Jijabai
Encyclopedia
Jijabai was the mother of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire
.
State. As per the customs of that age, she was wed at an early age to Shahaji Bhosale
, a nobleman and military commander under the Adil Shahi
sultans of Bijapur in present-day Karnataka
. She was his first wife.
Jijabai gave birth to eight children, six daughters and two sons. Of these only the two sons, Sambhaji and Shivaji, survived while the rest died in infancy.
Shahaji had tried to establish a Maratha state on the ruins of the erstwhile Nizamshahi sultanate. However he was defeated by the combined forces of the Mughals and Adilshahi.Shahaji became a sardar in Adilshaha,s army.He settled in karnataka and got married again. . As per the treaty he was forced to move south.
In order to continue the struggle, he deputed her as queen regent.
. The elder son Sambhaji remained with their father. Shivaji left Banglore along with his mother, a council of ministers and chosen military commanders.Jijabai appointed Dadoji Konddev as teacher to Shivaji.Jijabai was a very pious and intelligent person with great vision for independent Hindu kingdom. She inspired Shivaji by telling stories from Ramayan , Mahabharat. Inspired by her, Shivaji took Oath of Independence (SWARAJYA) in fort temple of lord Raireshwar
in 1645 when he was 17.In Shivaji,s impeccable , spotless character and courage Jijabai,s contribution is enormous.
Jijabai's elder son Sambhaji was killed while on a military expedition in Karnataka by Afzal Khan. When Shahaji died, Jijabai tried to commit sati
- committing suicide by burning oneself in the husband's pyre, but Shivaji stopped her from doing so by his request. Jijabai is widely credited with raising Shivaji in a manner that led to his future greatness. She died soon after coronation of Shivaji.
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
.
Birth date and family life
Jijabai was born on 12 January 1598 and a daughter of Lakhoji Jadhav in present-day Buldhana district of MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
State. As per the customs of that age, she was wed at an early age to Shahaji Bhosale
Shahaji
Shahaji Raje Bhosle was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul . He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosle legacies...
, a nobleman and military commander under the Adil Shahi
Adil Shahi
The Adil Shahi or Adilshahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 to 1686. Bijapur had been a province of the Bahmani Sultanate , before its political decline in the last quarter of the 15th century and eventual break-up in 1518...
sultans of Bijapur in present-day Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. She was his first wife.
Jijabai gave birth to eight children, six daughters and two sons. Of these only the two sons, Sambhaji and Shivaji, survived while the rest died in infancy.
On mission
She wholeheartedly supported her husband's cause.Shahaji had tried to establish a Maratha state on the ruins of the erstwhile Nizamshahi sultanate. However he was defeated by the combined forces of the Mughals and Adilshahi.Shahaji became a sardar in Adilshaha,s army.He settled in karnataka and got married again. . As per the treaty he was forced to move south.
In order to continue the struggle, he deputed her as queen regent.
. The elder son Sambhaji remained with their father. Shivaji left Banglore along with his mother, a council of ministers and chosen military commanders.Jijabai appointed Dadoji Konddev as teacher to Shivaji.Jijabai was a very pious and intelligent person with great vision for independent Hindu kingdom. She inspired Shivaji by telling stories from Ramayan , Mahabharat. Inspired by her, Shivaji took Oath of Independence (SWARAJYA) in fort temple of lord Raireshwar
Raireshwar
Raireshwar is situated in Bhor Taluka near Pune, India. Raireshwar has a temple famous for its historical importance. The temple is very old and of stone structure, uut it was later re-constructed in 18th century. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took the oath of Hindavi Swarajya in this temple at the...
in 1645 when he was 17.In Shivaji,s impeccable , spotless character and courage Jijabai,s contribution is enormous.
Jijabai's elder son Sambhaji was killed while on a military expedition in Karnataka by Afzal Khan. When Shahaji died, Jijabai tried to commit sati
Sati (practice)
For other uses, see Sati .Satī was a religious funeral practice among some Indian communities in which a recently widowed woman either voluntarily or by use of force and coercion would have immolated herself on her husband’s funeral pyre...
- committing suicide by burning oneself in the husband's pyre, but Shivaji stopped her from doing so by his request. Jijabai is widely credited with raising Shivaji in a manner that led to his future greatness. She died soon after coronation of Shivaji.
Cultural legacy
Today especially in Maharashtra she is regarded as an ideal mother. Her upbringing of Shivaji is a subject of folklore.External links
- http://jijau.com/
- Jijabai on NRCW page