New History of the Marathas v1.c8.72

v1.c8.72

5. Independence achieved.—From 1644 to 1674, from the capture of Sinhagad to Shivaji’s coronation at Raigarh, is a period of three very convenient decades through which a student can review that great hero’s life; *viz.*, 1644-1653, 1654-1663, and 1664-1674. How these decades are distinctly marked and particularized will be explained later, but we must first set down the main incidents of the first decade, the end of which marked the first complete stage of Shivaji’s journey. Some of the incidents of this first decade cannot unfortunately be accurately dated. We have already reviewed the affair of the Raireshvar temple where solemn oaths were secretly exchanged. Shortly thereafter Dādāji Kondadev died on 7 March 1647, having already given sufficient initiative to his young master and in peaceful contentment at the prospect of his success as a national hero. The event caused no break in Shivaji’s plans, which had long ago been formed after full deliberation. Dādāji had played his part in setting Shivaji on his legs, who now came forth with renewed vigour and started open aggression against Bijapur. He easily captured Chakan and naming it Sangrāmdurg placed his own garrison there. His next move was against Purandar the capture of which proved somewhat dramatic.