New History of the Marathas v1.c8.79

v1.c8.79

Like the official seal, the title Chhatrapati also appears to have been assumed long before his formal coronation in 1674, perhaps during this first constructive stage of his *swarajya*. The title was borrowed from the ancient Hindu works on polity and modelled on the traditional ideas of kingship. *Shukraniti*, *Manusmriti* and probably Chanakya’s works appear to have been consulted by Shivaji’s or his mother’s agents. The Council of Eight Ministers, their ancient titles, and the name Chhatrapati were by no means new creations. There were ready forms and names in use during Hindu and Muslim rule and some of those were naturally adopted by Shivaji as time and convenience required. *Peshwa*, *Muzmudar*, *Dabir*, *Sarnobat*, *Surnis* are Persian Office-titles which were later converted by Shivaji into Sanskrit ones. Not only titles, but forms of letters and documents, the system of accounts, revenue terms, office insignia which had long been in vogue during Muslim domination were adopted wholesale often in Sanskrit equivalents,¹⁶ and given the garb of the Aryan model.