The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c10.77

c10.77

In the meantime Rám Rája died at Ráygad, leaving two sons, the older of whom, Shiváji, was put on the throne with his mother Tárábái as regent. The war went on as before. In the next few years Aurangzíb reduced all the principal forts from Purandhar to Panhála; but the Maráthás plundered in his rear, and the great families, the Mánkaris, began to side more openly with them. In A.D. 1705, after the capture of Ráygad and Torna, Aurangzíb stayed for some time near Junnar; then marched to Bijápur, and thence to besiege Vákinkera, a village held by Pemnáik, a plundering Berad chief. While engaged here his work in the hills was being undone and the forts were being retaken. Panhála and Pávangad were surprised by Rámchandra Pant, and the former became the residence of Tárábái. Parashrám Trimbak, the Pant Pratinidhi, took Vasantgad and Sátára, while Sankráji Náráyan, the Pant Sachiv, recovered Sinhgad, Ráygad, Rohira, and other forts. After Vákinkera was taken Aurangzíb returned hard pressed by the Maráthás, and reached Ahmadnagar in A.D. 1707. Zulfikár Khán retook Sinhgad; but it was almost immediately regained by Sankráji Náráyan, and in February 1707 Aurangzíb died at Ahmadnagar. With him perished all hope of crushing the Marátha power, and thirteen years after his death Marátha independence was formally recognized by the emperor of Delhi.