New History of the Marathas v1.c16.31

v1.c16.31

Shivaji voluntarily undertook a journey to the court of Aurangzeb, a hazardous venture, which discloses a desire on his part to see for himself how far northern India was prepared for the restoration of a Hindu empire after several hundred years of continuous Muslim rule. The line quoted above discloses a general public desire to depose Aurangzeb as he was the enemy of the Hindu religion. The moment Shivaji escaped from the Emperor's custody, Hindu India hailed him as a heaven-sent deliverer, and thereafter northern scholars, poets, priests and chiefs began to flock to Shivaji's court. Poet Bhushan⁵ and Chhatrasāl Bundelā are instances of this nationwide impulse. Even Gāgābhatt was induced to preside at the coronation ceremony, mainly on account of the prevailing sentiment all over north India in favour of Shivaji's uncommon personality.