A History of the Mahrattas v1.c15.87

v1.c15.87

³ [Marāthī chronicles state that Gāgā Bhat at first objected to performing the coronation ceremony, on the grounds that Sivājī was a Marāthā (i.e. a Sūdra), and that the regular ceremonies were reserved for Kshatriya and Rājpūt princes. Sivājī thereupon procured from Raigarh a genealogical tree showing his descent from the Mahārānas of Udaipur. Gāgā Bhat finally agreed to perform the ceremony on condition that Sivājī was first invested with the sacred thread, which is worn only by the three higher orders mentioned in the Code of Manu. On the subject of Sivājī’s Rājpūt descent Ranade (p. 46) observes : ‘It is in the spirit of the same fond superstition that native historians trace for Sivājī a fabled descent from the royal house of Udepur.