New History of the Marathas v1.c12.50

v1.c12.50

5. Panhala taken.—While engaged in dealing blows at the Mughal Empire, Shivaji continued nibbling at the possessions of Bijapur also. But on the whole there was peace between them since the expedition of Jay Sinh. This peace came to be disturbed on the death of Ali Adil Shah II on 24 November 1672, which caused a scramble for power among the officials and ministers of the Adil Shahi State. On this occasion Shivaji was engaged in consolidating his possessions from north to south along the Sahyadri range and was careful in holding strongly those forts and posts which had political and strategic significance. Like Sinhagad for the Poona region, the fort of Panhālā was coveted by him for the security of his southern section. His memorable fight at Panhālā with Siddi Jawhar Salabat Khan had before this proved fruitless and the fort had remained in Bijapuri possession since 22 September 1660 with a strong garrison to defend it against any sudden move on the part of Shivaji. When Sinhagad was secured by the death of the lion Tānāji Mālusre, Shivaji became ever more impatient to get back Panhālā, and concerted measures for its recovery. He assembled a band of valiant fighters at Rājāpur and asked Anāji Datto to lead them against Panhālā. Anāji obtained a clever co-worker Kondāji Ravlekar and arranged a sudden attack upon Panhālā on a dark night, nearly on the same plan that had been adopted by Tānāji Mālusre at Sinhagad two years before. Kondāji managed to obtain a secret entrance into the fort in disguise and seduced the garrison. On the night of 6 March 1673, the 13th dark moon of Phālgun, the Maratha Captain secretly scaled the walls with sixty select companions by means of rope ladders and suddenly created such a noise and confusion by means of trumpet calls and yells that the defenders did not realize what had happened and what was to be done. Kondāji’s men opened the gates and Anāji Pant’s bands rushed in, sabring every one that came