New History of the Marathas v1.c18.37

v1.c18.37

Jinji soon became the centre of Maratha activity, where the whole Court was assembled and formed, reviving the Council of eight ministers with an addition of the ninth called the Pratinidhi now specially created for providing a position for Pralhād Nirāji, who had rendered extraordinary services. Tanjore in that vicinity was already a Maratha capital, being at this time ruled by Shahji the eldest son of Ekoji and cousin of Rājārām. Writes Keshav Purohit, "the Chiefs of the Karnatak lands hailed Rājārām as an uncommon hero and made his cause their own. They brought him presents of money, provisions and materials, and having been actuated with a spirit of vengeance against Muslims, offered every kind of service to the Maratha king."¹ A few Muslim Chiefs also made common cause with the Marathas under the belief that they were being persecuted without reason. This indeed helped the extension of Maratha influence over the Karnatak regions.