Battle of Rakshasbhuvan
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The Battle of Rakshasbhuvan, on 10 August 1763. After the defeat of the Marathas at the Battle of Panipat, their rivals started seizing the opportunity to recover their losses in the past at the hands of Marathas. Particularly, the Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to recover territory he had lost at the battle of Udgir where all of his dukes & earls were killed.
He decided to launch a war on the Marathas. To boost the morale of his army, at advise of his Diwan (who was once considered one of wise men in Peshwa reign) Vithal Sundar Pratapwant, the son of Sundar Narayan, who had built Kala Ram temple at Nasik (Historian Ninad Bedekar
mentions Vithal Sundars surname as "Parshurami") he declared Inams & Jagirs to many warriors who had deserted the Marathas & had joined with him to replace his warriors who got killed at Udgir. The main warrior amongst them was Vinayak Dasrao, nephew of Vithal Sundar himself, the other lieutenants being Narsinhrao Dixit Kaygaonkar whose father was killed in one of battle in Bundelkhand fighting for Peshwas, Shankarrao Joshi & Krishnarao Kanitkar. The latter 3 were given Jagirs of Kaygaon Toke, Badnapur & Limbaganesh whilst Vinayak Dasrao was given Inam of Neurgaon. Vithal Sundar was given Jagir of the most fertile area of Pimpri in Aurangabad District. Amongst these, Krishnaji Kanitkar had given refuge to Sardar Vyankatrao Ghorpade of Ichalkaranji
, Sardar Kolhatkar of Pen (Brother-in-law of Bhausaheb Sadashivrao Peshwa) & Sardar Hariba Patwardhan of Sangli during their flight from Scindia's forces during the mutiny of the pretender of Bhausaheb Peshwa. This refuge was given at the request of Sardar Tukoji Holkar.
Over & above the army of 25000 of these Jagirdars from the Marathi area & loyal forces of Ismail Khan Panni, IVth Raghoji Jadhavrao & Nanasaheb Nimbalkar Khardekar, Nizam was also assisted by General Bussey's French troops. However, the Marathas were being led by young Peshwa Madhavrao (Till the skirmish of Chambhar Gonda, Sardar Janoji Bhosle & Shrimant Raghunathrao, uncle of Peshwa were also in the camp), who was assisted by Visaji Tryambak, Sardar Naro Shankar Dani Raje Bahadur, Babu Naik (Chief of Raghuji Bhosle's Nagpur Army who prior to battle few months ago had made a friendship treaty with Nizam) & Sardar Malojiraje IIIrd Ghorpade of Mudhol trounced the Nizam's forces at Rakshasbhuvan after the battle was fought for 5 to 6 months. Many of Nizam's trusted dukes like Shambhulal, Hamid Ulla Khan, Laxmanrao Khandagale, Rukn Ud Doula, Ramchandra Jadhavrao of Bhalki, Mir Mogal Ali Khan alias Nasir Ul Mulk left Nizam after throne was encroached by Nizam Ali, brother of dethroned Nizam Salabat Jang & joined Marathas.It is ironic to note that Govindrao Ghorpade, who fought on behalf of the Nizam, got killed at the hands of his father, Malojirao Ghorpade, who was with Peshwa. The Nizam's closest aide, Vithal Sundar, was killed.
A truce was reached and a treaty was signed at Aurangabad, whereby the Nizam lost 50 lacs territory including Bhalki except Telangana & the eastern part of the Godavari river in Maharashtra but gained Bidar & Naldurg fort in exchange of Bhalki. As a part of settlement, Neurgaon & Limbaganesh became part of Maratha empire. After defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II in 1818, Britishers returned this territory to Nizam IVth & these 2 Jagirs got merged into Nizam State. Unfortunately their descendants did not take care of health, drinking water, irrigation, roads of their territories. Even during famine or drought when Nizam lifted all the taxes on agricultuyral yields which were very poor, these 4 Jahigrdars continued to recover their share from peasants. This led to Salar Jung II advising Nizam Vth to terminate their Jagirs. As a result Jagirs of Neurgaon, Badnapur & Kaygaon got merged with Jagir of Takli/Lad Sawangi. Whilst troops of Limbaganesh got merged with 5000 mansab of Aamir Nawaz Khan, Talukdar of Naldurg & Collectror of Bhir in 1843 which were restored by Sir Sikandar Khans father during his reign in 1888. This decisive victory made Madhavrao Peshwa more stronger. This was his 1st battle, fought in 1764. Surprisingly Vithal Sundar's vacant post of Diwan was given to Mir Musa Khan Rukn Ud Daula,a Peshwa Lobbyist in Nizam's durbar.
He decided to launch a war on the Marathas. To boost the morale of his army, at advise of his Diwan (who was once considered one of wise men in Peshwa reign) Vithal Sundar Pratapwant, the son of Sundar Narayan, who had built Kala Ram temple at Nasik (Historian Ninad Bedekar
Ninad Bedekar
Ninad Gangadhar Bedekar is a historian, writer and orator from Pune, Maharashtra, India, writing and speaking in Marathi. He is a prolific contributor to newspapers and magazines. He has scripted the Son et lumière show at Shanivarwada, and written the script for Marathi TV serial Peshwai...
mentions Vithal Sundars surname as "Parshurami") he declared Inams & Jagirs to many warriors who had deserted the Marathas & had joined with him to replace his warriors who got killed at Udgir. The main warrior amongst them was Vinayak Dasrao, nephew of Vithal Sundar himself, the other lieutenants being Narsinhrao Dixit Kaygaonkar whose father was killed in one of battle in Bundelkhand fighting for Peshwas, Shankarrao Joshi & Krishnarao Kanitkar. The latter 3 were given Jagirs of Kaygaon Toke, Badnapur & Limbaganesh whilst Vinayak Dasrao was given Inam of Neurgaon. Vithal Sundar was given Jagir of the most fertile area of Pimpri in Aurangabad District. Amongst these, Krishnaji Kanitkar had given refuge to Sardar Vyankatrao Ghorpade of Ichalkaranji
Ichalkaranji
Ichalkaranji is located at . It has an average elevation of 538 metres .Ichalkaranji , lies in the Pancaganga valley about eighteen miles east of Kolhapur and half a mile north of the river. It is six miles southeast of Hatkanangale railway station...
, Sardar Kolhatkar of Pen (Brother-in-law of Bhausaheb Sadashivrao Peshwa) & Sardar Hariba Patwardhan of Sangli during their flight from Scindia's forces during the mutiny of the pretender of Bhausaheb Peshwa. This refuge was given at the request of Sardar Tukoji Holkar.
Over & above the army of 25000 of these Jagirdars from the Marathi area & loyal forces of Ismail Khan Panni, IVth Raghoji Jadhavrao & Nanasaheb Nimbalkar Khardekar, Nizam was also assisted by General Bussey's French troops. However, the Marathas were being led by young Peshwa Madhavrao (Till the skirmish of Chambhar Gonda, Sardar Janoji Bhosle & Shrimant Raghunathrao, uncle of Peshwa were also in the camp), who was assisted by Visaji Tryambak, Sardar Naro Shankar Dani Raje Bahadur, Babu Naik (Chief of Raghuji Bhosle's Nagpur Army who prior to battle few months ago had made a friendship treaty with Nizam) & Sardar Malojiraje IIIrd Ghorpade of Mudhol trounced the Nizam's forces at Rakshasbhuvan after the battle was fought for 5 to 6 months. Many of Nizam's trusted dukes like Shambhulal, Hamid Ulla Khan, Laxmanrao Khandagale, Rukn Ud Doula, Ramchandra Jadhavrao of Bhalki, Mir Mogal Ali Khan alias Nasir Ul Mulk left Nizam after throne was encroached by Nizam Ali, brother of dethroned Nizam Salabat Jang & joined Marathas.It is ironic to note that Govindrao Ghorpade, who fought on behalf of the Nizam, got killed at the hands of his father, Malojirao Ghorpade, who was with Peshwa. The Nizam's closest aide, Vithal Sundar, was killed.
A truce was reached and a treaty was signed at Aurangabad, whereby the Nizam lost 50 lacs territory including Bhalki except Telangana & the eastern part of the Godavari river in Maharashtra but gained Bidar & Naldurg fort in exchange of Bhalki. As a part of settlement, Neurgaon & Limbaganesh became part of Maratha empire. After defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II in 1818, Britishers returned this territory to Nizam IVth & these 2 Jagirs got merged into Nizam State. Unfortunately their descendants did not take care of health, drinking water, irrigation, roads of their territories. Even during famine or drought when Nizam lifted all the taxes on agricultuyral yields which were very poor, these 4 Jahigrdars continued to recover their share from peasants. This led to Salar Jung II advising Nizam Vth to terminate their Jagirs. As a result Jagirs of Neurgaon, Badnapur & Kaygaon got merged with Jagir of Takli/Lad Sawangi. Whilst troops of Limbaganesh got merged with 5000 mansab of Aamir Nawaz Khan, Talukdar of Naldurg & Collectror of Bhir in 1843 which were restored by Sir Sikandar Khans father during his reign in 1888. This decisive victory made Madhavrao Peshwa more stronger. This was his 1st battle, fought in 1764. Surprisingly Vithal Sundar's vacant post of Diwan was given to Mir Musa Khan Rukn Ud Daula,a Peshwa Lobbyist in Nizam's durbar.