TELUGU BHARATH salutes Rajmata Jijabai - Inspiration of Greatest Hindu king of Millenium Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
The shape, durability and quality of a pot are entirely dependent on the skill and the creativity of the potter. Likewise Chatrapati Shivaji Raje was entirely nurtured to fight the enemies who were obstructing the Establishment of Hindavi Swarajya.
Jijau was born to Mhakasabai and Lakhoji Jadhav in Sindkhed territory. As she grew up, the sufferings of Hindus under the Mughal rule was perceived by her. At the tiny age when girls play with dolls Jijau immersed in learning sword fighting. Her mother nurtured Jijau's courage by telling the tales of valor.
The situation in the country was to provide services to Mughal Rulers, to become local commanding officers under Mughals the actual enemy, praise them and loot own people for them. Hindu women were being assaulted by Muslims and auctioned. Society had become a mute spectator. Farmers were working on empty stomachs, only for Mughals. Jijau was searching for a person who could fight this injustice. Jijau was married to Sahaji Raje Bhosale in the year 1605. She finally found recourse in prayers, by appealing to Goddess Bhavani to give her a son who would be bright, accomplished and immensely capable of establishing “Swarajya”. After marrying Shahaji Raje, Jijau could sense her husband being undervalued by rulers like Mughals, Adilshah, and Nijamshah etc. She realised that even though her husband was powerful but had no recognition, security and was not beneficial to the community.
Jijau may be the only woman in the history of mankind who decided the purpose of her child even before he was born. Goddess Bhavani fulfilled Jijau's appeal as she shared Jijau's sorrows in terms of assaults on her land, drowning of her religion and her temples, idols being broken by the Yavan enemies like Mughals, Adilshah, Nijamshah etc. Jijau and Goddess Bhavani shared the same dream of Hindu Swarajya.
Jijau told Shivaji the tales of King Ram, Krishna, Bheem etc. fighting the injustice and freeing of people from tyranny. These stories made Shivaji Raje that freedom was the only path and that is the only purpose of his life. Jijau also taught politics to her son Shivaji Raje and prepared his mindset for justice of equality, courage, valor and hardest punishments to unjust people doing wrong things. She personally supervised his training with various weapons. Due to such guidance from his own mother Jijau, Shivaji Raje was able to get himself out safely and miraculously from incidents like Shahaji Raje's captivity, Afzalkhan's defeat, and escape from Agra etc.
Jijau carried out both the roles of an affectionate mother as well as giving aptitude for accomplishments as a father in his absence. Only due to training from Jijau, Shivaji Raje could vanquish the centuries of Muslim rule and establish Hindavi Swarajya.
Jijau survived till the Coronation of her son Shivaji Raje as Chatrapati even in the absence of her husband, lovingly encouraging & guiding her son for the growth and longevity of Hindavi Swarajya. She left for heavenly abode just after 12 days of coronation on 17 June 1674. Her Samadhi is at Village “Pachad” at the foothills of Fort Rajgad.
