A couple of years , prior to and post Sambhajis reign , have always been a matter of conjecture, innuendos and debate. But one needs to go through all accounts before drawing any conclusions regarding the most controversial part of Sambhaji's life.
One may notice that untill Shivaji's coronation at Raigad, Sambhajis life has been fairly unblemished. Even the European records (Abekare's chronicles, Childs letter from Rajapur , John Friar's account, Father Arlins. Ref. N.Kurundkar) till then have testified to the same. Some have even praised him for his virtues and qualities and have certified him fit for a future king.
However it was towards the last years of Shivajis life that accusations directed at Sambhaji seem to emerge . Interestingly, these accusations came to light through some bakhars written several years after Sambhajis death.
Note: Bakhars are historical records written by individuals/maintained by certain aristocratic families. Famous amongst them are Chitnis bakhar, Sabhasad bakhar, Sivadigvijaya, Jedhe shakhavali etc.
These bakhars (barring Sabhasad who was a courtier in Ch.Rajarams court) seem to have been written by descendents of those people who at some point of time crossed swords with Sambhaji. Hence their veracity will always remain in doubt. However they were the only complete narrative available for modern historians and they were always used as a reference tool. It would be wrong to dismiss these bakhars completely, but a historian and a reader needs to be very discerning while referring to their contents.
Latter day historians like Bendre have also come out with varying claims based on documents, letters which have contradicted these bakhars on many accounts.
The bakhars allege that Sambhaji had a troubled relationship+ with his stepmother Soyrabai because she harboured ambitions for her son Rajaram. She wanted Rajaram to succeed Shivaji, as the next Maratha king and she started poisoning Shivajis mind to that effect.
+ Note: Interestingly in a few letters (e.g one to Kudalkar shastri) uncovered, Sambhaji has mentioned a good word for his stepmother calling her as 'pure as crystal'. This makes the allegations of Sambhajis alleged troubled relations with his stepmother, all the more baffling for the historians.
According to historians like Sardesai , Sarkar , Duff , Kincaid (most of whom have based their versions on the contents of these bakhars) or Mughal historians like Khafi Khan and Mannucci, rumours of Sambhajis indulgences of youth were reaching Shivajis ears.
There were even reports of Sambhajis misdemeanor towards one Hansa, the daughter of a minister , Annaji Datto Surnis ref. historian Setu Madhavrao Pagdi. (Annaji Dattos daughter later commited suicide).
In some versions she was the daughter of Moropant Pingale. There is also a letter from Mumbai British correspondence (as also a mention by Manucci-an Italian chronicler in the mughal camp) which indicate towards this flaw in Sambhaji. But some letters recovered curiously mention Sambhaji conducting administrative affairs in Shringarpur, several miles away from Rajgad where Sambhajis alleged dalliance is said to have taken place. This puts the merit of the bakhars in a serious doubt.
Shivaji having maintained high standards regarding the behavior of his men towards women, did not take kindly to this damaging news about his own crown prince.
To make matters worse, Sambhaji did not get along with many of Shivajis ministers. There were reports of Sambhaji's interference in their tax collection efforts. It is said that Sambhaji, on more than one instance sided with the ryot (common subjects) and often publicly defied the authority of his own ministers (ref. Parmanand), often accusing them of high handedness and corruption.
But many historians like Bendre who have researched extensively on Sambhaji have refuted these allegations that cast aspersions on Sambhajis character. They have laid the blame for Sambhajis actions squarely on a clique of ministers who resented Sambhaji and wanted a more pliant Rajaram to replace Sambhaji as the crown prince.
According to these historians, most of the allegations against Sambhaji was nothing short of calumny spread specifically with the intention to malign Sambhaji.
However acc. to renowned critic and thinker, Narhar Kurundkar, it is to be noted that when Bendre dismisses these ministers as corrupt, he provides no proof for the same either and though his work overall is exemplerary, this part of the argument should be assumed more of his own personal analysis rather than based on historical facts. Not to mention the fact that these ministers (Annaji Datto, Moropant Pingale, Balaji Avji Chitnis, Hiroji Farzand etc) were competent in their own right and had served Shivaji with utmost loyalty over a long period of time.
At the most it is possible that there may have been a conflict of authority between the ministers and Sambhaji and it is also possible that Sambhajis impetuousness of youth may have triggered the conflict. Unfortunately Shivaji did not live long enough to resolve the disputes and they took up a rather catastrophic turn.
The Sabhasad bakhar mentions that Shivaji wanted to divide the kingdom into two halves with the northern region going to Rajaram and the southern region to Sambhaji. But seem to be there are no conclusive documents to prove the veracity of the claim.
But it can be conclusively said that 'at that point of time' there was definately something amiss between the King and his crown prince. Because Shivaji did detain the crown prince in the Parnala fort at Parli .
Then in a fit of rage arising out of an emotional distress, Sambhaji apparently took off in the middle of the night with his wife Yesubai ++ and joined the Mughal forces of Diler Khan .
++ Note : Whether the wife accompanying Sambhaji during his escape was Yesubai is again disputed, because as per some records it was Durgabai, another of Sambhajis wives who was said to have been along with him during his flight.
This took place sometime in 1678. But within a years time, the crown prince realised the folly of his actions after he witnessed the atrocities of the mughals on the ryot (especially the massacare of the marathas by Diler Khans army in fort Bhupatgad, which was surrendered without a fight by its killedar Firangoji Narsala as his prince Sambhaji himself was in the forefront of the mughal army. It is said that Ch.Shivaji was so horrified by the subsequent massacare that he awarded the fort keeper Narsala the death sentence for his meek submission of the fort and shirking away from his responsibilities) and escaped back to the Maratha camp at fort Panhala (1680). Sambhaji apparently reconciled with his father, but was still kept under surveillance at the fort( in some letters uncovered, Sambhaji is mentioned administering the affairs in the region of Panhala- said to be almost a second capital of the maratha kingdom).
Rajaram was to be married in the same year. Sambhaji was however not present during the wedding of his brother, perhaps, because of Sambhajis ongoing disharmony with Soyrabai, (Rajaram was then married to Janakibai, the daughter of Prataprao Gujar, the late sarsenapati of Shivajis army).
Then Shivajis untimely death (3rd April 1680) took place in fort Raigad .
This was followed by a lot of palace intrigues. Many of Shivajis ministers like Annaji Datto, Pralhad Niraji, Balaji Avaji Chitnis, Moropant Pingale, Hiroji Farzand etc colluded with Soyrabai and installed a ten year old Rajaram as the next king. Balaji Avaji even dispatched a letter addressed to the killedar(fort in charge) of Panhala to imprison Sambhaji with immediate effect. Janardhan Pant Hanumante was asked to take the custody of Sambhaji. But the message was discovered by some of Sambhajis well wishers, who promptly informed the prince of the conspiracy being hatched against his person. Sambhaji and his men immediately took charge of the fort. The killedar was executed. Two hundred of the conspirators were arrested and put to death. Notable amongst the conspirators were Khandoji Naik the messenger,Bahirji Ingle ,Somaji Banki,Suryaji Kank and Hiroji Farzand ( Hiroji had managed to give the slip ,but was rearrested at Chiplun ).Janardhan Hanumante was seized in Kolhapur.
One may notice that untill Shivaji's coronation at Raigad, Sambhajis life has been fairly unblemished. Even the European records (Abekare's chronicles, Childs letter from Rajapur , John Friar's account, Father Arlins. Ref. N.Kurundkar) till then have testified to the same. Some have even praised him for his virtues and qualities and have certified him fit for a future king.
However it was towards the last years of Shivajis life that accusations directed at Sambhaji seem to emerge . Interestingly, these accusations came to light through some bakhars written several years after Sambhajis death.
Note: Bakhars are historical records written by individuals/maintained by certain aristocratic families. Famous amongst them are Chitnis bakhar, Sabhasad bakhar, Sivadigvijaya, Jedhe shakhavali etc.
These bakhars (barring Sabhasad who was a courtier in Ch.Rajarams court) seem to have been written by descendents of those people who at some point of time crossed swords with Sambhaji. Hence their veracity will always remain in doubt. However they were the only complete narrative available for modern historians and they were always used as a reference tool. It would be wrong to dismiss these bakhars completely, but a historian and a reader needs to be very discerning while referring to their contents.
Latter day historians like Bendre have also come out with varying claims based on documents, letters which have contradicted these bakhars on many accounts.
The bakhars allege that Sambhaji had a troubled relationship+ with his stepmother Soyrabai because she harboured ambitions for her son Rajaram. She wanted Rajaram to succeed Shivaji, as the next Maratha king and she started poisoning Shivajis mind to that effect.
+ Note: Interestingly in a few letters (e.g one to Kudalkar shastri) uncovered, Sambhaji has mentioned a good word for his stepmother calling her as 'pure as crystal'. This makes the allegations of Sambhajis alleged troubled relations with his stepmother, all the more baffling for the historians.
According to historians like Sardesai , Sarkar , Duff , Kincaid (most of whom have based their versions on the contents of these bakhars) or Mughal historians like Khafi Khan and Mannucci, rumours of Sambhajis indulgences of youth were reaching Shivajis ears.
There were even reports of Sambhajis misdemeanor towards one Hansa, the daughter of a minister , Annaji Datto Surnis ref. historian Setu Madhavrao Pagdi. (Annaji Dattos daughter later commited suicide).
In some versions she was the daughter of Moropant Pingale. There is also a letter from Mumbai British correspondence (as also a mention by Manucci-an Italian chronicler in the mughal camp) which indicate towards this flaw in Sambhaji. But some letters recovered curiously mention Sambhaji conducting administrative affairs in Shringarpur, several miles away from Rajgad where Sambhajis alleged dalliance is said to have taken place. This puts the merit of the bakhars in a serious doubt.
Shivaji having maintained high standards regarding the behavior of his men towards women, did not take kindly to this damaging news about his own crown prince.
To make matters worse, Sambhaji did not get along with many of Shivajis ministers. There were reports of Sambhaji's interference in their tax collection efforts. It is said that Sambhaji, on more than one instance sided with the ryot (common subjects) and often publicly defied the authority of his own ministers (ref. Parmanand), often accusing them of high handedness and corruption.
But many historians like Bendre who have researched extensively on Sambhaji have refuted these allegations that cast aspersions on Sambhajis character. They have laid the blame for Sambhajis actions squarely on a clique of ministers who resented Sambhaji and wanted a more pliant Rajaram to replace Sambhaji as the crown prince.
According to these historians, most of the allegations against Sambhaji was nothing short of calumny spread specifically with the intention to malign Sambhaji.
However acc. to renowned critic and thinker, Narhar Kurundkar, it is to be noted that when Bendre dismisses these ministers as corrupt, he provides no proof for the same either and though his work overall is exemplerary, this part of the argument should be assumed more of his own personal analysis rather than based on historical facts. Not to mention the fact that these ministers (Annaji Datto, Moropant Pingale, Balaji Avji Chitnis, Hiroji Farzand etc) were competent in their own right and had served Shivaji with utmost loyalty over a long period of time.
At the most it is possible that there may have been a conflict of authority between the ministers and Sambhaji and it is also possible that Sambhajis impetuousness of youth may have triggered the conflict. Unfortunately Shivaji did not live long enough to resolve the disputes and they took up a rather catastrophic turn.
The Sabhasad bakhar mentions that Shivaji wanted to divide the kingdom into two halves with the northern region going to Rajaram and the southern region to Sambhaji. But seem to be there are no conclusive documents to prove the veracity of the claim.
But it can be conclusively said that 'at that point of time' there was definately something amiss between the King and his crown prince. Because Shivaji did detain the crown prince in the Parnala fort at Parli .
Then in a fit of rage arising out of an emotional distress, Sambhaji apparently took off in the middle of the night with his wife Yesubai ++ and joined the Mughal forces of Diler Khan .
++ Note : Whether the wife accompanying Sambhaji during his escape was Yesubai is again disputed, because as per some records it was Durgabai, another of Sambhajis wives who was said to have been along with him during his flight.
This took place sometime in 1678. But within a years time, the crown prince realised the folly of his actions after he witnessed the atrocities of the mughals on the ryot (especially the massacare of the marathas by Diler Khans army in fort Bhupatgad, which was surrendered without a fight by its killedar Firangoji Narsala as his prince Sambhaji himself was in the forefront of the mughal army. It is said that Ch.Shivaji was so horrified by the subsequent massacare that he awarded the fort keeper Narsala the death sentence for his meek submission of the fort and shirking away from his responsibilities) and escaped back to the Maratha camp at fort Panhala (1680). Sambhaji apparently reconciled with his father, but was still kept under surveillance at the fort( in some letters uncovered, Sambhaji is mentioned administering the affairs in the region of Panhala- said to be almost a second capital of the maratha kingdom).
Rajaram was to be married in the same year. Sambhaji was however not present during the wedding of his brother, perhaps, because of Sambhajis ongoing disharmony with Soyrabai, (Rajaram was then married to Janakibai, the daughter of Prataprao Gujar, the late sarsenapati of Shivajis army).
Then Shivajis untimely death (3rd April 1680) took place in fort Raigad .
This was followed by a lot of palace intrigues. Many of Shivajis ministers like Annaji Datto, Pralhad Niraji, Balaji Avaji Chitnis, Moropant Pingale, Hiroji Farzand etc colluded with Soyrabai and installed a ten year old Rajaram as the next king. Balaji Avaji even dispatched a letter addressed to the killedar(fort in charge) of Panhala to imprison Sambhaji with immediate effect. Janardhan Pant Hanumante was asked to take the custody of Sambhaji. But the message was discovered by some of Sambhajis well wishers, who promptly informed the prince of the conspiracy being hatched against his person. Sambhaji and his men immediately took charge of the fort. The killedar was executed. Two hundred of the conspirators were arrested and put to death. Notable amongst the conspirators were Khandoji Naik the messenger,Bahirji Ingle ,Somaji Banki,Suryaji Kank and Hiroji Farzand ( Hiroji had managed to give the slip ,but was rearrested at Chiplun ).Janardhan Hanumante was seized in Kolhapur.
Sambhaji then secured the support of some leading Maratha nobles like Hambirao Mohite (the Sarsenapati/commander in chief of the Maratha army, who was also incidently Soyrabai's first cousin (from her fathers side) and also the father in law of Rajaram viz. father of Rajarams wife Tarabai. Nevertheless, he sided with Sambhaji, whom he considered the rightful heir to the throne by primogeniture ).
Sambhaji marched along with twenty thousand troops to fort Raigad. Yesaji Kank, an old Shivaji loyalist opened the fort gates for the prince. Raigad fell without much resistance to Sambhaji. Even the killedar Kanhoji Bhadwalkar switched sides to Sambhaji.
Soyrabai was (allegedly) imprisoned by Sambhaji on charges of plotting against him and also poisoning the late king .Both she and her son Rajaram were imprisoned. Soyrabai died within a week, put to death on Sambhajis orders, as alleged by a section of historians like Kincaid-Parasnis,Sarkar etc based on the text ' Sivadigvijaya' , some other bakhars and some European records (but recently some historians like Bendre have put forward evidences that Soyrabai infact lived a year or two after Shivajis death. Sambhaji even performed the last rites of the queen mother with due state honours).
Note: Historians siding Sambhaji also raise a very valid point. If Sambhaji had indeed executed his own step mother then why would her brother (Hambirrao Mohite) support the cause of Sambhaji? Hambirraos daughter Tarabai was later married to Ch.Rajaram (younger son of Ch Shivaji from Soyrabai).In fact it was Sambhaji who supervised 3 marraiges of his younger brother. At the most it is possible his brother was kept under surveilance. But it is unlikely that it was imprisonment.
In February 1681, Sambhaji declared himself the new Chatrapati (king) of the Maratha throne. The king wanted Ramdas Swami, the aged spiritual guide of Shivaji to be himself present at the coronation ceremony. But the old man politely declined citing health reasons , and sent his emissaries instead. As some historians allege, Ramdas was very much perturbed by the bloodshed that took place, prior to the coronation, hence declined his personal presence. But the teacher didn’t fail to give Sambhaji a personal letter along with his blessings. In the letter Ramdas swami advised the young king to follow in the footsteps of his great father. Be more tolerant towards his people, avoid decisions in anger and haste and he advised Sambhaji to be more discreet and prudent in the future.
In consonance to the saints advice, Sambhaji decided to let bygones be bygones. He released several of the conspirators. He even reappointed Moropant Pingale as his Peshwa ( the loyal Hambirao Mohite already being the commander in chief of the forces).
Note: As per some records Moropant Pngale died in prison and Sambhaji who had a lot of respect for Moropant Pingale despite their differences. So as a consolation he appointed his son Nilopant Pingale as the next Peshwa.
Then it so happened, that Prince Akbar (son of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb) who had rebelled against his father sought refuge with Sambhaji, something which was readily accepted (Netaji Palkar the veteran ex senapati was sent to receive the prince, considering his experience in the north).
Note: Sambhaji giving refuge to Akbar, incensed Aurangzeb to no end. He took it very personally.
Sambhaji marched along with twenty thousand troops to fort Raigad. Yesaji Kank, an old Shivaji loyalist opened the fort gates for the prince. Raigad fell without much resistance to Sambhaji. Even the killedar Kanhoji Bhadwalkar switched sides to Sambhaji.
Soyrabai was (allegedly) imprisoned by Sambhaji on charges of plotting against him and also poisoning the late king .Both she and her son Rajaram were imprisoned. Soyrabai died within a week, put to death on Sambhajis orders, as alleged by a section of historians like Kincaid-Parasnis,Sarkar etc based on the text ' Sivadigvijaya' , some other bakhars and some European records (but recently some historians like Bendre have put forward evidences that Soyrabai infact lived a year or two after Shivajis death. Sambhaji even performed the last rites of the queen mother with due state honours).
Note: Historians siding Sambhaji also raise a very valid point. If Sambhaji had indeed executed his own step mother then why would her brother (Hambirrao Mohite) support the cause of Sambhaji? Hambirraos daughter Tarabai was later married to Ch.Rajaram (younger son of Ch Shivaji from Soyrabai).In fact it was Sambhaji who supervised 3 marraiges of his younger brother. At the most it is possible his brother was kept under surveilance. But it is unlikely that it was imprisonment.
In February 1681, Sambhaji declared himself the new Chatrapati (king) of the Maratha throne. The king wanted Ramdas Swami, the aged spiritual guide of Shivaji to be himself present at the coronation ceremony. But the old man politely declined citing health reasons , and sent his emissaries instead. As some historians allege, Ramdas was very much perturbed by the bloodshed that took place, prior to the coronation, hence declined his personal presence. But the teacher didn’t fail to give Sambhaji a personal letter along with his blessings. In the letter Ramdas swami advised the young king to follow in the footsteps of his great father. Be more tolerant towards his people, avoid decisions in anger and haste and he advised Sambhaji to be more discreet and prudent in the future.
In consonance to the saints advice, Sambhaji decided to let bygones be bygones. He released several of the conspirators. He even reappointed Moropant Pingale as his Peshwa ( the loyal Hambirao Mohite already being the commander in chief of the forces).
Note: As per some records Moropant Pngale died in prison and Sambhaji who had a lot of respect for Moropant Pingale despite their differences. So as a consolation he appointed his son Nilopant Pingale as the next Peshwa.
Then it so happened, that Prince Akbar (son of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb) who had rebelled against his father sought refuge with Sambhaji, something which was readily accepted (Netaji Palkar the veteran ex senapati was sent to receive the prince, considering his experience in the north).
Note: Sambhaji giving refuge to Akbar, incensed Aurangzeb to no end. He took it very personally.
The discredited ministers once again decided to take their chances by enlisting the help of the mughal prince in overthrowing Sambhaji. They tried to induce Akbar, over to their side, and even plotted to poison Sambhaji.
But the prince Akbar, grateful for the protection he had received from the maratha king, informed Sambhaji about the attempt to be made on his life. On hearing the news, Sambhaji's fury was let loose once again.He arrested the conspirators (Annaji Datto, Hiroji Farzand,Balaji Avji etc) and had them trampled under the feet of an elephant.
But the prince Akbar, grateful for the protection he had received from the maratha king, informed Sambhaji about the attempt to be made on his life. On hearing the news, Sambhaji's fury was let loose once again.He arrested the conspirators (Annaji Datto, Hiroji Farzand,Balaji Avji etc) and had them trampled under the feet of an elephant.
Note: Balaji Avjis son Khando Ballals name figures in the material written about Sambhaji, which probably indicates that Khando Ballal was pardoned on advice from Sambhajis wife Yesubai and he once again resumed Sambhajis service. Khando Ballal was even said to have saved Sambhajis life in a Goa expedtion. Khando Ballal also accompanied Rajaram during his hazardous journey to Gingee and remained his close aide in those years. Khando Ballal also served Tarabai and later Shahu and was responsible in saving Pant Pratinidhi from Shahus wrath, when Pant Pratinidhi acting in favour of Tarabai went against the interests of Shahu. Khando Ballals son Govind Chitnis served Ramrajas cause and helped Balaji Bajirao in installing Ramraja on the maratha throne. It was Govinds son Malhar Chitnis who later wrote the Chitnis bakhar a treatise on Maratha history (including the events related to Sambhaji). His son Balwantrao served Ch. Pratapsinh at Satara.
But this incident, sowed the seeds of permanent distrust in Sambhajis mind, towards many of his men. This also led to the prominence of a Brahmin from Kannauj , by the name of Kavi Kalash (Kalash the poet).Kalash soon became Sambhajis closest confidante and adviser. Note: This is again as per the bakhars. Whereas Historian Bendre says that Sambhaji's queen Yesubai was the one who handled day to day affairs of the administration while Sambhaji was away on campaigns.Kalash was a friend, a confidante, but no more than that. His post of Chhandogamatya was more honorary in nature and never a part of the chief ashtapradhans.
As per some historians and bakharkars, Kalash (allegedly) took advantage of Sambhajis distrust towards his other ministers and widened the rift between them. Kavi Kalash was to be a hated figure amongst a section of Marathas and is often called ‘Kalusha Kabji’ (the evil instigator).
Though there are also many historians who swear by Kavi Kalashs intentions and devotion towards Sambhaji, thus making him as much an enigmatic personality as his master.
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