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CHAPTER XII. Invasion of the Karnatak, 1677-1678. §1. The Madras coast: its wealth. Shivaji's grand coronation in June 1674 had greatly reduced his treasury. Since then he had not been able to seize any very rich prize, though his roving bands had raided many places in Adil-Shahi territory. Added to this, his wars with the Mughals and the Bijapuris in 1674 and 1675 and his siege of Ponda had been costly affairs, and chequered by defeats, while his invasion of the Sunda country or Kanara uplands (May 1675) had failed. In the earlier months of 1676 he had suffered from a protracted illness, which had forced on him a long period of inactivity. He, therefore, looked about for some fresh field of gain. In the Mughal territory, Surat had been sucked dry by his two raids, while his permanent occupation of the Koli country of Ramnagar and Jawhar, close to Surat, had so alarmed that port that its trade and wealth were well-nigh gone. The rich Kanara coast had already been swept clean of booty. The disorder and misgovernment of the Bijapur State during the effete rule of the regent Khawas Khan and the civil war between the Afghan and Deccani parties at the Court had so impoverished the central part

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of the realm as to make it no longer an object of cupidity. An attack on the heart of the Adil-Shahi kingdom might also have united all the factions at the capital in a common resistance to the invader. But there was an outlying province of this kingdom which had enjoyed many years of peace and prosperity and whose wealth was fabulous. The Karnatak plain or the Madras coast was known in that age as the land of gold. It was an extremely fertile tract, rich in agricultural produce, with a population that led a life of primitive simplicity and consumed very little in food and clothing. The many ports on the long sea-board had fostered a brisk foreign trade from remote antiquity, while the rich mines of the hinterland brought wealth into the plains. Thus the annual addition to the national wealth was very large. A part of it was spent on the grand temples for which the land is still famous; but most of it was hoarded under ground. (Dil. 113a.) From very early times the Karnatak has been famous for its buried treasure and attracted foreign plunderers. From this land Samudra-gupta and the Western Chalukyas, Malik Kafur and Mir Jumla, had brought away vast booties. And at the end of the 17th century, even after the recent raids of Mir Jumla and Muhammad Adil Shah, Shivaji and Nusrat Jang, the land had still enough wealth left to tempt the cupidity of Aurangzib. As the Emperor wrote (about 1703) to his general, "Many large treasures of olden times are reported to be buried in the Karnatak. The

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zamindar of Tanjore, who is worthless (be-asal) and a grandson of Shahji, the father of Shivaji now in hell, is possessed of the country by usurpation. His kingdom is not very strong. Its revenue, according to the late Siddi Masaud Khan, is between 70 and 80 lakhs of hun. Why should it be left in his possession? Inquire into the state of the country and the means of wresting it from his hands." (Ruqat, No. 163.) To this real land of gold Shivaji's eyes were now turned. An attack on this frontier province would scarcely rouse the Government of Bijapur, as the Karnatak formed the fiefs of certain semi-independent nobles who alone were interested in its defence. Moreover, Shiva had a plausible claim to a portion of it. §2. Vyankoji the Rajah of Tanjore and his minister Raghunath N. Hanumante. Shahji had died in 1664, leaving to his younger son Vyankoji his vast jagirs in the south and east of the Bijapur State. They practically formed a kingdom with Tanjore for its capital, though their Rajah was nominally a vassal of Adil Shah. All the personal property of Shahji had passed into Vyankoji's hands. His eldest son, Shivaji, had merely got the few small jagirs in the Puna district, which he had usurped in his father's life-time, but no part of Shahji's legacy. Whether Shiva would, of himself, have cared to demand his legal share of his patrimony, is very doubtful. He certainly did not need

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it. As he boasted to Vyankoji's envoys, "My father left me a jagir of only four lakhs of hun [or 40,000 hun, according to Sabh. 102] a year, and now I own a territory yielding from 50 to 60 lakhs, besides realising 80 lakhs annually as blackmail." (T. S. 35a.) But he was instigated by the discontented ex-wazir of Vyankoji to invade the kingdom.* Raghunath Narayan Hanumante had ably managed Shahji's jagirs in the Karnatak and had been left by his dying master as prime-minister of Vyankoji. Conscious of his own ability and long experience in administration, the minister wished to keep all the powers of the State in his own hands, and slighted his master as an incompetent sluggard, — while Vyankoji, irritated by Raghunath's overbearing conduct and his own reduction to impotence in the government of his own realm, listened readily to the minister's jealous rivals against his counsels. Raghunath, also, envied the great wealth and glory which other Maratha Brahmans enjoyed in consequence of their being the ministers of an enterprising

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* It is incredible that a born strategist like Shivaji could have really intended to annex permanently a territory on the Madras coast, which was separated from his own dominions by two powerful and potentially hostile States like Bijapur and Golkonda, and more than 700 miles distant from his capital. His aim, I believe, was merely to squeeze the country of its accumulated wealth and return home with the booty. The partition of his father's heritage was only a plea adopted to give a show of legality to this campaign of plunder.

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and prosperous master like Shivaji, while he stagnated in the dull peaceful atmosphere of Tanjore. After much mutual irritation, one day there was a stormy scene at Court; Raghunath praised Shivaji as a model king and charged his own master with lack of ambition, capacity and spirit and with an ignoble love of ease, while Vyankoji retorted by calling Shivaji a traitor and a rebel against his lawful sovereign and rebuking Raghunath for his outspokenness. (Chit. 131; Dig. 288.; T. S. 34b.) The minister in disgust threw up his post and left Tanjore, feigning a desire to retire to Benares. But he set out for Maharashtra instead, and on the way halted at Haidarabad, where his theological learning and logical skill charmed Madanna Pant, the Qutb-Shahi prime-minister. Here Raghunath was made much of, and in his far-sighted diplomacy prepared the ground for a secret alliance between Shivaji and Qutb Shah. (Dig. 290-293; Chit. 133.) Then he went to Satara and interviewed Shiva, who honoured him highly for the sake of his father Narayan Pant and his own great services, and inquired minutely about Vyankoji's doings and aims and the condition of his kingdom. Raghunath is said to have tempted Shivaji by giving him rich presents from the produce of the Karnatak and describing its fabulous wealth and the ease with which it could be conquered (Chit. 134.) As he knew the ins and outs of the country, he was at once taken into Shiva's service, with a view to using his local knowledge

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during the projected invasion, the idea of which was matured during Shiva's long illness at Satara in the earlier months of 1676. §3. Diplomatic preparations for the Karnatak expedition. The political situation in the neighbouring countries was eminently favourable to the design. The Mughal Emperor had, no doubt, returned to Delhi on 27th March, after a two years' absence in the Panjab, but his best troops were still engaged in controlling the revolted hillmen of the N. W. frontier. At Bijapur the Afghan leader Bahlol Khan had seized the guardianship of the boy-king Sikandar (11th Nov., 1675) and murdered the deposed regent Khawas Khan (18th Jan., 1676.) But his favouritism to his clansmen turned the Government into "Afghan rule" and roused the antagonism of the Deccani party and its allies, the Abyssinians. The Deccanis murdered Khizr Khan, the right-hand man and ablest servant of the new regent, and civil war broke out between the Afghans and the Deccanis throughout the State (Feb.) To make matters worse, Bahlol Khan alienated Bahadur Khan, the Mughal viceroy, who openly took the side of the Deccani party and on 31st May opened a campaign against Bijapur which was to continue for more than a year. The rotten and tottering Adil-Shahi Government was in no position to trouble Shivaji at such a time. Over the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan, Shivaji's

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clever diplomacy won a complete triumph. Bahadur Khan had now grown weary of his more than two years' war with Shivaji, which had been chequered by as many defeats as successes and which seemed to promise no decisive end as far as he could look into the future. He had already coquetted with Shiva for a friendly understanding and offered to make peace between him and the Emperor and get a command of 6,000 horse for his son Shambhuji, (June, 1675.) And now, on the eve of opening the Mughal campaign against Bijapur, (May, 1676), it was as much his interest to make friends with the Marathas on his right flank as it was Shiva's to secure Mughal neutrality in his rear during his invasion of the Karnatak. When two parties find a mutual advantage in being at peace, the terms are quickly settled. Shiva sent his Chief Justice, Niraji Ravji, "a clever logician," to Bahadur Khan, with costly presents to induce him to promise neutrality during his projected absence in the Karnatak, the conquest of which was expected to take one year. Bahadur received a large bribe for himself in secret, and a certain sum in public as tribute for his master, and made a formal peace with the Marathas. (Sabh. 85.) Having thus secured his flank and rear, Shiva made preparations for starting on this his longest campaign. In June, 1676, Netaji Palkar had returned to Maharashtra, after ten years' life at Delhi as a Muhammadan, and he had "now been remade a Hindu" by means of religious purification, and some

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important military command was most probably given to him, though the Maratha chroniclers are silent about the unhappy renegade. (F. R. Surat 89, Rajapur to Surat, 24 July, 1676.) The premier (Peshwa) Moro Trimbak Pingle was left as Regent, assisted by Annaji Datto the superintendent of correspondence (Surnis) and Dattaji Trimbak the chronicler (Waqnis), with a portion of the army to guard the kingdom. The Konkan districts were entrusted to Annaji Datto "with strong garrisons and a large body of disposable infantry." (Chit. 135-6 differs from Sabh. 85-87.) With Golkonda close friendship and co-operation were secured. Madanna Pandit, the all-powerful wazir of Abul Hassan Qutb Shah, had already made a subsidiary alliance with Shiva, promising him an annual tribute of one lakh of hun for the defence of the realm. Prahlad Niraji, a shrewd diplomatist, had been posted at Haidarabad as Maratha envoy. Shivaji decided to get from Golkonda the expenses of the campaign and the assistance of an auxiliary force, by promising a share of the conquest. But he was careful to avoid the least show of force, and trusted to his personal magnetism and power of persuasion in winning Qutb Shah's consent. §4. March to Haidarabad. He wrote to his envoy at Haidarabad to arrange for a friendly interview between him and Qutb Shah. The indolent and gay king of Haidarabad was at first afraid of meeting the man who had slain Afzal,

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wounded Shaista, and defied Aurangzib in the very midst of his Court. But Prahlad Niraji took the most solemn oaths in support of Shiva's honesty of purpose. Madanna Pandit also told the king that he was satisfied on that point, and most probably he also urged the importance of a personal interview in strengthening the alliance between the two kings. (Sabh. 85-86.) Qutb Shah having agreed to receive him, Shivaji started from Raigarh at the beginning of January, 1677, and advanced due east by regular marches. On entering Haidarabad territory he issued strict orders to his men not to rob or molest any inhabitant of the country, but to buy all necessary things with the owners' consent. The hanging or mutilation of the first few offenders struck such terror among the Maratha troops and camp-followers that they strictly obeyed his order and behaved with exemplary propriety ever after, and the most perfect discipline was maintained among that horde of 70,000 armed men.* Haidarabad was reached early in February, 1677. Qutb Shah had proposed to advance from his capital

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* Sabh. 86; Chit. 136. The army that followed Shivaji into the Karnatak is estimated by H. Gary in a letter dated 16th Jan. 1678, as 20,000 horse and 40,000 foot (O. C. 4314.) Sabhasad mentions only "a select force of 25,000 horsemen" (p. 85); Chitnis, p. 135, has 40,000 paga with hashm; Dig. p. 297, gives 30 or 40 thousand cavalry and 40,000 Mavle infantry; T. S. "20,000 cavalry and 12,000 infantry."

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and welcome Shivaji on the way. But the Maratha chief very gracefully declined the offered honour, saying, "You are my elder brother. You should not come forward to receive a junior like me." So, the Sultan remained at Haidarabad, but his ministers Madanna and Akanna with many of the highest citizens met Shivaji several miles before the capital and conducted him into it. §5. Shivaji's grand entry into Haidarabad. The city of Haidarabad had been gaily decorated to welcome the great friend and protector of her king. "The streets and lanes on all sides were coloured with a thin layer of kunkum powder and saffron. Maypoles and triumphal arches were erected and flags hung at intervals throughout the city. The citizens in their hundreds of thousands lined the roads" to gaze on the scene, while the ladies crowded on the balconies to bless the visitor. The guests responded to the city's civility. The Maratha army, for once, abandoned its rude simplicity and magnificently attired itself. Shiva had distributed among his captains and select soldiers strings of pearls (torah) for their helmets, gold bracelets, bright new armour, and rich accoutrements embroidered with gold, "and made the whole army look splendid." His generals in their equipment and trappings rivalled the grandeur of hereditary nobles.

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At the auspicious hour chosen for the interview, the Maratha army of more than 50,000 strong entered the city. The citizens gazed with admiration not unmixed with awe at the men who had vanquished the greatest kings of North India and South India alike, and caused wailing at the Court of Bijapur and consternation among the peerage of Delhi. Here rode the fleet hardy horsemen who had poured like a swift resistless flood to the farthest districts of Mughal Deccan and carried their raids to the very gates of Bijapur and Golkonda. There tramped the Mavle infantry, whose feats were the theme of many a ballad and legend throughout the Southern land, whose assault no fort had been able to withstand, and whose swords were dreaded by every foe they had met in battle. The leaders were men whose names had become household words: Netaji Palkar, once the Master of the Horse and surnamed the Second Shivaji; Suryaji Malusare and Yesaji Kank, the gigantic captains of the Mavles, each able to defeat an elephant in single combat; Sonaji Nayak, the royal door-keeper; Hambir Rao Mohite, the dashing but far-sighted commander-in-chief; and Babaji Dhandhere, (probably the captain of the bodyguard.). Nor even among such heroic figures did the citizens fail to notice the high brows, the bright but sunken eyes, and the painted foreheads of the Maratha Brahmans, whose administrative capacity

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* Shivaji at Haidarabad: Sabh. 86-88; Chit. 136-137; Dig. 297-302; T.S. 36a-37b; Dil. 112-113.

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and diplomatic skill had facilitated and confirmed the conquests achieved by the swords of these men: Raghunath and Janardan Narayan Hanumante, until recently the uncrowned kings of Tanjore; Prahlad Niraji, the resident ambassador at Haidarabad; Kesho Pant, and Nilo Moreshwar and Gangadhar Pant the auditors (majmuadars.) With them were mingled the more retiring and studiously unostentatious figures of the Kayastha writers: Nila Prabhu, the accomplished Persian draftsman (munshi), Balaji Avji, that jewel of a secretary (chitnis) whom Shivaji loved to keep close to his person; and also, but of another caste, Shamji Nayak, the Keeper of the Seal. But none of them attracted so much attention as the moving spirit of all this host. In the centre of a brilliant throng of ministers and generals, rode a short spare figure, rendered still thinner by his recent illness and the fatigues of an unbroken march of 300 miles. His quick beaming eyes were glancing right and left, and a natural smile played on his long light brown face distinguished by a Roman nose. The assembled citizens gave cheers for "Shiva Chhatrapati;" flowers made of gold and silver were showered on him from the balconies crowded with ladies and the roadside alike. Every now and then the women came forward and waved lighted lamps round his person with verses of welcome and blessing. Nor was Shiva less liberal. In his turn he kept showering handfuls of gold and silver among the

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crowd on the two sides and presented costly robes of honour to the chief citizens of every ward. §6. Interview between Shivaji and Qutb Shah. In this way, the procession arrived at the Dad Mahal or Palace of Justice. There all stopped before the gate, keeping perfect order, while Shivaji attended by five of his officers ascended the stairs and entered the palace-hall where Qutb Shah was waiting for him. The Sultan came forward, embraced Shivaji, and seated him by his side on the royal carpet. The wazir Madanna was also permitted to sit down; all others kept standing. The ladies of the harem looked on the scene with wonder through the latticed windows around. For three hours did the two monarchs hold a friendly conversation. After the usual exchange of compliments and conventional inquiries about health, Abul Hassan Qutb Shah listened with rapt attention to the stories of Shivaji's heroic feats. To the slothful voluptuary of Golkonda, who had never drawn a sword in anger nor ridden to a tented field in his life, it sounded like the most fascinating of romances when Shivaji recounted how he had slain the gigantic Afzal Khan single-handed and hacked at Shaista Khan in the bosom of his harem; how he had challenged Aurangzib in full Court, what hairbreadth escapes he had made in his flight from Agra, how he had sacked Surat and stormed so many hill-forts. At last he gave his royal guest and the chief Maratha

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officers ornaments, jewels, horses, elephants, and robes of honour, and dismissed them for the day, after graciously anointing Shivaji with scent and giving him betel-leaf with his own hand, and accompanying him to the foot of the staircase. Then Qutb Shah heaved a sigh of relief; he now felt convinced of Shiva's honesty of purpose and determination to befriend him. The Maratha ambassador at his Court was praised and rewarded for the truth of his assertions. Shivaji returned with his army to the residence selected for him, scattering alms all the way. Next day, the wazir Madanna Pandit gave a grand dinner to Shivaji and his chief men. The Rajah's meal was cooked by the prime-minister's venerable mother, and Madanna and Akanna sat with due respect and attention before Shivaji as he fed. The guests were conducted back to their quarters with presents of elephants, horses, and clothes. §7. Alliance with Golkonda. They then proceeded to business. Abul Hassan, being very favourably impressed by Shivaji's personal charm, character and ability, and the strength and discipline of his army, bade his wazir grant him whatever he wanted. After some discussion a secret compact was made regarding the coming campaign. The Sultan was to pay Shivaji a subsidy of 3,000 hun a day, or four and a half lakhs of Rupees a month, and send an army of 5,000 men in charge of one of

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his generals (sar-i-lashkar), Mirza Muhammad Amin, to co-operate in the conquest of the Karnatak. A train of artillery with material was also supplied by Qutb Shah, and probably a large sum of money as advance payment of the promised subsidy. In return for this aid, Shivaji seems to have promised his ally a share "of such parts of his conquests in the Karnatak as had not belonged to his father Shahji." (Duff, i. 277.) The defensive alliance against the Mughals was strengthened anew with solemn oaths taken by Shivaji in the presence of Qutb Shah, while the latter promised to pay his annual tribute of one lakh of hun regularly and to keep a Maratha ambassador at his Court. While these secret negotiations were going on, social functions and ceremonies were also being held in public. Shivaji paid a second formal visit to Abul Hassan and was presented with "an immense quantity of jewels and ornaments and innumerable horses and elephants." (Sabh. 88.) The two kings sat down together on the terrace of the palace and received the salute of all the Maratha officers, who were rewarded by Qutb Shah with gifts according to their ranks and achievements. Even Shivaji's charger did not go unrewarded; a string of precious stones* was placed round its neck, as the worthy companion of his glorious deeds!

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* A necklace, reputed to be this historical one, passed from Satara into the possession of Mr. Purushottam Vishram Mawji of Bombay and was shown to me by that gentleman.

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Another day, the leading nobles of Haidarabad gave a dinner to Shivaji. Then a combat was got up between Yesaji Kank, the Mavle captain, and a mast elephant of Qutb Shah, for the diversion of that king and also as a demonstration of the valour of Shivaji's men. Yesaji, after keeping the huge brute at bay with his sword for some time, cut off its trunk and put it to flight.* A month was spent at Haidarabad, ostensibly in going through these ceremonies, but really in concluding the alliance, getting delivery of the promised arms, money and material, and equipping the local auxiliary force that was to assist in the campaign. §8. Visit to Shri Shaila. At last, his objects having been all gained, Shivaji left Haidarabad, early in March 1677, and marched due south towards the Krishna. This river was crossed at the Nivritti Sangam where the Bhavanashi flows into it, 24 miles north-east of Karnul. This spot "is considered by the Hindus a most holy place of pilgrimage." Here and also in the whirlpool of Chakratirtha, a short distance below the junction, the Rajah bathed, performed the religious ceremonies of a pilgrim, and then made a rapid journey 37 miles due east to Shri Shaila, lightly attended, while his

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* T. S. 37a. But Chitnis, 136, says that to Qutb Shah's question, "How many famous elephants have you?" Shivaji answered by parading several thousands of his well-built Mavle infantrymen and saying, "These are my elephants."

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army waited for him at Anantpur (44 m. east of Karnul.) As the Krishna winds its way eastwards to the sea, it forms some 70 miles below Karnul a sharp loop northwards, flowing through a wide and steep-sided trench of nearly a thousand feet in depth. Here, in the heart of the uninhabited Nallamala forest, surrounded by rugged hills and a desolate fever-haunted belt of land, rises a plateau 1563 feet high, overlooking the river, on which stands the famous Shiva-temple of Shri Shaila, "the most ancient and sacred in Southern India."* Entering the plateau by a large archway (now no more) called the Kailash-dwara (or Gateway of Shiva's Heaven), the pilgrim sighted the temple enclosure, an oblong space, 660 feet by 510, surrounded by thick walls varying from 20 to 26 feet in height, built of large hewn blocks of greyish stone exactly squared and laid together, and elaborately sculptured with a profusion of accurately designed figures of elephants, horses, tigers, hunters, warriors, and yogis, as well as numerous scenes from the Hindu epics and religious books. In the centre of this enclosure is the square temple of Mallikarjuna (linga), the chief deity worshipped here, the walls and roof being entirely

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* Shri Shaila: Kurnool Dist. Manual, 14, 144, 181-183. Shivaji's visit: Sabh. 88; Chit. 137-138; Dig. 302-303; T. S. 37b. Sanads and Letters, iv. No. 20 records Shiva's endowments for puja here; but the date, April, 1677, is impossible; hence, it may be a forged grant.

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covered with gilded brass plates presented by Krishna Dev, the victorious Rajah of Vijaynagar (1513.) There is a smaller temple dedicated to Shiva's consort. A flight of stone steps, built by a Vijaynagar queen, leads down from the plateau to the bed of the Krishna, called Patal-Ganga, and a ford called Nila-Ganga, a little below, both of which are considered as sacred bathing-places. Shivaji ascended this difficult plateau, bathed in the Krishna and spent some ten days at Shri Shaila doing religious rites. The quiet and secluded beauty of the scenery and the spiritual atmosphere of the place penetrated his soul, and he believed that he would find no purer spot to die in. So, he attempted to cut off his own head before the goddess; but his ministers restrained his religious frenzy and recalled him to a sense of his duty to his subjects and the Hindu world at large. Here he built a ghat, named Shri-Gangesha, a monastery, and a dharmashala, fed a lakh of Brahmans, and gave away large sums to them. Then, leaving Shri Shaila, he overtook his army by rapid marches and, entering the Karnatak plains in April 1677, hastened southwards. In the first week of May, he arrived at Peddapollam, about seven miles from Madras city, and halted there for some time. On 14th May the English received a letter from him, brought by his Brahman agent, Mahadji Pant, asking for some cordial stones and counter-poisons. The Madras Council gave him

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presents worth 60 hun, with 3 yards of broad-cloth and 4 veece of sandal wood for Mahadji, in fear of his army "continuing now at 2 to 5 Gentu leagues from this place and like to do so yet [for] some time." On 25th May Shivaji wrote to thank them for the presents and to ask for a fresh supply, offering to pay for them; but the English merchants on 18th June gave him the presents at a cost of 52 hun to themselves. A Madras letter dated 19th June tells us that his men had already looted the English godown at Timmery in Vyankoji's territory to the value of 2,000 hun. (Records of Fort St. George: Diary and Consult., 1677, pp. 112-115; O. C. 4266.) §9. Capture of Jinji. By means of Raghunath Narayan Hanumante, many of the local chieftains, great and small, of the Karnatak were won over and their possessions were peacefully occupied by Shivaji. In this way the impregnable fortress of Jinji was secured, without a blow, from Rauf Khan and Nasir Muhammad Khan,* the sons of the late Bijapuri wazir

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* Sabh. 88-89. Duff calls them the sons of Ambar Khan, which is wrong. Dig, 305, names the qiladar Ambar Khan (T. S. giving Khawas Khan) and tells a long story about the fort being seized by treachery, which is unreliable and absolutely unsupported by any contemporary authority. The letter of a contemporary Jesuit priest of Madura says that "Shivaji fell upon the place like a thunderbolt and carried it at the first assault." (La Mission du Madure, as quoted in S. A. Gaz., 350 n.)

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Khan-i-Khanan (probably Khawas Khan), in return for money and jagirs elsewhere. As soon as Shivaji with 10,000 cavalry arrived in its environs and encamped at Chakrapuri on the bank of the Chakravati river, Jinji opened its gates to him (end of May.) The captured fort was placed in charge of a Mavle captain named Ramaji Nalge, and the surrounding district under Vithal Pildev Garud as viceroy, assisted by a sabnis and a Public Works officer. The military and revenue administration established by Shivaji in Maharashtra was introduced here without any change. (Chit. 139; Dig. 304-6.) He "constructed new ramparts round Jinji, dug ditches, raised towers and bastions, and carried out all these works with a perfection of which European skill would not have been ashamed." (Letter of 1678 by the Jesuit priest Andre Freire in Mission du Madure.) §10. Contest with Sher Khan for Vellore and Tiruvadi. Sher Khan Lodi, a brave Pathan officer of Bijapur, was the local governor of the Trinomala district which included the forts of Vellore and

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Madras Consult, of 9th May 1677 says, "Shivaji is now upon his march to fall upon Jinji, with 20,000 horse and 40,000 foot, the Van whereof, being about 5,000 horse, already passed Tripati and Kalhastri, and [is] this night expected at Conjeveram." In June the Madras Council report to Bantam that Shivaji had already taken Jinji.

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Tiruvadi. With his contingent of 5,000 horse and abundance of elephants and war-material, he offered an obstinate resistance to the invaders. Arni (defended by Vedo Vaskar) seems to have been invested in May, and we find it holding out till the beginning of October, 1677. (Chit. 142; Dig. 330.) Shivaji laid siege to Vellore about the middle of May, 1677. On the 25th of that month, we find him present in person before the fort. The attack was entrusted to Narahari Ballal Sabnis. He opened trenches around it and began to bombard it, after mounting batteries on two neighbouring hills, which he fortified and named Sazra-Gozra. Vellore was one of the strongest forts in the Karnatak. A deep wet ditch, swarming with crocodiles surrounded it. The outer ramparts were wide enough for two carts to be driven abreast. It had four concentric lines of circumvallation. (Sabh. 90.) It defied the Marathas for 14 months and fell only in Aug. 1678. At the end of the next month Sher Khan suffered a decisive defeat. In the night of 26th June he attempted to escape from the fort of Tiruvadi, 13 m. west of Cuddalore, towards Tevenapatam (or Devenapatam, a suburb of Cuddalore.) The Maratha horse, getting scent of the design, gave chase and drove him into Akala Nayak's wood, which lay in the way. Five hundred of the Khan's horsemen offered battle and held up the pursuers for two hours. Then the moon set and Sher Khan ran away with some of his cavalry and elephants to the south of the

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wood. The Marathas continued the pursuit in the darkness and captured from him 500 horses, 20 camels, two elephants, and many oxen, tents and war drums. The Khan fled with a broken remnant of only 100 cavalry to the town of Bowanigiri, 22 miles southwards, on the Vellar river, still pursued by the enemy. But the fort of Tiruvadi continued to hold out under Sher Khan's father-in-law. Leaving Babo Sahib, Savanumwar (?) and some of Nasir Muhammad's horse to invest the place, Shivaji himself encamped three miles south of Tevenapatam, while a party of his cavalry was pushed up towards Bowanigiri. Thither Shiva went in person about the middle of July, to make an end of Sher Khan. Here he received Nellor Ramana, an envoy of the English factory of Madras, who presented him with a second supply of "Maldiva cocoanuts, beazar, and cordial stones and other sorts of good counter-poisons," which the Rajah had solicited from Madras.* §11. Shivaji marches south towards Tanjore. Then after a time, he marched south across the Vellar and cantoned his army for the rainy season at Tirumalavadi, on the north bank of the Kolerun

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* Contest with Sher Khan: Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 27. "Letter from our Brahman Wardapa from Shivaji Raja's camp, 27 June, 1677." "Letter from our Brahman Nellor Ramana from Shivaji Raja's army, 16 July." Also Z. C.

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river, 10 miles due north of Tanjore. Here an envoy from Chokka-natha, the ruler of Madura, the chief ally of Vyankoji, waited upon Shivaji, who demanded from him one krore of Rupees "for the present, for his expenses," arguing that the Nayak bore the sign of being worth nine krores. The envoy "answered that part of his master's country the Nayak of Mysore had taken and part Vyankoji, and that if he (Shiva) would restore him the said country, the Nayak of Madura would give him seven lakhs. The Nayak sent all his family away from Chartanapalli (Trichinopoly), where they were before, to Madura [for safety]; and while the river Kolerun remained full he feared nothing [from the Marathas.]" (Letter to Governor of Madras, 16 July 1677.) But shortly afterwards Raghunath Pant came from Maharashtra and was cordially welcomed by Shivaji, who then sent him to Madura with the Nayak's envoy to settle the amount of the blackmail by negotiation. The Nayak agreed to pay six lakhs of hun, out of which 1½ lakhs were delivered immediately, and Shivaji promised to retire with his army. (Nellor Ramana to Madras, 16 July.) §12. Interview between Shivaji and Vyankoji. In the meantime, messages had been passing between Shivaji and his half-brother Vyankoji for a meeting.* At Shivaji's request, the Rajah of

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* Meeting between Shivaji and Vyankoji: F. R. Fort St. George, Vol. 27, Letter from Nellor Ramana, 27 July, 1677.

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Tanjore had sent his ministers for a preliminary discussion. They returned to their master with three of Shivaji's ministers carrying a letter of invitation from him. Reassured by their report and Shiva's solemn promises of safety, Vyankoji arrived at Tirumala-vadi about the middle of July, with an escort of 2,000 horse. Shiva advanced to Tripatur (6 m. n. e.) to welcome him on the way. The brothers spent eight days together exchanging gifts and feasting each other. Then Shivaji opened his business. He demanded three-fourths of whatever Shahji had left at his death, — money, horses, jewels, and territory, — offering to let Vyankoji enjoy the remaining quarter. The latter declined, at which Shivaji burst into anger and rebuked him for being a lazy worthless and covetous fellow. That night Vyankoji fled to Tanjore across the Kolerun, accompanied by only five horsemen, (about 25th July.) Shivaji learnt of his brother's flight next morning and, ascribing it to the advice of the Tanjore ministers, — Jagannath (the son of Vyankoji Datto), Konher Mahadev and Shivaji Shankar (two majmuadars) and Niloji Nayak (a merchant), he placed them under arrest and threatened to send Janardan Narayan Hanumante to take possession of the kingdom of Tanjore. He was rightly indignant

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Dil. 113-114. The Marathi accounts are much later and less reliable: Sabh. 89—90; Dig. 306-313; Chit. 139—140 (deliberate falsification); T. S. 38a; Zedhe Chronology.

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at his brother's conduct, as it implied distrust of his solemn pledge of safety, and cried out in open Court: "Was I going to imprison him? My fame has spread over the sea-girt earth. I asked for my father's property, only because one should keep his heritage. If he does not wish to part with it, he is under no compulsion to give it. Why did he flee for nothing? He is very young and has acted like a child." (Sabhasad, 90.) After a time the captive ministers of Vyankoji were set free, and sent back to Tanjore with presents and robes of honour. Thus Shivaji cleared himself in the eyes of the public. But though he gave up the idea of invading the Tanjore territory south of the Kolerun, he seized the whole Karnatak north of that river, both the jagirs of Vyankoji and those of Sher Khan.* The few forts that held out were conquered by the end of September. §13. Shivaji's pilgrimages. These campaigns were varied, as was Shivaji's usual practice, by pilgrimages to holy places. At the end of July, 1677, leaving Waligonda-puram (37 miles north of Trichinopoly), he crossed the Vellar river at Tittagudi (16 miles north-east of Waligonda-puram), and thence he sent his army to Elavanasur (22 miles due north) while he himself "with Simaji

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* F. R. Fort St. George, Madras to James and Chamberlaine, 24 Aug., 1677.

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Nayak and others of his great men" turned 16 miles north-east to worship at the great Shiva temple of Vriddhachalam. Here the chief of the Dutch factory of Tevenapatam (Cuddalore) waited on him with presents of "scarlet silk stuffs, sandal wood, rose water, Maldiva cocoanuts, cloves and sword blades." (Nellor Ramana's letter, 2 Aug.) On 22nd September Shivaji was at Vaniambadi, (40 miles s. w. of Vellore) and wrote to the English governor of Madras: "In the Karnat country... I intend to build new works in several forts and castles. You may likely have with you such men as know how to make great carriages for guns and how to contrive mines. We have need of such men at present, especially those that know how to make mines and to blow up stone-walls. If there be any such men with you that know how to make mines, you would be pleased to send some 20 or 25, or at least 10 or 5 such men, for I shall pay them very well and shall entertain them in several of my forts." (F. R. Fort St. George, Vol. 27.) The English politely declined the request, saying that, being merchants, it was their duty to maintain strict neutrality. On 3rd October, Shivaji was within two days' march of Madras. (Love, i. 371.) Shortly before, he had pillaged Porto Novo, and made himself master of the South Arcot district. (Love, i. 357.) In October Arni surrendered to him, and so also did some other forts in the North Arcot district.

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§14. Shivaji's conquests in the Karnatak and Mysore. Then, at the beginning of November, 1677, he himself with 4,000 cavalry marched away from the Karnatak plains, leaving the bulk of his army in occupation of his new conquest and "promising to return quickly." (F. R. Surat, Vol. 107, Madras letter of 20 Nov. 1677.) Ascending the Eastern Ghats into the tableland, he took easy possession of his father's jagir districts, — Kolar, Uskota, Bangalore, Balapur and Sera, in the eastern and central parts of the present kingdom of Mysore, repressed the turbulent poligars of that No Man's Land, and then returned home through the Bellary and Dharwar districts, reaching Panhala in March, 1678. (Sabh. 91; Chit. 141; Dig. 317.) Early in August 1678, the fort of Vellore surrendered to Shivaji's forces after a siege of 14 months, "Abdullah Khan, the Captain, that held it out all this time, having behaved himself very resolutely therein. But his men from 1,800 foot and 500 horse, being by the extremity of the siege and sickness reduced to 200 foot and 100 horse, and no supplies sent from Bijapur, ... he could not hold it longer, and therefore delivered it upon condition to have 30,000 pagodas in money, a small fort and country worth 30,000 pagodas per annum." (Diary and Consult. 1678-79, p. 105.) The bribe paid by the Marathas to Abdullah is put at 50,000 hun in the Bijapur history. (B. S. 418.)

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The territory annexed by Shivaji in the Karnatak was estimated to yield 20 lakhs of hun a year and included a hundred forts, taken or built by him. (Sabh. 90.) In August 1678, the Madras factors write, "Shivaji by his deputies has a full and quiet possession of all these countries about those two strong castles of Jinji and Vellore, which are worth 22 lakh of pardoes or 550 thousand pounds sterling per annum, at five shillings the pardoe, in which he has a considerable force of men and horse, 72 strong hills and 14 forts [in the plain], — being 60 leagues long and 40 broad." (Diary and Consult. 1678-79, pp. 105-106.) But gold, and not land, was his chief object. The whole of the Karnatak was "peeled to the bones" by his system of organised plunder and exaction, which is thus described in the Madras President's letter of 19th June, 1677. "He has ordered letters to be wrote to all this part of the country, the sea-coast especially, to borrow money to the amount of 200 thousand pagodas, whereof 50,000 [is] from Palicat and as much from hence [Madras.] The moneyed men all about the country shift out of the way as fast as they can, he having taken a minute account of all such as he passed by within 2 leagues and 2½ of the place." (O. C. 4266.) The booty carried off in this expedition*

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* "With a success as happy as Caesar's in Spain, he came, saw and overcame, and reported so vast a treasure in gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies and wrought coral that have strengthened his arms with very able sinews to prosecute his further victorious designs." (H. Gary to Co., dated Bombay, 16 Jan., 1678. O. C. 4314.) "Peeled to the bones" in Madras records of Oct. 1677.

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was so vast as to stagger the imagination of the Maratha chroniclers, and they made no attempt to compute its value. Over the Karnatak plains thus conquered, he at first placed Shantaji, a natural son of Shahji, as viceroy with Jinji for his headquarters, assisted by Raghunath Narayan Hanumante as diplomatist and local adviser, and Hambir Rao as commander of the army of occupation. The tableland of Mysore was placed under Rango Narayan as viceroy, but subject to the higher jurisdiction of Jinji. §15. Struggle with Vyankoji renewed. But the new conquest was not to enjoy peace in the absence of his master mind. Vyankoji, on returning to Tanjore, set on foot intrigues with the Nayaks of Madura and Mysore "and other woodmen" (as the English called the poligars), and even appealed to the Court of Bijapur and the Muslim nobles in his neighbourhood, to organise "a confederacy... for regaining their own." The Nayak of Madura, however, remained neutral, and no help seems to have come from Mysore or Bijapur. About 25th November, Vyankoji, at the head of 4,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry of his own and of the allied poligars, crossed the Kolerun, and attacked Shantaji, who boldly resisted with his 12,000 men from morning to nightfall.

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At first Shantaji was worsted and fled for two miles. The Tanjore horsemen, after pursuing him for a mile, returned to their tents to rest from the day's fatigue. But Shantaji, on reaching his camp,* "consulting with his captains what the importance and shame [of the defeat] would be, resolved to dress and saddle their horses again, and so immediately rode away by other ways, and in the dead of night surprised them fast at rest after so hard labour, their horses unsaddled, and made a great slaughter of them, taking nigh 1,000 horse, the three chief commanders, the tents and all their baggage, and 100 horses more taken by woodmen who fell to share the plunder. The rest fled over the river Kolerun for Tanjore." (F. R. Surat, Vol. 107, Madras letter of 20th and 29th Nov., 1677; Z. C.) The victors gave chase. Vyankoji, unable to resist, sued for peace, and Shivaji consenting, a treaty was made through the mediation of Raghunath Narayan Hanumante. The terms are given in Shivadigvijay, 328-332.

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* Sabhasad, 91, describes the battle thus: "Vyankoji's army was four times as large as that of Hambir Rao, but the latter defeated the former, capturing 4,000 of his horses; besides elephants, jewels, ordinary officers, and Vikaji and Pratapji (two natural sons of Shahji) and other officers of high rank." Shivadigvijay, 314, says that the battle took place at Waligonda-puram and that Shivaji's army was commanded by Bahir Rao Mohite, and not by Shantaji. Chitnis, 143, gives Waligonda-puram.

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Shivaji, after nearly one year of occupation, restored the Karnatak plain to Vyankoji, retaining only the forts in his own hands, as well as all the tableland of Mysore which had once belonged to his father. In May 1678, the English at Madras report that Vyankoji had got his territories back by paying three lakhs of hun in cash to his elder brother. (Madras to Surat, F. R. Surat, Vol. 107.) The army of occupation* under Hambir Rao was recalled to Shiva's side, and Raghunath organised a local force of 10,000 horse (both paga and silahdar), for the defence of the country, and continued to act as regent and adviser to Vyankoji. But he retained his old antipathy to that Prince, and there was constant friction between the two. Shivaji had repeatedly to write to both, counselling amity and moderation, and it was only the fear of his strong personality that kept the peace between the two, and made Raghunath recognise that Vyankoji must be master in his own realm. (T. S. 38a and b; Dig. 326-335, 362; Parasnis Tanjavar-chen Raj-gharane, 36-38 and 42-43.)

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* From Madras Consult., dated 19 August, 1678, we learn: "Yesterday there came news from Conjeveram that 1000 or 1500 of Shivaji's horse under his brother Shantaji appeared before that place. This day other persons from Conjeveram came and reported that the 1000 horsemen of Shiva came thither in pursuit of some Bijapuri foot that was intended to relieve Vellore, which has been besieged by Shiva's forces these 14 months." (Diary and Consult. Book, 1678-79, p. 105.)