The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c10.61

c10.61

In A.D. 1648 Shiváji surprised Lohogad, the state prison of the Ahmadnagar kings, and Rájmáchi, both in the Máwals, and several forts in the Konkan including Ráiri or Ráygad; meanwhile Abáji Sondev, one of his Bráhman adherents, pushed on to Kalyán near Bombay, took the town, and made the governor prisoner. Shiváji at once took possession of the district appointing Abáji subhedár. The Bijápur court could not overlook this open rebellion; and orders were given to Báji Ghorpade of Mudhol to arrest Sháhji, who was suspected of encouraging Shiváji. Báji accomplished his task by treachery, for which he afterwards paid dearly, and Sháhji was kept in confinement till A.D. 1653, during which time Shiváji was obliged to remain quiet. On his father's release he again began to plan attacks on the neighbouring country. The rája of Jávli had resisted all his endeavours to win him over, and Shiváji therefore sent his agents Rágho Ballál and Sambháji Káwaji to examine the country. They suggested that the rája might easily be assassinated, and Shiváji approved of their idea. He collected a strong force in the forests round Mahábaleshvar, and when his agents had murdered the rája and his brother, the troops attacked and stormed Jávli and soon reduced the fort of Vásota and the surrounding country (A.D. 1653). Shiváji next turned on the deshmukh of the Hardas Máwal, stormed the fort of Rohira, and killed him in the fight. To strengthen his hold of the country, he directed a fort to be built at the source of the Koyna river near Mahábaleshvar; the work was carried out by Moro Pant Pingle, and the fort was called Pratápgad.