Of all the forts surrendered to Jay Sinh the most important was doubtless Sinhagad, for it was looked upon as the capital of the western regions; and a key in the hands of those who had to govern them. Purandar ranked next to it. That is why Jay Sinh had insisted that Sinhagad should be the first to be
handed over by Shivaji personally. He had after his visit to Jay Sinh in June 1665 personally delivered the fort to Kirat Sinh. The fort was now most strongly held by a trusted and valiant Mughal commander named Uday Bhan Rathod. No other fort was so well protected both by man and nature and now strongly guarded by the Mughals. He who possessed Sinhagad was the master of Poona.
There is evidence to show that Shivaji himself thought Sinhagad impregnable. He was, however, egged on to the venture by his mother Jija Bai in whose mind the public insult of the demolition of Kashivishveshwar was bitterly rankling.
The ballad of Sinhagad says, when she found Shivaji hesitating on the question of retaking Sinhagad, which practically meant a sacrifice of some of his best soldiers and a challenge to the Emperor, she insisted on playing with him a game at dice and the wager was to be the capture of this fort. She demanded that if Shivaji lost the game he must pay the price. If he refused, she threatened him with a curse upon his newly erected raj,—a mother’s curse ! What was Shivaji to do ?“ Shivaji certainly wanted the fort back, but believed that an attack on it would unnecessarily plunge him into a deadly war with the Emperor, which had been to some extent happily closed. He well knew that the fort could not be taken by any other means than by his brave soldiers scaling the walls by means of rope-ladders stealthily walking in and opening the main gates, through which the storming party could rush in. Sinhagad is the only fort not vulnerable to artillery : there is no room where guns could be brought into position for a bombardment of it. All the sides are steep, upon one of which a narrow path now leads to the main gate for communication with the outside world. The difficulty was removed by Jija Bai who called in Tanaji Malusre, Shivaji’s dearest comrade and his brother Suryaji and prepared them for the venture with all the arts of motherly affection.
On the dark night of Magh 9 (4 February 1670) when the moon rose after midnight, Tanaji made the attempt, succeeded in capturing the fort but lost his life. With about 300 Mavlas he arrived at the fort after nightfall. A large number headed by Suryaji remained concealed near the main gate and Tanaji himself with his selected followers scaled the walls by means of an iguana and opened the gates by putting to the sword the few sentries that came out to oppose him. But all this could not be accomplished without making a noise. The guards were roused, an alarm was given and the commandant himself came out determined to defend the place to the last.
A sanguinmy action ensued in which both sides lost heavily including their leaders Tanaji and Uday Bhanu. The fort was captured and a huge bonfire announced the result to Shivaji at Rajgad. Next morning the dead body of Tanaji arrived in a palanquin to be received by Shivaji and Jija Bai, who grieved for the loss with poignant anguish. The fort had been recovered, but the lion Tanaji was no more.'
Tanaji’s exploit is annually commemorated at the fort, which is practically still in tact in its original grandeur. Jija Bai at once sent for Tulsidas, a professional bard from Poona, and asked him to compose a ballad which sang in touching strains the valour and sacrifice of Tanaji Malusre. Shivaji amply rewarded the relatives of those who had fallen. Tulsidas'ballad is still recited in stirring accents to thousands of listeners whose hearts are passionately moved to strong sentiments of pathos and patriotism.
handed over by Shivaji personally. He had after his visit to Jay Sinh in June 1665 personally delivered the fort to Kirat Sinh. The fort was now most strongly held by a trusted and valiant Mughal commander named Uday Bhan Rathod. No other fort was so well protected both by man and nature and now strongly guarded by the Mughals. He who possessed Sinhagad was the master of Poona.
There is evidence to show that Shivaji himself thought Sinhagad impregnable. He was, however, egged on to the venture by his mother Jija Bai in whose mind the public insult of the demolition of Kashivishveshwar was bitterly rankling.
The ballad of Sinhagad says, when she found Shivaji hesitating on the question of retaking Sinhagad, which practically meant a sacrifice of some of his best soldiers and a challenge to the Emperor, she insisted on playing with him a game at dice and the wager was to be the capture of this fort. She demanded that if Shivaji lost the game he must pay the price. If he refused, she threatened him with a curse upon his newly erected raj,—a mother’s curse ! What was Shivaji to do ?“ Shivaji certainly wanted the fort back, but believed that an attack on it would unnecessarily plunge him into a deadly war with the Emperor, which had been to some extent happily closed. He well knew that the fort could not be taken by any other means than by his brave soldiers scaling the walls by means of rope-ladders stealthily walking in and opening the main gates, through which the storming party could rush in. Sinhagad is the only fort not vulnerable to artillery : there is no room where guns could be brought into position for a bombardment of it. All the sides are steep, upon one of which a narrow path now leads to the main gate for communication with the outside world. The difficulty was removed by Jija Bai who called in Tanaji Malusre, Shivaji’s dearest comrade and his brother Suryaji and prepared them for the venture with all the arts of motherly affection.
On the dark night of Magh 9 (4 February 1670) when the moon rose after midnight, Tanaji made the attempt, succeeded in capturing the fort but lost his life. With about 300 Mavlas he arrived at the fort after nightfall. A large number headed by Suryaji remained concealed near the main gate and Tanaji himself with his selected followers scaled the walls by means of an iguana and opened the gates by putting to the sword the few sentries that came out to oppose him. But all this could not be accomplished without making a noise. The guards were roused, an alarm was given and the commandant himself came out determined to defend the place to the last.
A sanguinmy action ensued in which both sides lost heavily including their leaders Tanaji and Uday Bhanu. The fort was captured and a huge bonfire announced the result to Shivaji at Rajgad. Next morning the dead body of Tanaji arrived in a palanquin to be received by Shivaji and Jija Bai, who grieved for the loss with poignant anguish. The fort had been recovered, but the lion Tanaji was no more.'
Tanaji’s exploit is annually commemorated at the fort, which is practically still in tact in its original grandeur. Jija Bai at once sent for Tulsidas, a professional bard from Poona, and asked him to compose a ballad which sang in touching strains the valour and sacrifice of Tanaji Malusre. Shivaji amply rewarded the relatives of those who had fallen. Tulsidas'ballad is still recited in stirring accents to thousands of listeners whose hearts are passionately moved to strong sentiments of pathos and patriotism.
