Shivaji and His Times c5.s6.37

c5.s6.37

The strong fortress of Purandar, 18 miles s. s. e. of Puna, was held under the nominal sway of Bijapur by a Brahman chief, Niloji surnamed Nilkanth Nayak, whose family had been in hereditary charge of it and its adjacent lands ever since the days of the Ahmadnagar dynasty. Niloji was a stern grasping man who denied his younger brothers, Pilaji and Shankaraji, any share of his power or of the income of the estate. They resented this exclusion from their birthright and appealed to Shivaji to arbitrate between them. He was admitted into the fort at the Feast of Lamps (November) as a guest. On the third day of his stay, the two younger brothers surprised and fettered Niloji and brought him before Shiva, who imprisoned all the three and took possession of the fort for himself! The Nayak's retainers were expelled and a Mavle garrison was placed there by Shivaji. After a few days the three captives were set free and granted the village of Chamli, in perpetuity for their maintenance. (Sabh. 9; T. S. 11b-12a.) From the traditions and papers of the present Nilkanth family of Chamli, V. L. Bhave has given the following account of their loss of Purandar :