" Hindus and Turkis belong to two different religions. The enmity between them has always been there.
Ever since Muslim rule has begun, the lives of Hindus have become miserable"
- From Gorelal Purohit's Chhatraprakash ( Chhatrasal Bundela to Chhatrapati Shivaji)
Ever since Muslim rule has begun, the lives of Hindus have become miserable"
- From Gorelal Purohit's Chhatraprakash ( Chhatrasal Bundela to Chhatrapati Shivaji)
Says Gorelal Purohit or Lal Kavi
" Heavy taxes have been imposed on pilgrim centres, temples broken and scriptures destroyed.Every house has to pay Jaziya tax. They have done as pleased as the rulers"
" Heavy taxes have been imposed on pilgrim centres, temples broken and scriptures destroyed.Every house has to pay Jaziya tax. They have done as pleased as the rulers"
Then, describing the situation of the time (1660s) , and to bring contrast with Chhatrapati Shivaji the poet Lal Kavi further writes
" All Rajputs have been defeated. Those who opposed have faced trouble"
" All Rajputs have been defeated. Those who opposed have faced trouble"
Only Shivraj could persistenly resist and keep his pride intact. He is capable of doing what he wishes.
He has defeated eight patshahis (meaning enemies in eight directions in this case) , and carved out Subahs from territories annexed from them.
He has defeated eight patshahis (meaning enemies in eight directions in this case) , and carved out Subahs from territories annexed from them.
Chhatrapati Shivaji's reply is also in the Chhatraprakash
Chhatrapati Shivaji heard all this and see said " Chhatrasal you are a jewel among Kshatriyas"
Win over your land from the Mughals and rule over it. I am not different than you.
Capture the country from the Mughals, face the armies of Delhi.
Win over your land from the Mughals and rule over it. I am not different than you.
Capture the country from the Mughals, face the armies of Delhi.
Do not believe the Turkis. You are lion they are elephants. There is no discretion among the Turkis. Stop those who have gone to meet them.
Bhavani has been very helpful to us.
Now we are not scared of the Mughal atrocities
Now we are not scared of the Mughal atrocities
The Mughals came here through cheating and marauding. Now they wish to extend the hand of peace !
We are weilding our weapons on the Turkis and shall defeat them like Bheema defeated Keechaka.
We are weilding our weapons on the Turkis and shall defeat them like Bheema defeated Keechaka.
Last line
" You too should gather your soldiers and weigh down the Turkis with your swords"
" You too should gather your soldiers and weigh down the Turkis with your swords"
The Maharaja Chhatrasal - Chhatrapati Shivaji meeting took place in 1670 or 1671, just after Aurangzeb had reinstated the Jaziya tax and demolished the Kashi & Mathura temples.
Chhatrapati Shivaji had opened an anti Mughal campaign starting at Sinhagad.
Chhatrapati Shivaji had opened an anti Mughal campaign starting at Sinhagad.
The poet Gorelal Purohit or Lal Kavi, was the court poet of Chhatrasal Bundela. Everything he wrote had the blessing of the Maharaja Chhatrasal.
The latter outlived the former by many years.
The latter outlived the former by many years.
Chhatrasal Bundela a champion of the Hindu faith
- from GB Mehendale's book on Chhatrapati Shivaji.
- from GB Mehendale's book on Chhatrapati Shivaji.
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