whenever there is a rise of evil in this world I shall take birth to eradicate evil.”

Shivaji Maharaj no doubt was a god sent man or incarnation of Lord Shiva in the house of Bhonsle who took up on his shoulders the responsibility of restoring Dharma in the land of Hindus who were over powered by the cruel Mlechhas. Sadly, some ill informed and Muslim baiters running for few coppers and awards in this land of pseudo secularism blame Shivaji Maharaj for treachery in the slaying of Chadra Rao More the ruler of Javali in his early career and Afzal Khan the Bijapur General at Pratapgarh in Maharashtra while consolidating his gains. Chadra Rao More’s kingdom of Javali was a great obstruction to Shivai Maharaj in achieving his dream of Swaraj. He had to eliminate it and consolidate his position. More over, it is also learnt that the ruler of Javali also planned to capture Shivaji Maharaj and get rid of him. It is exactly not known what happened between Chadra Rao and Shivajis emissaries during discussion that resulted in a skirmish in which Chadra Rao was slain along with few more. Entire treasury of Javali fell into hands of Shivaji Maharaj that helped him greatly in raising troops for his further actions directed towards achieving Swaraj. It is always said that in war and love all is fair.

Shivaji Maharaj was a great strategist and was very clear what he had to do. He had great forethought and vision unlike our present pseudo corrupt and self styled shameless statesmen who are leading the nation to inevitable disaster .As a day passes the country is inching towards chaos, confusion and desperation. They are running after licking the boots of a dynasty than maintaining their self respect and honor. What can we expect from such evil men? Shivaji Maharaj planned everything very meticulously with utmost precision for his actions against Afzal Khan. He did not fall into a trap laid by Afzal Khan who tried to escalate passions by committing arson and crime in Maharashtra in Shivaji maharajas domains. He even destroyed Tulzapur temple and the idol. Afzal Khan committed great crimes destroying temples, looting the habitations , abducting women and children that was a standard practice for invading Muslim armies in the past. Situations have not changed even today as events in Bangladesh prove. Such atrocities also occurred in former Hyderabad state during 1948 not very long ago and very much in memories of people. Shivaji knew the weakness and strengths of his enemy. He also knew his own limitations and strengths. He preferred conflict in mountainous area where his soldiers were experts in guerilla war fare .He avoided all type engagements in plains giving out wide front to the enemy in an open battle. He lured Afzal Khan in to his chosen killing ground. This is the basic tactics in any army operation even today. Literally Afzal khan was lured in to an ambush but not with an intention to kill. But Maharaj made all precautions in case of emergency like any strategist will do.
Shivaji maharaj can not be blamed for the death of Khan. There was no treachery on his part. Maximum writings and narrations indicate that Shivaji was attacked first by the powerful Khan who held Maharaj under his grip and stabbed him while embracing him without success. Shivaji Maharj wore hidden armour under his garment and had steel cap under his turban as a precaution. He with his secret weapon bagh nakh ( Tiger steel claws) tore open the bowels of Khan and stabbed him with his Bichwa ( A small dagger). Any guy would this in self defense. In war and love all is fair. If Shivaji did not kill Khan, he would have surely killed the maharaj. Afzal Khan deserved death at all costs because he was no divine man and deserved no mercy and had to be killed .In fact Afzal Khan was responsible for the death of Shivajis elder brother Shambhooji. It is also said that he was also responsible for the death of Shahaji, father of Shivaji Maharaj in an horse riding accident. Shivaji Maharaj also had divine blessings from Mata Bhavani.. Those were not the days for doing Ram Bhajan ( Ramdhun) like MK Gandhi which did not work even at the time of partition of Indian sub continent when populations were exchanged. Ramdhun the popular Gandhi Bhajan would not have worked surely in Shivajis times. Shivaji lived by sword. Shivaji did the same and no tears are required to roll for the cruel and wicked Khan. The aspect of treachery has been negated by all. Afzal khan was very treacherous, dishonest, cruel and he is credited to have killed his 63wives (some could be concubines and mistresses) before he embarked on his campaign against Shivaji Maharaj. It is said that his sixth sense warned him of the disaster that was waiting for him. Can any one call such a person an human being? He has to be devil and devils are to be destroyed at all costs. Even today, the graves of 63 women can be seen at Afzal pura ( If I am correct about the name of the place) near Bijapur. Many state that all these poor women were killed by strangulating while some state that they were thrown into a well. How could he do that to the women with whom he slept and enjoyed sex? How any sane person can accept him to be human? Afzal Khan needs all condemnation and degradation by all .Shivaji Maharaj stands out rightly far above the wretched soul of Afzal Khan.

Aurangzeb abused him in very derogatory terms and choicest words after his escape from Agra from confinement in despeartion. The emperor cursed himself for allowing the Maratha Chief to escape from his hold. He repented throughout his life for this failure. Although he killed his son Shambhaji Raje by treachery at a later date, he cursed his failure in eliminating Shivaji Maharaj that resulted in founding of great Maratha empire that saw his final down fall. He died desperate, defeated, helpless, friendless and in great agony being an utter failure and destruction of Mughal empire staring in to his face on which danced the devil of death. He had to pay for his deeds of humiliating Hindus and for destroying the sacred temples of Hindus throughout India. The gods never excused him. His empire vanished very soon in a matter of 150 years during which many Mughal monarchs ( Name sake) indulging in womanizing , drinking, pleasure seeking and debauchery were blinded , deposed and murdered at will by the nobles and chieftains.

Those were the days of valor and not today’s of indecision and pseudo secularism where dangerous men like Afzal Guru and Kasab are kept in jail and fed and protected spending crores of Rupees that is the hard earned money of tax payers. Our pseudo statesmen are squandering away public money by various scams and ill governing by puppets and with the indecisive policies are leading the nation to ultimate chaos and destruction. What we need to day are the strategies of great Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj and not Gandhi Bhajans and boot licking. We need men like Shivaji Maharaj to save this nation from destruction. Long live Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj.