Jijabai

Jijabai Bhonsle (or Bhonsale, Bhosale, Bhosle) or Jadhav (12 January 1598 – 17 June 1674[2]), referred to as Rajmata, Rastramata, Jijabai or Jijau, was the mother of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire. She was a daughter of Lakhujirao Jadhav of Sindkhed Raja.[3]

Rajmata Jijabai
A statue of Jijabai and young Shivaji on Shivneri fort.
Rajmata of the Maratha Empire
Reign1645-1674
BornJijabai Jadhav
(1596-01-12)12 January 1596
Jijau Mahal, Sindkhed Raja, Ahmadnagar Sultanate
(present-day Buldhana District, Maharashtra, India)
Died(1674-06-17)17 June 1674 (aged 76)
Pachad, Maratha Empire
(present-day Raigad District, Maharashtra, India)
SpouseShahaji (m.1605 - 1664)
Issue
HouseJadhav (by birth)[1]
Bhonsle (by marriage)
FatherLakhuji Jadhav
MotherMahalasabai Jadhav
ReligionHinduism

History

Jijabai was born on 12 January 1596, to Mhalasabai Jadhav and Lakhuji Jadhav of Deulgaon, near Sindkhedraja, in present-day Buldhana district of Maharastra. Lakhujiraje Jadhav was a Maratha noble. Jijabai was married at an early age to Shahaji Bhosle, son of Maloji Bhosle of Verul village, a military commander serving under the Nizam Shahi sultans. She taught Shivaji about swarajya and raised him to be a warrior.[4] Jijabai died on 17 June 1674.[5] Jijabai belonged to the clan of jadhavas of Sindkhed Raja, who also claimed descent from the Yadavas.[6]

Jijabai on a 1999 stamp of India.

Life and work

When Shivaji was 14 years old, Shahaji Raje handed over the Jagir of Pune to him. Of course, the responsibility of managing the Jagir fell on Jijabai. Jijabai and Shivaji arrived in Pune with skilled officers. Due to the persistent interests of Nizamshah, Adilshah and Mughals, the condition of Pune was very bad. Under such adverse circumstances, she redeveloped the city of Pune. She plowed the farmland with a golden plow, giving sanctuary to the locals. She was responsible for the education of the kings. Jijabai told Shivaji stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, which began and ended in independence. How mighty was Rama who killed Ravana who was depriving Sita, how mighty was Bhima who killed Bakasura and rescued weak people, etc. Because of these rites given by Jijabai, Shivaji Raje happened. Jijabai not only told the story but also gave the first lessons of politics by sitting next to the chair.[7]

She was also a skilled horse rider. She could wield a sword very skillfully. She managed her husband's Jagir in Pune and developed it. She established Kasba Ganapati Mandir. She also renovated Kevareshwar Temple and Tambadi Jogeshwari Temple.[8]

Death

She died on 17 June 1674 at Pachad village near Raigad Fort. At that time it was only twelve days since the coronation of Shivaji.[8]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jijabai.
  1. Reddy (November 2005). General Studies History 4 Upsc. p. B.50. ISBN 9780070604476.
  2. GHUGARE, GANESH JANARDAN (2017). IMPORTANCE OF MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES OF CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI ON THE BATTLE GROUND A STUDY. Chapter 3. Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibarewala University. p. 47. hdl:10603/193985.
  3. Tibbetts, Jann (30 July 2016). 50 Great Military Leaders of All Time. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-85505-66-9.
  4. Sardesai, Mr. (2002). Shivaji, the Great Maratha Volume 1. Cosmo Publications. p. 80. ISBN 9788177552850.
  5. "Swastik Handicrafts Rajmata Jijabai, Resin, Balck 3.5 Inch: Amazon.in: होम और किचन". www.amazon.in. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. Kuber, Girish (6 May 2021). Renaissance State: The Unwritten Story of the Making of Maharashtra. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-93-90327-40-9.
  7. "Rajmata Jijau". Zee Marathi Jagruti. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  8. "Jijabai Shahaji Bhosale Birth Anniversary: Interesting Facts about Chhatrapati Shivaji's Mother". News18. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2022.

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