Rajaram Chhatrapati - Santaji and Dhanaji

Santaji and Dhanaji

Though Rajaram was not able to move out of Jinji, his young generals Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav continued to counter the Mughal army through guerrilla tactics. Kafi Khan wrote that whenever Mughal horses used to refuse to go to the water to drink water, it was feared they had seen Santaji and Dhanaji.

Santaji Ghorpade whose father Senapati Maloji Ghorpade died in the battle of Sangameshwar along with Sambhaji, was directed by Sambhaji to Raigad to rescue the queen and Rajaram. He secured the release of Rajaram from the siege of Raigad. At this stage, the Marathas were nearly defeated. But Santaji managed to ford the River Bhima despite floods, and attacked the Mughal camp. Aurangzeb, however, survived.

Santaji is credited with the defeat of at least three major Mughal chiefs. One Mughal general Kasim Khan was driven to suicide. Later, however, he fell out with Rajaram and Dhanaji Jadhav. He was killed while taking a bath by Nagoji Mane. The severed head of Santaji was presented to Aurangzeb for reward.