History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s2: § 2. Aurangzib actively attacks Bijapuri territory, 1684.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s2
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§ 2. Aurangzib actively attacks Bijapuri territory, 1684.
v4.c65.s2.1
But on 13th November 1683, the Emperor himself arrived at Ahmadnagar to direct the operations, and a vigorous campaign was begun. On the 13th February following, Azam was sent to Bahadurgarh (Pedgaon), about 45 miles south of Ahmadnagar, and made it his headquarters for a year. The Mughal plan of war at this stage was to establish a number of outposts in the Bijapur territory,—under Azam in the north-west and Khan-i-Jahan in the north-east of that kingdom,—and try to occupy or at least to ravage the surrounding lands. The great energy thrown by both sides into the Maratha war in the first half of 1684 prevented the Mughals from undertaking any serious enterprise against Bijapur. Moreover, during the earlier months of the year, the disastrous march of Shah Alam into South Konkan diverted all the imperial resources into that quarter. Bijapur was besieged in right earnest only as late as March 1685. And we shall have to revert to the internal affairs of that city in order to understand this crisis in its history.
v4.c65.s2.2
The condition of Bijapur was now hopeless. Five years' *wazir-ship* at the decadent Court of Adil The first of these, the *Gospel of the Hebrews*, was used by the Jewish Christians of Palestine, and was probably a version of the Gospel of Matthew, though it contained some traditions not found in our canonical books. The *Gospel of the Egyptians* was used by the ascetic sects of Egypt, and was marked by a strong tendency towards mysticism and asceticism. The *Gospel of Peter* was used by the Docetists, and taught that Christ did not really suffer, but only appeared to do so.
v4.c65.s2.3
These gospels, and others like them, were not accepted by the Church as a whole, and were gradually lost or suppressed. The Church, however, felt the need for a standard collection of writings that would serve as a guide for faith and practice. This led to the formation of the New Testament canon, a process that took several centuries to complete.
v4.c65.s2.4
The first step in this process was the collection of the letters of Paul, which were widely circulated among the churches. Then came the four Gospels, which were accepted as the authoritative accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles and the other epistles were gradually added, and finally the Book of Revelation.
v4.c65.s2.5
By the end of the second century, the core of the New Testament was generally accepted by the Church. The process of canonization was not a formal act of a council, but rather a gradual recognition by the churches of the writings that were most valuable for their life and worship. It was only in the fourth century that the canon was formally closed by the councils of the Church.
v4.c65.s2.6
The formation of the New Testament canon was a crucial event in the history of the Church. It provided a standard of faith and practice that helped to unify the Church and to protect it from the influence of heretical sects. It also ensured that the teachings of Jesus and the apostles would be preserved for future generations.
v4.c65.s2.7
vigorous steps had been taken for the defence of the realm: Sikandar had entrusted this task (3rd March 1684) to his bravest general Sayyid Makhdum, surnamed Sharza Khan, the head of a family famous throughout the Deccan for valour and martial skill. At the same time he invited his vassal Pam Nayak of Wagingera, to come to the capital with his Berad clansmen, who were reputed as the bravest foot-soldiers and best shots in the country.
v4.c65.s2.8
On 30th March, a letter was received from Aurangzib, calling upon Adil Shah as a vassal, to supply provisions to the imperial army promptly, allow the Mughal troops a free passage through his territory, supply a contingent of 5 or 6 thousand cavalry for the Emperor's war with the Marathas, abstain from helping or harbouring Shambhuji, and expel Sharza Khan from his country! In the meantime the Mughals continued to appropriate bits of the Adil-Shahi kingdom and establish their own outposts in it. At the end of May, Khan-i-Jahan took possession of Mangalvide and Sangola and their environs. So, Sikandar sent a spirited reply to Aurangzib, demanding that the Mughals should return to him the tribute and territory they had exacted in the past, withdraw their outposts from his dominions, march against Shambhuji through their own territory only, and never make peace with the Maratha king till they had recovered from him and restored to Adil Shah every inch of his territory that Shambhuji or Shivaji had usurped, and, finally, refusing to banish Sharza Khan. (B.S. 530.)
v4.c65.s2.9
"The show of friendship which Aurangzib had so long kept up with Adil Shah, was now dispelled, as the Emperor became convinced of Sikandar's unalterable determination to support Shambhu." The Mughal generals were now ordered to plant outposts in Bijapuri territory and they at once came into collision with Sharza Khan, who was guarding the land, but whose force was repulsed with heavy loss (near Jālihal.) But even then war did not formally break out; for some months after, Sikandar continued to receive letters and robes of honour from the Mughal Court, and even pretended to be equipping a contingent for co-operating with Prince Azam against the Marathas. In the meantime, he was busy seeking allies. An envoy was sent to Golkonda (30th July), earnestly beseeching aid, and a messenger despatched to Siddi Masaud at Adoni for his advice. The defence of the environs of the capital was entrusted to Chintu Chimna, a Brahman, (18th June), while the premier noble, Nawab Abdur Rauf, with Sharza Khan as his right-hand man, took the command of the field army. (B.S. 532).
v4.c65.s2.10
The Bijapuris are said to have made two brisk sallies on the Mughal army in June and inflicted a severe defeat on Azam in August, 1684. (F.R. Surat 109, Karwar to Surat 15 June, Surat to Karwar 22 Aug.)
v4.c65.s2.11
In January 1685, Sharza Khan returned to the capital, and a son of Masaud came to deliver his father’s counsels to the Sultan. Shortly before, promise of support had arrived from Golkonda. On 21st February a Maratha contingent under Shambhuji’s *diwan* Melgiri Pandit reached Bijapur and was welcomed by the Sultan from the Zuhrapur gate. Diplomatic relations with the Mughals had already ceased, and both sides were preparing for an appeal to the sword.
v4.c65.s2.12
True, there had been another collision between the Mughals who were setting up outposts near Turgal and the Bijapuri troops who opposed it (January), but the war was precipitated at the end of March, when the Mughal army arrived within sight of Bijapur. On 28th March, Khwajah Abdur Rahim, the Mughal envoy, was attacked by the Adil-Shahi troops and the imperialists hastened to his aid. Next day the fort was reconnoitred from the side of Daulatpur (or Khawaspur) and Raz Muhammad’s tomb, and on 1st April 1685 the first trenches were opened and the siege of Bijapur began.* (B.S. 533-534.)