Great Hindu Personalities

[Saffron_Warrior]

It has been said in ancient Hindu culture and is a proven fact today, that the pregnant mother, by the environment she provides, by the thoughts she thinks, and by what she wishes for her unborn child, does a tremendous amount to shape the childs life for good or bad. In Vedic traditions, there are a series of sacraments and chants to be carried out as to optimise the child’s potentials. Jijabai infused in Shivaji such a spirit, that was to emerge with great force throughout his life.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Then, the most crushing news struck Jijabai like lightening. Jadhav Rao, her father, who had recently been readmitted to the service of the Nizam, had been beheaded, together with her entire family. It is probable that the Nizam thought the Marathas were getting influential. Her husband too was in danger of meeting a similar fate, but he was shrewd and joined the Moghuls. Jijabai’s fiery spirit was set ablaze by the slaughter of her family. In the time that followed, whole villages of Marathas were wiped out. A Maratha princess was carried away while bathing. At one time Jijabai herself was kidnapped, as a bargaining chip. Such were the times in which she lived. But instead of frightening her, it just strengthened her resolve that an independent protector of the Hindus was an urgency. She brought up her son with a love of liberty infused in him. They lived at Pune, under the protection of Dadaji Kondev. Jijabai was one of the main administrators at Pune. She was educated, able and wielded great authority (not adhering to the myth of the "oppressed Hindu woman of medieval India"). When they arrived, Pune was a small village that had been consecutively ransacked by the Nizam, Adil Shah, and the Moghuls. Each and every Hindu shrine had been smashed. But soon Pune flourished, with the help of Jijabai. Jaijabai restored the shrines, and on many occasions settled disputes and metted out justice. She was responsible for most of Shivaji’s education. She had him learn in detail the lessons from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. He learnt about the holy scriptures and arts of administration and weaponry, and the political situations in the land.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Shahji married a second wife, Tukabai, and spent most of his time with her and her son. The effect this had on Jijabai, nobody can tell. Jijabai did not lose heart, and concerned herself as before, with admistration, bringing up Shivaji and in long periods of prayer and meditation. Jijabai even set the scenes for social reforms in Hindu society. To quote an example, on her advice, the brahmins allowed a soldier named Balaji Nimbalkar to re-embrace Hinduism after converting to Islam. In those days, many people were opposed to such a move, an attitude which to some extent persists today. But Jijabai could see that because Hindus created a system whereby people could leave the Hindu fold, but not enter it (which had no basis in the scriptures), Hindu society had been weakened. Jijabai impressed upon everybody the logic of this position. Further more, showing that she was genuine in her view, she gave Shivaji’s daughter Sakhubai in marriage to Balaji’s son.

While Shahji and Dadaji were worried when Shivaji, at the age of 16 first captured a major fort, Jijabai was overjoyed. When Afzal Khan, the renowned general of Bijapur came with a large army to crush Shivaji early in his career, Shivaji turned to his mother, who unlike others told him to face the danger resolutely. Shivaji’s army was tiny by comparison, but by biding his time and using lightening guerilla techniques, he worsted Afzal Khan’s army. When at a private meeting, Afzal Khan tried to kill Shivaji, Afzal Khan ended up dead. This episode greatly increased Shivaji’s prestige.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Jijabai treated Shivaji’s companions as her own sons, and was a source of courage and inspiration to them. Tanaji Malasure is one such renowned example. He lost the fort of Simhagadh to an intense Moghul attack. She famously told him "if you free Simhagad from the enemies you will be like Shivaji’s younger brother to me." Tanaji went forth, for what others advised to be mission impossible, and succeeded, but was martyred in the process. Jijabai was watching from her fort all night. When she saw the saffron flag of the Marathas ascend on the fort, she cried with joy. But shortly after she received the news of Tanaji’s death, she began to cry with pain and could not be consoled. Another hero, Baji Prabhu, a childhood friend of Shivaji, fought with great valour to save Shivaji’s life, and in doing so died. On hearing the news, Jijabai rather than being comforted that her son was safe wept as if she had lost her own son.

In her life Jijabai had to bare sorrow after sorrow, and did it bravely for her country and religion. She reflected the glory and strength of Mother Durga. We hope her life will always be remembered with reverance. In 1674, Shivaji held a vast ceremony, declaring himself an independent ruler. Jijabai was present at the ceremony. What joy she must have felt attending the ceremony - everything she had lived for had finally bore fruit. 12 days later, Jijabai died.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Rani Chennamma of Keladi

[Saffron_Warrior]

Amongst the warriors of India’s medieval times and whom the Hindu civilisation is greatly indebted to is Rani Chennamma, who ruled the small kingdom of Keladi (which is in the present day Indian state of Karnataka) for 25 years from 1671-1696. She was very beautiful and hardly looks like a hardy warrior, but indeed she fought like an incarnation of Shakti, administered her kingdom well and took decisions that few others had the courage to take.

She was not from royal lineage, but the king of Keladi, Somashekhara Nayak met her and fell in love with her, hence she became queen. Queen Chennamma looked after the subjects of her kingdom and the servants of the palace with great love as if they were her children. She was not only a wife to Somashekhara Nayaka but also an adviser and trusted minister. If the government did any injustice, those who suffered, being afraid to go to the King, would make their appeals to the Queen. The Queen would speak to her husband and ensure justice. She was an inspiration to her husband to punish the wicked and protect the virtuous. The people of Keladi looked up to the Queen and were very devoted to her.

[Saffron_Warrior]

However this idyllic situation was not to last. Once, during the Dashera festival, the famed dancer Kalavathi of Jambukhandi gave a performance before the royal couple. This beautiful woman enchanted Somashekhara Nayaka. The King who was pleased with her excellence in dancing, gave her much wealth. Kalavathi became the dancer of the royal court. Her mother and her foster-father, Bharame Mavuta, lived with her. It is believed that Bharame Mavuta was a master of lower mysticism (black magic), secret medicines and intrigue. Bharame Mavuta developed an intimate friendship with Somashekhara Nayaka. Gradually the king began to live with Kalavathi herself. He became a puppet in the hands of Bharame Mavuta. He forgot his beloved Chennamma and stayed away from the palace. He used to take all sorts of potions and drinks that Bharame Mavuta gave him and as a result became half-mad with intoxication. Various diseases began to eat him up. Even the ministers and respected officers had to go to the dancer's house to discuss matters of the State.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Chennamma felt very sad that the husband who once loved her so deeply never came to the palace now. She was always in tears. Once all the subjects felt happy that it was their good fortune they had such an ideal King. But now he had no thought for the kingdom.

Because of the King's indifference there was chaos in the kingdom. The news of his ill-health spread all over the kingdom. The King had no children. What if he died suddenly? In such a pass, naturally, many persons began to hatch conspiracies to usurp the throne. The Sultan of Bijapur (a Muslim kingdom) who had often been defeated by the kings of Keladi when they had tried to cause trouble, now attacked the kingdom.

There was only one way, thought Chennamma, for the kindgom to continue and the dynasty to survive; she herself should rule the land and also hold the sword. Trusting God, the young Queen took this crushing burden on her tender shoulders. The clever and heroic Queen also took the counsel of her father Siddappa Shetty. She enlisted the help of trustworthy commanders. Delicate hands adorned with bangles now brandished the sword, and succesfully repulsed the enemy.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Soon enemies within the kingdom began to appear. Opportunists believed that she could be intimidated and manipulated for their profit. One day the Chief Minister, Thimmanna Nayaka of Kasaragod, went to her with Subnis Krishnappa and said to her, "You must adopt as son Veerabhadra Nayaka, the son of the Commander-in Chief, Bhadrappa Nayaka. It is only then that we shall support you. Or else, we will unite the people against you and crown him." The same threat was held out by another minister, Narasappayya and a senior officer, Lakshmayya. Queen Chennamma heard them all patiently. On one side, Bharame Mavuta had the King under his thumb and was eager to take over the kingdom. On another side, all the ministers and other important men were ready to bring some one whom they liked to the throne and perpetuate their own positions. The Queen could not approve of either of these options. She had no child; so she decided that she should adopt a boy who was virtuous and would herald the welfare of the State. She chose a boy by name Basappa Nayaka. She decided to give him the proper type of training so that the kingdom survived and the people were made happy.

[Saffron_Warrior]

Keeping an eye on the developments in Keladi, the Sultan of Bijapur thought that with a well planned strike he could swallow up the kingdom. He sent a representative by name Jannopant to the Queen for negotiations. Close on the heels of Jannopant the Sultan also sent a big army under the command of Muzaffar Khan. Rani Chennamma saw through the trick and raised an army of the common people, invoking the glory of their ancestors. The army repulsed Bijapur’s forces.

In peace time too the Rani ruled very well, and patronised arts and learning. She had an 'Agrahara' - an entire street with houses on either side - formed, and invited scholars to settle down there. It was named 'Somashekharapura'. Day and night Chennamma toiled for the welfare of the state. She expanded the army and strengthened security at the borders. After her work for the kingdom, Chennamma spent whatever leisure she had, in meditation and in acts of charity and kindness. She gave gifts of lands to rishis and religious institutions.