New History of the Marathas v1.c14.16

v1.c14.16

For a long time, however, Shivaji felt extreme hesitation and to strengthen his own inner voice, he thought it necessary to secure the blessing of some pious saints which in his difficulty he was wont to invoke. A Muslim Fakir named Bābā Yāqut lived at Kelsi near Dapoli, whose favour was sought by many a person in distress. Bābā Yāqut’s tomb is even now held in veneration and receives from Government a grant for its up-keep and anniversary celebration, which has continued from Shivaji’s time. There was another saint named Mauni Bovā at Patgaon, near fort Rangnā, now in the Kolhapur State jurisdiction. He used to be silent and never spoke a word. Shivaji visited both these saints and obtained their blessings for the hazard he was undertaking.²