Hindupati Padshah's Peshwas 🚩
After many tests, Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja, decided to empower the post of Pant Pradhan to his devout Peshwa Balaji Bhat.
As his demise came near, Hindupati Shahu saw none more capable to bear the responsibility of serving the Bhonsale Throne.
After many tests, Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja, decided to empower the post of Pant Pradhan to his devout Peshwa Balaji Bhat.
As his demise came near, Hindupati Shahu saw none more capable to bear the responsibility of serving the Bhonsale Throne.
Unfortunate delay of Maratha forces battling Portuguese in the unparalleled fierce conflicts at Konkan allowed the Persian Afsharid invader Nadir Shah to escape Maratha retaliation.
Soon after, Bajirao Peshwa died and his son Balaji was appointed at the Peshwa Daftar.
Soon after, Bajirao Peshwa died and his son Balaji was appointed at the Peshwa Daftar.
Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja directly commanded Balaji Bajirao that it was his desire for him to conquer ENTIRE Hindustan (North India) while appointing him.
Bhishma Pitamah of Maratha Empire, Rannjhunzhār Huzurat Senapati Subehdar Pilajirao Jadhavrao took the young Balaji...
Bhishma Pitamah of Maratha Empire, Rannjhunzhār Huzurat Senapati Subehdar Pilajirao Jadhavrao took the young Balaji...
...under his wings just as his father Visaji had been mentored into the renowned general "Bajirao".
After a face-off between Huzurat Vanguard and Senasahebsubah's force at Bangāl, Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja restricted the Peshwa Daftar operations to North India (Hindustan) only.
After a face-off between Huzurat Vanguard and Senasahebsubah's force at Bangāl, Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja restricted the Peshwa Daftar operations to North India (Hindustan) only.
By the writ of Hindupati Padshah Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja, Peshwa Balaji Bajirao then directly laid claim to Chauth of entire Hindustan as the Mughal military failed to maintain order and had lost embarrassingly against the Persians.
On this same logic the Delhi Darbar...
On this same logic the Delhi Darbar...
...gave excuses that taxes could not be collected by the weak Mughal army from civilians!
As Peshwa was under order by his Swami Chattrapati to defend Delhi Throne anyway, he registered himself as a Subehdar for Mughals, thus directly annexed Malwa and Gujarat Subah (leftovers).
As Peshwa was under order by his Swami Chattrapati to defend Delhi Throne anyway, he registered himself as a Subehdar for Mughals, thus directly annexed Malwa and Gujarat Subah (leftovers).
Out of all Peshwas, Pant Pradhan Balaji Bajirao had the highest career trajectory in terms of territory, being empowered by the Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja to direct Maratha Campaigns in North India through his own Daftar.
A Sanskrit poem was composed to celebrate his career...
A Sanskrit poem was composed to celebrate his career...
"Tāmrā Mughal faces become flushed,
Shyāmal Siddi faces become dark as abyss,
Ferangā Portuguese take faces of jackals,
Ingarzā English stammer and lisp fearfully,
Screeching Arab turns hoarse throated,
Terrorised by Shahu's Jewel-Encrusted Crown's mighty arms (Peshwas)!"
Shyāmal Siddi faces become dark as abyss,
Ferangā Portuguese take faces of jackals,
Ingarzā English stammer and lisp fearfully,
Screeching Arab turns hoarse throated,
Terrorised by Shahu's Jewel-Encrusted Crown's mighty arms (Peshwas)!"
"Surat (Lata), Kutch, Machilipatnam, Bakhara, Jungāl, Bangāl,
Persian, Khalin (Kazakhstan?) China, Bactria, Bukhara (Uzbekistan), Georgia,
Sindh, Valind Bandar (Bangladesh),
Kings of All Eras,
Cower and drop all their swords, sceptres, and crowns!"
— Pant Pradhān Akhyan.
Persian, Khalin (Kazakhstan?) China, Bactria, Bukhara (Uzbekistan), Georgia,
Sindh, Valind Bandar (Bangladesh),
Kings of All Eras,
Cower and drop all their swords, sceptres, and crowns!"
— Pant Pradhān Akhyan.
In 1746, as Hindupati Padshah Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja began to ponder over the future of the Maratha Empire and loyalties of his servants, he decided to test Balaji Bajirao's humility.
Peshwa Balaji Bajirao successfully passed the test by carrying the Chattrapati's slippers.
Peshwa Balaji Bajirao successfully passed the test by carrying the Chattrapati's slippers.
Hindupati Padshah Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja passed away in 1749, and Peshwa Balaji Bajirao continued following his Swami's commands.
Balaji turned Parvati Hill into a monument by placing his dear Swami's Padukas there as an object of worship and later himself died there.
Balaji turned Parvati Hill into a monument by placing his dear Swami's Padukas there as an object of worship and later himself died there.
The illustrious service of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao was darkened by tragedy of the Panipat defeat followed by his own death.
Before his death he wrote his Last Will to future successors;
Never to spoil his reputation and continue to loyally work for the Chattrapati's Empire.
Before his death he wrote his Last Will to future successors;
Never to spoil his reputation and continue to loyally work for the Chattrapati's Empire.
Chattrapati Ramraja Maharaja appointed the downcast Madhav Balaji Bhat at the Peshwa daftar with a rousing message to not remain in grief and carry out his forefathers' Pant Pradhan duties as per his orders just like previous Peshwas were employed by Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja.
Description of Chattrapati's Peshwa Daftar at it's prime by Robert Mabon.
A Peshwa would have his seat on a Musnud cross-legged. Guards armed with swords would watch over his actions. Fly-wiskers would be there to swat away the flies and mosquitoes while Chopdars stood with rod.
A Peshwa would have his seat on a Musnud cross-legged. Guards armed with swords would watch over his actions. Fly-wiskers would be there to swat away the flies and mosquitoes while Chopdars stood with rod.
The Chattrapati's Peshwa dressed in a fine jewelled outfit compulsorily as per the traditiona uniform code.
It consisted of a Gown, a Shawl, and the mandatory issued Pant Pradhan Pagdi (now famous as Puneri Pagdi).
It consisted of a Gown, a Shawl, and the mandatory issued Pant Pradhan Pagdi (now famous as Puneri Pagdi).
The Description of the Musnud seat of Peshwa, where he would keep his jewelled dagger weapon in front of him with a set of copper urns and a jewelled rose-water sprinkler.
He would maintain an iconic jewelled Gutkā-Tambāku box and a silver cup for spitting his Pān pīk into.
He would maintain an iconic jewelled Gutkā-Tambāku box and a silver cup for spitting his Pān pīk into.
Favourite rosewater (Gulāb-Jal) sprinkler, Gutka-Tambāku box and Thook-Pīk saliva collector silver cup of the Peshwas.
The beautiful Jewelled sword and shield can be seen by the side of Thook-Pīk cup.
And the jewelled dagger is by the side of the Rosewater Sprinkler.
The beautiful Jewelled sword and shield can be seen by the side of Thook-Pīk cup.
And the jewelled dagger is by the side of the Rosewater Sprinkler.
How the Custom of visiting the Hindupati Padshah's Darbar at Satara was carried out 👑
Pune's Peshwa Daftar was placed away from Imperial Satara Darbar.
Thus it always used to be a blessed occasion for a Peshwa to be graced by the Chattrapati's summon to royal Maratha Darbar.
Pune's Peshwa Daftar was placed away from Imperial Satara Darbar.
Thus it always used to be a blessed occasion for a Peshwa to be graced by the Chattrapati's summon to royal Maratha Darbar.
A servant would be sent to first frisk the Peshwa two or three miles from the Capital City of Satara and then would lead him to Satara.
On arriving at the gates of Satara Palace, the Imperial Huzurat Sentries would bind Peshwa's hands together with handkerchief and frisk him...
On arriving at the gates of Satara Palace, the Imperial Huzurat Sentries would bind Peshwa's hands together with handkerchief and frisk him...
He would be brought bound to the Chattrapati's presence, and would be referred to only by his singular title.
The Peshwa could never be seated when the Chattrapati was present in public and in the private it required permission of the Chattrapati for the Peshwa to have a seat.
The Peshwa could never be seated when the Chattrapati was present in public and in the private it required permission of the Chattrapati for the Peshwa to have a seat.
The Peshwa's bureaucratically subordinate lieutenants like Shindeshahis, Holkars, Mehendales, Patwardhans, etc. were never even allowed to be admitted to the Chattrapati's presence.
And this bureaucratic stratification was maintained until the very end of the Maratha Empire.
And this bureaucratic stratification was maintained until the very end of the Maratha Empire.
The Mānkāris were extremely powerful Maratha Cavalier Warlords who had infiltrated Mughal Darbar during 27 Years War and were entitled to highest dignities by the Mughals.
As the Mughal Empire was replaced by the Maratha Empire only, they reserved their status and were higher...
As the Mughal Empire was replaced by the Maratha Empire only, they reserved their status and were higher...
... than Peshwa Daftar's dignity.
The Mānkāri Marathas were entitled on all occasions to be admitted and seated in Chattrapati's presence and freely fraternize on grounds of being his own Kulin Kshatriya brethren.
In all ceremonies Peshwas had to give due honour to them all.
The Mānkāri Marathas were entitled on all occasions to be admitted and seated in Chattrapati's presence and freely fraternize on grounds of being his own Kulin Kshatriya brethren.
In all ceremonies Peshwas had to give due honour to them all.
Thus the Peshwa Daftar of Pune under Pant Pradhan Bhats ran effectively with courtly traditions and customs since it's establishment by Hindupati Padshah Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja until the British East India Company usurped it.
Sources:
• A History of the Maratha People
• Fall of the Mughal Empire
• Pant Pradhan Akhyan
• New History of the Marathas
• E.E.N.P.
• Painting Snippets taken from Shravan Gurav's artworks.
• A History of the Maratha People
• Fall of the Mughal Empire
• Pant Pradhan Akhyan
• New History of the Marathas
• E.E.N.P.
• Painting Snippets taken from Shravan Gurav's artworks.
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