Shahaji - Legacy

Legacy

Shahaji had two sons by Jijabai, Sambhaji and Shivaji. Sambhaji was killed while on a military expedition in Karnataka.He was cremated in town of channagiri taluk of Davanagere district of karnataka. Shahaji had one son Venkoji(Ekoji I) by his second wife, who came from the Mohite family. Venkoji later ruled over the independent Maratha kingdom of Thanjavur. Shahaji groomed all his sons as good administrators and men of culture and taste, Shivaji in the Pune region, Sambhaji in Banglore, and Venkoji in Thanjavur region. Shivaji encouraged farming and cultivation, similarly Venkoji also dug canals in Thanjavur and promoted farming activities. Both were good administrators. Like Shahaji they were scholars and warriors. Shahaji had caused a champukavya. At Bangalore, literary activities got a fillip. His court poet Jayram Pindye had written Radha madhav vilas champu in flowery Sanskrit. His literary traditions were carried on by his sons, and had strong influence on the mind of Shivaji and the Thanjavur branch. Thanjavur branch continued till modern times.

जगदिश विरंचिकु पूछत है, कहो सृष्टी रची, रखे कोन कहा । शशि वो रवि पूरब पश्चिम लो, तुम सोय रहो सिरसिंधु महां । अरु उत्तर दच्छिन रच्छनकों इत साहजि हैं, उत साहजहाँ ॥

Shahaji's dream of an independent kingdom was made a reality by his second son, the great Shivaji Maharaj.