Attack on Burhanpur
Bahadurkhan
Kokaltash, a relative of Aurangzeb was in-charge of Burhanpur, a Mughal
stronghold. He left Burhanpur to attend a wedding, giving the charge of
Burhanpur to Kakarkhan. The careless and bigheaded Bahadurkhan also
took with him a territorial
army,
to showoff at the wedding. Sambhaji had tricked Mughals by making them
to think that Marathas were going to attack Surat, which was twice
plundered by Shivaji Maharaj in his lifetime. However, Hambirrao Mohite,
the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army was already surrounding
Burhanpur. And to his surprise, Sambhaji had also reached Burhanpur in a
very short time. Thus, within a fortnight of his coronation, Sambhaji
along with Hambirrao attacked Burhanpur. Mughals tried to retaliate but
were taken aback by the sudden attack of the Marathas and thus, couldn’t
do much to save Burhanpur. The Mughals either hid somewhere or locked
themselves up in the fort of Burhanpur. Marathas plundered all the
Mughal treasure in Burhanpur. The Mughals were made poorer by about 20
million rupees. Sambhaji also purchased horses from an Arab trader,
although the utterly frightened trader, was ready to give away the
horses for free. This attack is a perfect example of careful planning,
execution, excellent strategic mobility and immense courage of the
Marathas under Sambhaji. Marathas safely reached Raigad with all the
loot. People of Burhanpur, especially women and children weren’t harmed
at all.
War with Mughals 
Within
a year or so of Sambhaji's coronation, Sultan Muhammad Akbar took
shelter with him and sought Sambhaji's aid in winning the Mughal throne
from his father Aurangzeb. On hearing about the death of Shivaji
Maharaj, Aurangzeb had come to Deccan in 1680 AD to bring down the
Maratha Empire. The Mughal army, which came along totaled about
5,00,000-6,00,000 troops and 4,00,000 animals, which, at that time was
perhaps the largest army in the world. With the help of such a massive
army, he brought the Adilshah (Bijapur) and Qutubshah (Golconda) empires
to his feet. Aurangzeb acquired 2 generals namely Mukarrabkhan and
Sarjakhan from Qutubshahi and Adilshahi empires respectively. However,
he was not able to bring an end to the Maratha Empire. It was to be the
final war in his life and lasted all of 27 years until his death near
Aurangabad in 1707.
It was a disproportionate battle in all senses.
Aurangzeb's army was at least 8 to 9 times larger than Sambhaji's. His
whole empire was around 15 times bigger than Sambhaji's. However,
Sambhaji led the fight valiantly and did not let Aurangzeb win even a
single major victory. The tenacity and sheer will of the Maratha
resistance to the Mughal invasion is best illustrated by the story of
the Ramshej fort near Nashik. Aurangzeb's commanders claimed that they
would win the fort within hours but the fight for the fort lasted for
seven years. Sambhaji utilised the available resources very well and
made strategically adroit moves by comprehensively defeating the enemies
of his kingdom like Siddi of Janjira, Chikkadev Rai of Mysore and
Portuguese of Goa and Bassein (Vasai) before they could turn on him and
support Aurangzeb.
The Marathas led by Sambhaji fought
single-handedly against all the enemies. To make matters worse, there
was a devastating famine in the region for two years in 1686-87.
War with Siddis of Janjira 
Janjira
was under the Siddis. Janjira was strategically a very important place
and a mighty fort in the Arabian Sea, with cannons embedded all around.
It also had high economic importance. Traders had to cough up heavy
amounts to bypass this spot. Marathas had earlier tried conquering
Janjira, but to no avail. Sambhaji wanted to capture Janjira. Marathas
attacked the fort from all sides. Siddis also retaliated with their
cannons and ships. However, the force of the Maratha attack was such
that defeat was eminent for the Siddis. But still they weren’t giving
up. But then, there was a lull in the Maratha camp and Janjira was not
attacked, on the orders of Sambhaji Maharaj. Other Maratha chiefs were
getting anxious and didn’t know the reason behind this. The reason was
that Sambhaji had sent a spy along with some trust-worthy Men in the
fort of Janjira to deceive the Siddis. Nobody except Sambhaji knew about
this. However, the day on which the spy and his Maratha comrades were
going to leave Janjira by blowing up the gunpowder and explosives store,
they were caught, as a female-servant came to know about this and
informed the Siddis. They were all killed and only one managed to
escape. Sambhaji got this news and couldn’t believe his misfortune. He
now wanted to destroy the fort and came up with a unique idea of
building a bridge of stones from the shore leading to the fort. However,
the implementation was very risky, difficult and consumed time. When
about half of the bridge was built and victory for the Marathas was
inevitable, news came that Aurangzeb had sent 100,000 (a lakh) troops to
ravage the Maratha kingdom. Thus, Sambhaji had to leave Janjira to
counter the Mughal army.
War with Chikkadev Rai of Mysore
Hearing
about the intrusion of Chikkadev Rai into Maratha territory, Sambhaji
had sent his Diwan to Chikkadev Rai. But the Diwan was insulted in the
Mysore Durbar. Seeing this, Sambhaji became infuriated and decided to
teach Chikkadev Rai a lesson. Marathas marched into the Tamil state.
But, Chikkadev Rai too put on his armour and decided to face Sambhaji,
before Marathas could reach Mysore’s capital. Both the armies were
face-to-face and poised for a battle. All of a sudden, arrows started
pouring in from the Mysore army. They started inflicting fatal wounds on
the Maratha army. The long-range, deadly arrows from the Mysore bowmen
filled the skies. Thus, realizing the casualties, Sambhaji retreated for
the time being. Sambhaji then ordered all the local cobblers to prepare
rubber clothing. Then, these garments were laden with oil. Marathas
then started making bows and arrows using a particular local tree. These
bows and arrows were ordinary and crude. A piece of cloth was wound at
the arrows’ head and it was set on fire using oil. Thus, Sambhaji
transformed ordinary arrows into fiery arrows. But still the Mysore
bowmen had longer, stronger, better quality bows and arrows than the
Marathas. Marathas then started attacking the forts in Mysore. The
Mysore bowmen started striking from the forts. But, their lethal arrows
proved futile, as the oil-laden rubber clothing neutralized the effects
of the arrows. Then, Marathas started striking with their arrows. These
arrows would strike the explosives and gunpowder store, causing
explosions and many casualties. The forts of Chikkadev Rai fell into the
hands of the Marathas one by one. Thus, Chikkadev Rai was brought down
to his knees and he agreed to abide by the terms of the Marathas.
War with the Portuguese of GoaThere
were chances of Portuguese providing supplies to Mughals and allowing
unloading of Mughal ships at the Portuguese ports in Goa. Thus, Sambhaji
undertook a campaign against the Portuguese in Goa. Portuguese like
Chikka Dev Rai, were driven by arrogance. Marathas stormed Goa and
started conquering Portuguese territory and forts. Portuguese weren’t
able to overcome the Marathas. Common people in Goa rose in rebellion
and started thrashing the priests, whom they accused of carrying out
forced conversions.[citation needed].Sambhaji controlled the irate
people of Goa. Seeing the inevitable, Portuguese ruler Count De Alwore
and his ministers even took out the body of St. Xavier and started
praying for their safety. And, to their astonishment, Sambhaji had to
depart from Goa, as Aurangzeb had again sent about 100,000 (a lakh)
troops to run wild in the Maratha kingdom.
Sambhaji warned Siddis,
Chikkadev Rai and Portuguese from crossing the path of the Marathas and
ordered them to refrain from helping Aurangzeb in any way. In this way,
Sambhaji nullified any threat that the Maratha kingdom had from these 3
powers. Sambhaji also beat back the two Mughal armies of 100,000 (a
lakh) troops each, which were sent by Aurangzeb to wreak havoc in the
Maratha kingdom. In fact, the second army was so badly thrashed that
only a few troops could return to the Mughal camp. Thus, Aurangzeb
wanted to somehow arrest Sambhaji by deceit, as he concluded that it
wouldn’t be possible for him to annex the Maratha kingdom by force.
Capture and Execution
Stone arch at Tulapur confluence under which Sambhaji was executed
In
early 1689, Sambhaji called his commanders for a strategic meeting at
Sangameshwar in Konkan to decide on the final blow to oust Aurangzeb
from Deccan.
In
order to execute the plans soon, Sambhaji sent ahead most of his
comrades and stayed back with a few of his trustworthy men. In a
meticulously planned operation, one of the brother-in-laws of
Sambhaji-Ganoji Shirke deceived the Marathas and helped Aurangzeb's
commander, Mukarrab Khan to locate, get to and attack Sangameshwar when
Sambhaji was in the garden of Sangameshwar, resolving some issues and
was about to leave the town.
Sambhaji and his Men were surrounded
from all sides. Marathas took out their swords, roared ‘Har Har Mahadev’
and pounced upon the numerous Mughals. A bloody skirmish took place.
However, owing to the number of Mughal troops, Sambhaji Maharaj and Kavi
Kalash were captured on 1 February 1689. Ganoji Shirke who guided
Mughals through the thorny, thick forests, high cliffs, steep slopes of
the Sahyadri deceived Maratha posts in-between by posing Sambhaji and
Kavi Kalash as prisoners arrested for smuggling diamonds. Ganoji told
Mukarrab about the possible routes, to get to and capture Sambhaji and
then, return back. It was a meticulously planned operation. If not for
Ganoji, Mughals could have never laid their hands on Sambhaji. There
were small attacks by Ramdasi people from Battis Shirala’s Math (group
related to Samartha Ramdas's follower) this attack was also assisted by
local Maratha soldiers but this attack was unsuccessful and Dixit- Bhat
of Shirala and 50 other Maratha soldiers were killed by Moguls while
trying to rescue Sambhaji. This incident happened on 3 February 1689.
Later with strong army of 20,000 people Julphikarkhan moved towards
Karad and then Baramati and finally to Bahadurgad near Bhima river. He
and his advisor, Kavi Kalash were taken to Bahadurgad.
Ganoji’s
hunger for Maratha land in the form of watan led to his enmity with
Sambhaji. Sambhaji like his father- Shivaji Maharaj had abolished the
custom of giving away watans, as this led to the people’s suffering,
from the hands of the watandar and there were chances of the watandars
assuming kingship or taking possession of their watans.
After
learning that Sambhjaji had been captured and produced before him as a
prisoner, Aurangzeb felt very happy. He stood up from his royal seat and
offered prayer to God and bent towards land. Kavi Kulesh captured this
scene in a small poem which was still remembered in Maharashtra. It was
praise of Sambhaji’s courage and glowing of eyes and face of Sambhaji
Raje, Kavi kulesh wanted to say that since Aurangzeb have not ever saw
such a sharp and courageous man in his entire life that’s why he
acknowledged Sambhaji’s greatness by standing up from his royal seat.
Aurangzeb humiliated them by parading them wearing clown's
clothes[citation needed]. Later, Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash were tied
upside down to camels with Mughal soldiers throwing stones, mud, and cow
dung at them[citation needed].
Sambhaji's Samadhi(Mausoleum) built at the place where he was cremated, Vadhu
When
they were brought face to face with Aurangzeb, the latter offered to
let Sambhaji live if he surrendered all the Maratha forts, turn over all
his hidden treasures,disclose the names of all the Mughal officers who
had helped him and embrace Islam religion. Sambhaji refused to convert,
and instead sang praises of Mahadev (Lord Shiva). Aurangzeb ordered him
and Kavi Kalash to be tortured to death. Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash were
brutally tortured for over a fortnight. The torture involved plucking
out their eyes and tongue and pulling out their nails. The later part
involved of removing their skin. On 11 March 1689, Sambhaji was finally
killed, reportedly by tearing him apart from the front and back with
'Wagh Nakhe (Tiger claws, a kind of weapon), and was beheaded with an
axe. This grievous death was given to him at Vadhu on the banks of Bhima
river, near Pune.
Despite the torture, Sambhaji refused to submit to
Aurangzeb's conditions. In so doing he earned the title of Dharmaveer
(Protector of the Religion) by which he is known to this day. Aurangzeb
ordered to cut Sambhaji's body into pieces and throw it into the river.
Residents of nearby village named 'Vadhu' collected as many pieces of
his body as they found, sewed them together and performed the final
rites on his body. These villagers later went on to use the surname
'Shivle' or 'Shivale', as per spelling preference, which means sewing in
the Marathi language.
