Shaniwar Wada - The seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire  

Posted by Siddesh Kerkar in , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shaniwar wada was the first magnificent & safety mansion built chiefly as the residence of the Peshwas. The Foundation of the Original residence was laid by Bajirao in 1730 A.D and the construction completed in 1732 A.D at a cost of 16130 INR. The successors of Bajirao mad several additions such as fortification walls with bastions and Gates court halls and other buildings fountains and reservoir. In 1828 A.D however a fire gutted the building, In this palace what now remains are their fortification wall with five gates two each on the north and east and one on the south.The principal gate is known as the Dilli Darwaza (Delhi Gate), the other gates being Mastani or alibahadur Darwaza, Khidki Darwaja, Ganesh Darwaza and Narayan Darwaza.

            Delhi Darwaza                                                                                       

One of the building in the Shaniwar wada was seven storied. Among the other important building in the palace were Thorlya Rayacha Diwankhana (The court hall of Bajirao -1) Nachacha Diwankhana ( Dancing hall) Ganesh Mahal & Juna Aarsa Mahal (Old Mirror Hall). The walls and exquisitely engraved arches in them were supported by pillars shaped like Cypress trees. The ceilings were covered with beautiful wooden tracery creepers and flowers whereas the walls were painted with scenes from the great epics The Ramayana & the Mahabharata. The Beauty of the sixteen petaled lotus shaped fountain known as Hazari Karanja (Fountain with thousand fountain heads) can only be imagined now. Shivram Krishna, Devji and Kondaji Sutar, Morarji Patharvat, Bhojraj(an expert in inlay work form Jaipur) and Ragho (a painter) were among those thief artists who contributed to the planning construction & Decoration works of Shaniwar Wada. It is Nationally protected monument of Archeological Survey of India declared vide Notification No : BM- 5038 Dated :17-06-1919

Delhi Darwaza :- It is the Main entrance Gate of the Palace and is called as Delhi Darwaza as it faces the North.

                                                                           Khidki Darwaza
This Door was also called as Dindi Darwaza. It was always closed and the entrance was open through a small window. This darwaza was knowk as 'Kavathi' Onaccount of a kavathi (Wood apple) tree grown near it 15 Soilders guarded this Gate.

Narayan Darwaza : This was also called as the Jambhul darwaza the Jambhul Gate faces south and was used by concubines to enter and leave the fort. It got its second name ‘Narayan Darwaza’ after Narayan Peshwa’s corpse was removed from the fort for cremation through this gate.

                                              Narayan Darwaza



                                                           Mastani Darwaza
Mastani Darwaza or Alibahadur Darwaza: The Mastani Darwaza (Mastani’s Gate) faces north and was used by Bajirao’s mistress Mastani while going out of the palace’s perimeter wall

Ganesh Darwaza

This Gate was called the Ganesh Darwaza as it faced the Famous Ganapati ranga Mahal. It is Located on the South-East part and 25 Soilders guarded this Gate



Some Of the Pictures of the Shaniwar wada

Hazari Karanja
                          On one of the Fortification Wall                                         Bajirao I

The court hall of Bajirao -1

Arial View of Shaniwar Wada


In the court hall of Bajirao -1


Signature Of Bajirao - 1


Family tree of Peshwa




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The Journey of the Great Warrior !  

Posted by Siddesh Kerkar in , , , ,

Shivaji maharaj wandered in the valley's of 'Maval'. The fort and the surrounding region was clearly visible from the hills and peaks of the sahyadri mountains. The dream of swaraj bloomed in this soil of Maval. Shivaji Raje shared his thoughts and dreams of swaraj with his friends in the Maval

Dadoji Konddeo who was straight desciplinarian trained Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji Maharaj mastered not only the technique of using weapons like sword but also proficiency in horse riding, politics and justice. Shivaji's education and overall development was personally supervised by Dodoji Konddeo.

 

In his very young age, Shivaji Raje showed an ideal example of justice. Patil, Babaji Bhikaji Gujar from village Ranje was punished severly for misbehavior with young lady. The punishment was to cut down their limbs. (legs & hands) Justice for everybody was same.


Afzalkhan, an Adilshahi sardar, who was a very strong person attacked the Swaraj with the intention to destroy it. Shivaji Raje bravely and boldly met Afzalkhan at the foot of Pratapgad. This meeting took place in 1581 on thursday, according to the Hindu calender. It was Margashrisha Shukla Paksha during this meeting, Afzalkhan attacked shivaji Raje and as a reply to it, Shivajiraje killed Afzalkhan, strong, big enemy of Swaraj and Hindu religion


Siddi Jouhar the sardar of Adilshah had captured Panhalgad. He had very big army. Shivaji maharaj skillfully escaped from there and reached Vishalgad. He was supported by one of his honest and breve warrior, Baji Prabhu Deshpande. Siddhi Jouhar was not allowed to chase Shivaji Raje, he was kept engagged in the battle fieled by Baji Prabhu who at last laid his life to stop Siddhi Jouhar.



Shahistekhan uncle of Aurangzeb, conqured Pune and with his armend force of 1 Lakh Soilders, lived in the Lal Mahal for about 3 Years. He was not ready to leave Pune. Shivaji Raje with his small army had a well planned attack on Lal Mahal, Shahistekhan ran away saving his life but lost his three fingures.




Aurangzeb could not bear the growing glory of Shivaji Maharaj. So he sent one of his brave & experienced sardar Mirja raje Jaisingh. he was a Maharaj from Rajasthan. A Rajput. He started capturing the Maratha's forts, when he took the wise decision to surrender.



Shivaji Maharaj along with his son Sambhaji, Visited agra to meet Aurangzeb. He insulted Shivaji Maharaj in the darbar and imprisoned him. Shivaji Raje with his will escaped from Agra. aurangzeb could not do anything to him.

 

Shivaji Raje attacked 'Surat', the rich place of Aurangzeb and confiscated all the wealth there. The "Loot" was so much that it compensated the loss of wealth of the Maratha in last three and half years. Bahirji naik, one of Shivaji's "Secret Agent" told him to attack Surat. So that they could find countless wealth. It was tru. Surat gave a big treasure of wealth to Shivaji maharaj.

 

Chatrasal Bundel from the south, admired Shivaji Maharaj as a brave King. Bundel son of Champatrai, came to shivajiraje to work with him. Shivaji Raje respected his offer, presented him his own sword and told bundel to rule as an independent King. Chatrasal fought against Mughal and made his Motherland free.


Special Thanks : Pune Mahanagar Palika

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Purandar Fort - The rising of Shivaji Raje against the Bijapur kingdom and the Mughals !  

Posted by Siddesh Kerkar

Purandar fort (also called Purandhar fort) पुरंदर किल्ला (in Marathi) figures repeatedly in the rising of Shivaji against the Bijapur kingdom and the Mughals. Purandhar fort stands 4,472 ft. above the sea (1,387 m) in the Western Ghats, 20 miles southeast of Pune. It actually consists of two forts - Purandar and Vajragad (or Rudramal). The latter is the smaller of the two and is on the eastern side of the main fort. The village Purandar takes its name from this fort.

The earliest known mention of Purandhar is in the reign of the first Bahmani king, Hasan Gangu. When he obtained possession of Maharashtra,he fortified Purandhar in 1350. During the early rule of the Bijapur and Ahmednagar kings, Purandhar was among the forts directly under Government, and never entrusted to jagirdars (estate-holders). Sometime under the Bedar kings (1347 -1490) the fort was besieged several times. To prevent Purandar fort from falling, a man and a woman were buried alive under one of the fort bastions to appease its patron deity.
Abandoned church, Purandar fort : In 1596, when Bahudar Shah of Ahmednagar sultanate granted Maloji Bhosale(grandfather of Shivaji) Poona and Supa, the fort of Purandhar was included as well. In 1646, a 16-year-old Shivaji in one of the first victories of his legandary career, established control in the fort. In 1665, it was besieged by the forces of Aurangzeb, under the command of Raja Jai Singh, a Rajput general, assisted by Diler Khan, an Afghan. The defense of Purandar by Murarbaji Deshpande of Mhar, the killedar (keeper of the fort) was obstinate and he lost his life in the struggle to retain the fort. Shivaji daunted at the prospect of the fall of his grandfathers fort, signed a treaty (the first Treaty of Purandar) with Aurangzeb. Purandar fort along with Vajragad, Sinhgad and 22 other forts came under the Aurangzeb's control and Shivaji became his jagirdar (glorified tenant). This truce did not last long as Shivaji revolted against Aurangzeb and recaptured Purandhar only five years later in 1670. Thereafter, Shivaji spent prolonged periods of time here. Sambhaji, Shivaji's eldest son and successor was born at Purandar fort.

In the Photo Sambhaji Raje son and successor of Shivaji Maharaj 
Under the Peshwas, Purandhar was a stronghold to which they retreated whenever Pune, their capital, was under attack. Likely because the fort commands a pass through the Sahyadri mountain range. In 1776, a treaty was signed between the British Government and the Maratha States(the second Treaty of Purandar). Its conditions were never fulfilled, being overruled by the subsequent Treaty of Salbai in 1782 between the Bombay Government and Raghunathrao, at the close of the First Anglo-Maratha War.
     In 1818, Purandhar was invested by a British force under General Pritzler. On the 14th of March, a British garrison marched into Vajragad the smaller fort. As Vajarad commanded Purandhar, the commandant had to accept terms and the British flag was hoisted at Purandhar on the 16th March, 1818. Temple of the Purandeshwar deity from which Purandar takes its name                            
During British rule it was used as a prison. A German prisoner Dr. H. Goetz was kept here during World War II. He studied the fort during his stay there and later published a book on it. It major use however was as a sanatorium for British soldiers.
On the Fort 





The fort has two distinct levels. The lower part is called the machi. North of the machi is a flat area where the cantonment and hospital was housed. There are many temples decicated to Purandeshwar(the fort's patron god, from which it also takes its name) and Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa here. There is a statue of Murarbaji Deshapnde, the fort-keeper (killedar) who gave his life to protect the fort from the Mughals. The northern part of the machi has a low fall with several bastions and an imposing gate with two towers.



From the lower level a staircase leads to the upper level or Ballekilla. The first structure of the Ballekilla that comes into view is the Dilli Darwaza. This area also houses an ancient Kedareshwar (Shiva) temple. The higher level called Ballekilla is surrounded by steep drop on three sides. 
















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The Golden Plough  

Posted by Siddesh Kerkar

In the History of Pune, it so happened that the Golden plough was used to plough the land. Really it was thrilling and sensational. In 1630 the Adilshahi Sardar Rayarao looted pune. He ploughed the Pune with the help of Donkey's. Pune was ruined by him. Then in 1630, Shahaji Raje had Pune paragana(a district). Little Shivaji and mother Jijabai came to Pune. She cam to Lord Ganpati Temple to offer prayer and after that she observed destroyed Pune. The only thing left by the Adilshshi Sardar "Raya Rao" was a digging rod, a broken cowerie and torned footware. It means that nobody had to inhabit here in Pune, even not a little lamp. Being uneasy and anoyed Jijabai asked Dadaji Kond-deo to build Lal-Mahal for little Shivaji Raje to create belief in the people of Pune She called them back and ploughed the land with a Golden blade connected to the plough. A thrilling moment in the History of Pune ! the begning of Pune's prosperity means this Golden Moment. Shivaji Raje who used the golden blade for ploughing became the Maratha King and was seated on the Golden throne. In Shivaji Rajes Life many important events took place in Pune. Each one can observe the fact by visiting "LAL MAHAL".

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Shivaji Raje’s dream of the swaraj  

Posted by Siddesh Kerkar

Shivaji Raje’s dream of the swaraj came true with the crowning ceremony (coronation) on jestha shuddha 13, the year 1596 of salivahan shaka. With this the SHAKA (an era) of Shivaji started.

Really it was the dream of Maharashtra that there should be a king like Shivaji Maharaj. It was not only the dream but the real and powerful truth. He formed his own Swaraj (Hindu Patpatshahi) proudly called as Shivshahi. Working hard as there was not a real ruler before. Samarth Ramdas has described his leadership as Marathi word LAGBAG. (Hurry and Bustle).

Ramchandrapant Amatya has said that Shivaji Maharaj created the kingdom from Ahivant to the Kaveri by getting knowledge from the enemy and by defeating it. Shivaji Maharaj had many virtues, the Good character is one of them. It is much essential that a king must possess virtues and Shivaji Maharaj really deserved. He had qualities like Adventure, Alert, Fearless, Respect for Religion, Bravery, Patience, Determination and Justice. In his life he had to face many hardships, but he overcame them successfully. His escape from Agra was a strange situation, Using intelligence he brought his men home safely. Just imagine the distance from agra to raigad! With only eight elephants, 500 soilders and from the distance of 1500 K.M. without losing lives, all of them came safe and from the custody of Aurangzeb!How Shivaji Raje killed Afzalkhan, is described by kavindra paramananda. He says that Shivaji cut his head in two parts. The picture herewith showing the situation we must say Shivaji Maharaj created the kingdom the real atmosphere. He spent his childhood in pune at LAL MAHALnear about it, is the Kasba Ganpati temple, Kedareshwar Narayaneshwar mandir, Punyeshwar mandir, pune coat & Nagzari Frisking and playing in such atmosphere Shivaji Maharaj successfully became the king of Maharashtra, He bought Maharashtra, Self rule, self religion(Maharashtra Dharma)self language. This is the memory of our pride.

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