On the upcoming June 6, it will be 351 years since the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His coronation took place on June 6, 1673. Before this, Shivaji Maharaj held the status of an independent ruler. After the coronation, he was bestowed with the title of “Chhatrapati.”
It is often claimed that Shivaji Maharaj came from a lower caste, which is why the Brahmin priest who performed his coronation is said to have used his toe instead of his hand for the ceremony.
Recently, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav claimed during a conversation with the media that when Shivaji Maharaj became king, his coronation was performed using the priest’s toe. When a journalist asked Akhilesh Yadav who performed Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation with a toe, he responded by saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not want to discuss this. A user named Rahul Gautam shared this video of Akhilesh Yadav on X. (archived link)
अखिलेश यादव – आप मुझसे सवाल पूछीये की शिवाजी महाराज का तिलक अंगूठे से किसने किया था?
— Rahul Gautam (@Scribe_Rahul) March 20, 2025
सवाल – शिवाजी महाराज का तिलक अंगूठे से किसने किया था?
फिर अखिलेश यादव का जवाब सुनिये। pic.twitter.com/iZR24spxnd
The handle Shailesh Verma wrote, “Because Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Shudra, he was not allowed to enter the temple. The Brahmins of Poona refused to crown him. Banarasi Brahmin Ghagh Bhatt, despite accepting thousands of gold coins as dakshina, performed the king’s coronation not with his finger but by applying a tilak on his forehead with the thumb of his right foot.” (archived link)
छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज शुद्र होने के कारण:-
— Shailesh Verma (@shaileshvermasp) February 19, 2023
मन्दिर जाने नहीं दिया गया
उनका राज्याभिषेक करने से पूना के ब्राह्मणों ने मना किया
बनारसी ब्राह्मण घाघ भट्ट ने हजारों असर्फी दक्षिणा में लेकर भी अंगुली से ना करके अपने दाहिने पैर के अंगूठे से उनके माथे पर तिलक लगाकर राज्याभिषेक किया ll pic.twitter.com/V9AnyeWQaj
Samajwadi Party leader Manoj Yadav stated, “If these events are recorded in the pages of history, will anyone provide an answer to this today? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was allegedly denied entry to temples because he belonged to the Shudra community. The Brahmins of Poona refused to perform his coronation. Even Banarasi Brahmin Ghagh Bhatt, despite accepting thousands of gold coins as dakshina, did not coronate Shivaji with his finger. Instead, he applied the tilak on Shivaji’s forehead using the thumb of his right foot.” (archived link)
अगर ये बाते इतिहास के पन्नों में दर्ज है,तो क्या आज इसका कोई जवाब देगा।
— मनोज यादव (@Manoj_Yadav_) February 19, 2025
छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज शुद्र होने के कारण उन्हें मन्दिर जाने नहीं दिया गया
💥 उनका राज्याभिषेक करने से पूना के ब्राह्मणों ने मना कर दिया
💥 बनारसी ब्राह्मण घाघ भट्ट ने हजारों सोने की मोहरे दक्षिणा में लेकर… pic.twitter.com/wD70Yb3H9u
The video of Akhilesh Yadav making the same claim was also shared by the Samajwadi Party handle (archived link) and Braj Shyam Maurya (archived link).
Also Read: Did Shivaji Write a Letter to Aurangzeb Suggesting him to Collect Jizya from Rana Raj Singh?
Fact Check
In our fact-check research, we studied the book ‘Shivaji and His Times‘ by renowned Indian historian and scholar Jadunath Sarkar. Jadunath Sarkar focused on scientific and fact-based historical writing. He conducted an in-depth study of primary sources, documents, and records for his writings.
Jadunath Sarkar’s book was published in 1920 and is also available online. Page number 238 of this book is about Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation.
In this chapter of his book, Jadunath Sarkar wrote that despite Shivaji Maharaj’s military victories, wealth, powerful army, and governance, he was viewed as a common subject, lacking the political status of a king in the eyes of the Mughals and Adilshah.
On the other hand, the rise of the Bhonsle dynasty was creating jealousy among other Maratha families. Families who were earlier socially equal to Shivaji were reluctant to accept him as a ruler. They considered themselves loyalists of Aurangzeb and Adil Shah and looked upon Shivaji Maharaj as a rebel and usurper. At the same time, the scholars and citizens of Maharashtra began to look at Shivaji Maharaj as a protector of the Hindu faith. They wished for a politically independent and empowered Hindu society. For them, Hindu Swaraj meant a Hindu emperor (Chhatrapati) in power. The sentiment carried the need for Shivaji’s coronation establishing him as a legitimate and independent Hindu ruler.
But there were peculiar obstacles in turning this ideal into reality. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, only a person belonging to the Kshatriya community could formally become a king or receive royal honors from the Hindu population. The Bhonsle dynasty was generally not considered Kshatriya or any other high caste. They were merely regarded as farmers, as was still said about Shivaji’s great-grandfather.
Did a person belonging to an ordinary family have the right to claim the honors of the Kshatriyas? All the Brahmins of India would participate in Shivaji’s coronation and give him their blessings only if it could be proven that he was indeed a Kshatriya.
“It was, therefore, necessary first to secure the support of a pandit, whose reputation for scholarship would silence all opposition to the views he might propound. Such a man was found in Bishweshwar, nicknamed Gaga Bhatta, of Benares, the greatest Sanskrit theologian and controversialist then alive, a master of the four Vedas, the six philosophies, and all the scriptures of the Hindus, and popularly known as the Brahma-deva and Vyas of the age. After holding out for some time, he became compliant, accepted the Bhonsla pedigree as fabricated by the clever secretary Balaji Avji and other agents of Shiva, and declared that that Rajah was a Kshatriya of the purest breed, descended in unbroken line from the Maharanas of Udaipur, the sole representatives of the solar line of the mythical hero Ramchandra. His audacious but courtierly ethnological theory was rewarded with a huge fee, and he was entreated to visit Maharashtra and officiate as high priest at the coronation of Shiva. He agreed, and on his arrival was welcomed like a crowned head, Shiva and all his officers advancing many miles from Satara to receive him on the way.”
Jadunath Sarkar further writes that the preparations for Shivaji’s coronation were done on a grand scale. Shivaji displayed unparalleled foresight and organizational ability in arranging this massive event. He ensured that the comfort and needs of Brahmins, courtiers, respected individuals from the kingdom, representatives of other states, foreign traders, invited guests, and his poor relatives were well taken care of.
A large number of men, women, and children had gathered there, but there was no disorder, no shortage, and no chaos or commotion of any kind during the event. Learned Brahmins from all over India were sent invitations, and many other Brahmins came on their own after hearing about the coronation. Around 11,000 Brahmins gathered at Raigad, and with their families, the number reached 50,000. All of them were served sweets for four months at Shivaji’s expense.
At the beginning of the coronation ceremony, Shivaji first bowed before his guru, Ramdas Swami, and his mother, Jijabai, to seek their blessings. After that, he visited renowned temples across the country and offered prayers. Upon returning to Raigad on May 21, he immersed himself in deep religious meditation. For several days, he worshiped Mahadev, Bhavani, and other deities.
Jadunath Sarkar further writes that before the coronation ceremony, Shivaji Maharaj had to undergo a public purification ritual to be formally recognized as a Kshatriya. On May 28, he performed a special ritual as an act of penance for the sin of not adopting Kshatriya customs by his ancestors and himself. After this, Gaga Bhatt administered the yagnopavit (sacred thread), which was considered a symbol of pure Kshatriyas and other Dvija (twice-born) castes in North India.
Shivaji insisted that all the Vedic hymns traditionally chanted during the coronation of a true Hindu king be recited before him because he had now been included among the Dvija castes and was entitled to these rights. However, this demand led to opposition among the Brahmins present. They argued that in the current age (Kaliyuga), no true Kshatriya lineage remained, and only Brahmins were the rightful inheritors of Dvija status.
Due to this strong opposition, Gaga Bhatt himself became fearful and eventually omitted the chanting of Vedic hymns for Shivaji. Instead, he adopted a modified method for the coronation, through which Shivaji was initiated into the Dvija way of life but was not granted the same rights as the Brahmins.
This purification and janeu (sacred thread) ceremony was conducted with great grandeur. A large amount of wealth was distributed among the Brahmins — Gaga Bhatt alone received 7,000 huns (a type of gold currency), while the remaining Brahmins were given a total of 17,000 huns. Shivaji also performed another ritual to atone for the sins he may have committed knowingly or unknowingly in his life.
In this ritual, he was weighed against seven metals — gold, silver, copper, zinc, tin, lead, and iron — as well as fine cloth, camphor, salt, betel nut, spices, ghee, sugar, fruits, and other food items. All these items, equal to his body weight, were donated, along with an additional one lakh huns that were distributed among the Brahmins.
However, even after such a large donation, the greed of the Brahmins was not satisfied. Two learned Brahmins argued that Shivaji had burned down several towns during his military campaigns, resulting in the deaths of Brahmins, cows, women, and children. To atone for this sin, they insisted he perform a special ritual that required a specified sum of money. Interestingly, he was not required to compensate the families who had lost their loved ones during the attacks on Surat or Karanja. Instead, he only had to give some money to the Brahmins of the Konkan and Desh regions. The cost of this atonement was set at a mere 8,000 rupees, which Shivaji willingly paid.
Jadunath Sarkar writes that June 5, 1674, was the eve of Shivaji’s coronation, a night that had to be spent in restraint and self-purification, similar to the initiation night for medieval warriors. Shivaji bathed with Ganga water and offered 5,000 huns to Gaga Bhatt and 100 gold coins to each of the other prominent Brahmins. It is likely that the day was spent in fasting.
“Next day (6th June, 1674) came the coronation itself. Rising very early in the morning. Shivaji pre-pared himself by bathing amidst ceremonies intended to avert evil, worshipped his household gods, and adored the feet of his family priest, Gaga Bhatta, and other eminent Brahmans, who all received gifts of ornaments and cloth. The essential parts of a Hindu king’s coronation are washing him (abhishek) and holding the royal umbrella over his head (chhatra-dharan.) Clad in a pure white robe, wearing garlands of flowers, scented essence, and gold ornaments, Shiva walked to the place appointed for the bath. Here he sat down on a gold-plated stool, two feet square and two feet high. The queen-consort, Soyra Bai, occupied a seat on his left with her robe knotted up with his, in sign of her being his equal partner in this world and the next (saha-dharmini), as the Hindu sacred law lays down.”
Prince Shambhuji, who was the heir to the throne, sat behind him. Next, the Ashtapradhans (eight ministers of Shivaji) stood in eight directions. They held gold pitchers in their hands, filled with water from the Ganges and other holy rivers. This water was collectively poured on the heads of the king, queen and prince amid chanting and music. Then sixteen Brahmin women, dressed in pure clothing, lit five lamps placed on a gold plate and moved them around Shivaji’s head. This ritual was performed to ward off evil forces and negative energy.
The chapter further elaborates on Shivaji Maharaj’s grand coronation ceremony. Jadunath Sarkar writes that Shivaji Maharaj changed his attire and wore a deep red royal dress embroidered with gold. He also wore sparkling jewels, gold ornaments, garlands and a turban adorned with pearls and pendants. Before the coronation ceremony, he worshipped his sword, shield, bow and arrows and respectfully bowed before his elders and Brahmins.
An auspicious time was fixed by astrologers for the coronation. At that auspicious time Shivaji Maharaj entered the coronation hall. The hall was decorated with 32 auspicious symbols and sacred plants according to Hindu traditions. A magnificent golden canopy was hanging from the ceiling, resembling the sky with stars or pearls hanging on it. The floor was covered with a velvet carpet.
In the centre stood a magnificent throne, which was crafted over many months, to reflect the grandeur of the king. Some accounts mention that the throne contained 32 maunds (about 1280 kg) of gold, which was worth Rs 14 lakhs at that time. However, according to an English traveller, the throne was majestic and regal, with its base plated with gold. It has eight pillars at the corners which were decorated with diamonds and previous jewels.
“The base was evidently coated with gold plate, and so also were the eight pillars standing at the eight angles, which were further richly embellished with gems and diamonds. They supported a canopy of the richest gold embroidery from which strings of pearls were suspended in tassels and festoons, interspersed with dazzling gems. The coverings of the royal seat were a grotesque combination of ancient Hindu asceticism and modern Mughal luxury : tiger skin below and velvet on the top!”
“As Shivaji mounted the throne, small lotuses of gold set with jewels, and various other flowers made of gold and silver were showered among the assembled throng.”
🔸 Sixteen married Brahmin women performed the Mangal Aarti once again, creating a completely auspicious and holy atmosphere.
🔸 The Brahmins chanted Vedic mantras and blessed Shivaji, who respectfully bowed down to honor them in return.
🔸 The gathered crowd loudly chanted slogans — “Shivraj Ki Jai! Vijay Bhav!” (Victory to Shivraj! May you be victorious!).
🔸 Musical instruments began to play simultaneously, singers started singing melodious songs, and the entire atmosphere was filled with devotion and joy.
🔸 As per prior instructions, cannons were fired from all the forts across the kingdom, causing the sky to reverberate.
🔸 At that moment, the chief priest Gaga Bhatt stepped forward, placed a silk canopy with golden borders over Shivaji’s head, and declared — “From this moment, this great warrior and protector of religion is Chhatrapati Shivaji!”
The Brahmin came forward and blessed Shivaji Maharaj
🔸 The king distributed a large amount of wealth and gifts to the poor and the common people.
🔸 He performed the “Sixteen Great Donations” (Solah Mahadan) ritual as mentioned in the Hindu scriptures, showcasing his generosity and piety.
🔸 After this, the ministers approached the throne, bowed to the king, and received tokens of honor such as robes, appointment letters, wealth, horses, elephants, jewelry, clothes, and weapons.
🔸 Shivaji Maharaj made a significant decision — from now on, all official titles would use Sanskrit names. The previously used Persian titles were completely abolished.
Jadunath Sarkar further describes the scene during the coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj. He writes that Prince Sambhaji, Chief Priest Gaga Bhatt, and Prime Minister Moro Trimbak Pingale were seated on a slightly elevated platform just below the throne. Other ministers respectfully stood in two rows to the right and left of the throne. Courtiers and visitors stood in their designated places according to their ranks. By this time, it was 8 a.m. Henry Oxenden, the ambassador of England, was introduced by Naroji Pant. He made a respectful bow from a distance. His interpreter, Narayan Shenvi, presented a diamond ring to the king. Shivaji Maharaj acknowledged him, invited him closer to the throne, presented him with an honorary robe as a mark of respect, and then gracefully bid him farewell.
When all the formal presentations were over, the king stepped down from the throne and mounted his best horse, which was adorned with magnificent decorations. After this, he reached the courtyard of the palace, where he rode the most beautiful elephant of his stable, which was splendidly decorated for this special occasion. Then he travelled through the streets of the capital with full military procession. He was surrounded by his ministers and generals. Two royal flags—the “Zari-Pataka” and the “Bhagwa Jhanda”—were fluttering on two elephants ahead of him. Behind him were the generals of his army, troops, artillery and bands.
The citizens of the state had decorated their houses and streets beautifully for this special occasion. Housewives welcomed the king by lighting lamps and performing aarti and showering fried rice, flowers, sacred grass, etc. on him. After this, Shivaji visited various temples situated on the hills of Raigad and offered offerings and worshipped at each temple. After this, he returned back to the palace.
Then on 7 June began the distribution of gifts and charity among ambassadors, Brahmins and the needy which continued for twelve days. During this period, food was provided to the public at the king’s expense. But eminent scholars and saints were excluded from the distribution as ordinary men were given only 3 to 5 rupees, while women and children were given 1 to 2 rupees. It is believed that the monsoon started the very next day of the coronation. Heavy rains and bad weather caused inconvenience to the huge crowd. On 8 June Shivaji married for the fourth time quietly without any grand celebration.
After the coronation was successfully completed, Jijabai died on 18 June. She lived her whole life with honor and happiness, and left her personal wealth of 25 lakh hun (gold currency) to her son Shivaji. According to some people, this wealth was even more than this. When the mourning period of her death was over, Shivaji took the throne for the second time under the purification ritual and confirmed his right over his kingdom.
After this we studied ‘Shri Raja Shivachhatrapati by the eminent Marathi historian Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale. This book ‘Shri Raja Shivachhatrapati’ by Gajanan Bhaskar has been published in two volumes in Marathi while it has been published in English under the title ‘Shivaji His Life and Times’. He has written this book after many years of research. It describes the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, his military strategies, administrative policies from contemporary historical context.
Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale’s book ‘Shivaji His Life and Times’ is also available online. As we flipped through the pages of this book, we found the chapter on Shivaji’s coronation on page number 788.
Gajanan Bhaskar writes that Shivaji Maharaj established himself as an independent ruler at an early age. This is also reflected in his royal seal which is the oldest evidence found in a document dated 28 January 1646, when he was just 16 years old. Shiva Bharata (a Sanskrit epic written by poet Parmanand in 1673 AD) mentions that when Afzal Khan came to know that Shivaji was fully prepared for war at Jwali, he wrote a letter to him.
An excerpt from this letter, as described in the epic, is as follow:
“You audaciously brandish the trappings of an Emperor, sit without authority upon a golden throne, bestow rewards or mete out punishments to people; you have willfully stopped paying obeisance to those deserving respect after you have become independent. You have grown incorrigible and are not afraid of lesser persons compared to me, i.e. Afzal Khan. Therefore, the triumphant Adilshah has sent me against you.”
Gajanan Bhaskar writes that it is possible that the letter given in Shivabharat is slightly different from the original letter, as it may also contain the poet’s imagination. But it is true that Shivaji considered himself an independent ruler, whether it is mentioned in this letter or not. This is also proved by the fact that when Shivaji surrendered to Jai Singh in 1665, he did not accept any mansab (government post) from the Mughals. Probably he considered it a blot on his independence. Whatever it may be, to maintain the stability and law and order of the state in the eyes of the general public, a formal and legal recognition of Shivaji’s state was needed. This was possible through coronation according to the ancient tradition. The process of formal establishment of his state and taking the throne by Shivaji gave legitimacy to the Maratha empire. Probably this was an important reason why the Maratha state continued to exist despite the murder of Sambhaji by Aurangzeb and the siege of Rajaram in the fort of Gingee for many years.
Sabhasad Bakhar (a historical work written on the life and works of Shivaji Maharaj. It was written by Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad, the court writer of Shivaji Maharaj. Sabhasad Bakhar was written in 1694 AD i.e. about 14 years after the death of Shivaji Maharaj (1680). It was written during the time of Shivaji’s son Rajaram) says that when Gagabhatta heard of Shivaji’s fame, he came to meet him from Banaras. He excitedly expressed the idea that the Maratha king should become Chhatrapati (royal umbrella holder, an independent emperor). Shivaji and all his major chieftains gladly accepted this proposal. However, there is no contemporary source available to confirm this information given in Sabhasad Bakhar. It is possible that the idea of coronation came to Shivaji’s mind himself. Yet even if this suggestion was given by someone else, the credit for making it a reality undoubtedly goes only to Shivaji.
This statement of Sabhasad Bakhar—”Gagabhatt, hearing about Shivaji’s fame, came from Benares to meet him”—may create a false impression that Gagabhatt and Shivaji had never met before. But this is not true. Before April 1664, a meeting of Pandits was called at Rajapur on Shivaji’s orders to consider a socio-religious issue. Evidence of a decision given by that meeting, written in Sanskrit, is still present.
At the beginning of this document, the names of 15 Pandits are given, who were present in this meeting. The first name among them is of Gagabhatt, which proves that Shivaji knew Gagabhatt as a religious expert even before April 1664. Apart from this, a prashasti called ‘Shivaprasasti’ is also attached with this decision, which shows that Gagabhatt was also familiar with Shivaji’s great deeds before April 1664.
Gagabhatt’s family was originally from Maharashtra but had settled in Banaras for several generations and was famous for his scholarship. His great-grandfather Narayanbhatt, who lived during the reign of Akbar, rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath temple. This temple was earlier destroyed by Muslim rulers. Apart from this, he also wrote many religious texts. Gagabhatt’s father Dinkar was also a famous writer. He fondly called his son Vishwanath (Gagabhatt’s real name) as ‘Gaga’ and this name later became famous as Gagabhatt. Gagabhatt himself is also known for writing many important interpretations and texts on theology.
A letter dated 4 April 1674 written by Narayan Shenvi, the East India Company’s representative from Raigad to the Deputy Governor of Bombay mentions the imminent coronation of Shivaji Maharaj. This is considered to be the earliest reference to Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. The British were then negotiating with Shivaji Maharaj for compensation for the looting of their Rajapur factory by the Marathas in 1660. In this connection, Narayan Shenvi was sent to Raigad as the British representative. He arrived at the foot of the Raigad fort on 24 March 1674 and met Pralhad Niraji, son of Niraji Raoji, at Pachad. Pralhad Niraji asked him to stay there until Shivaji Maharaj allows him to come to the fort.
After this, Narayan Shenvi sent one of his servants to inform that he has reached Raigad. The servant returned the same day and informed that Shivaji Maharaj will meet him after completing the mourning period of his recently deceased wife and till then he has to stay below the fort.
28 March 1674 Niraji Raoji came to Pachad and the next day he took Narayan Shenvi to the fort. Shenvi stayed at Raigad fort for five days and he got the opportunity to meet Shivaji Maharaj on 3 April. In this meeting Shivaji Maharaj instructed his staff to issue orders according to the agreement made earlier with the British.
In this letter written on 4 April 1674, Shenvi mentioned the situation in Raigad, “Shivaji Maharaj is getting a very grand throne built, on which he is spending a lot of gold and precious gems. He is going to get his coronation done in the coming June, which is considered to be the beginning of the new year. For this coronation, he has invited many learned Brahmins and will donate elephants, horses and wealth to them. But it is not clear whether Shivaji Maharaj himself will be coronated or some other prince, because it is also being said that he has a prince of the Nizamshahi dynasty, whom he is keeping under his protection.”
Gajanan Bhaskar writes that it is not clear why Shenvi declared June 1674 as the beginning of the new year. But it is possible that it was considered the beginning of a new era after Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. The letter also mentions that it was not clear whether Shivaji Maharaj would get himself crowned or make someone else the king. There was a rumour at that time that Shivaji Maharaj might make a Nizamshahi prince the king, as his father Shahaji had done in 1633, when he declared another Nizamshahi prince Murarji the king at Pemgiri fort, after the Mughals conquered Daulatabad and took Hussain Nizamshah captive.
At the end of the letter, Shenvi writes, “Now I request you to immediately send Mr. Henry Oxenden with a good gift… You had already written to Niraaji Pandit that you will send an Englishman of your council (for signing the agreement), which he has conveyed to the king. Therefore it would be appropriate that Mr. Henry Oxenden comes with a significant gift, which may cost about Rs 1,000 to 1,200. It would also be appropriate that you give some gift to the king at the time of coronation, but this gift sent at present will be sufficient for all.”
After considering Narayan Shenvi’s letter, the Bombay Council decided that Henry Oxenden should be sent to Raigad to sign the treaty with Shivaji Maharaj and the necessary gifts for this should be arranged from Surat. On 9 April 1674, the Bombay Council wrote a letter to the Surat Council, requesting to arrange precious gems worth Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 for the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj. It is worth noting that Shivaji Maharaj did not invite the British to attend his coronation ceremony. Rather, the Bombay Council itself decided that they would send their representatives with gifts on the occasion. According to the letter of the Bombay Council, the Surat Council prepared gifts for Shivaji Maharaj and sent them with a letter on 18 April 1674.
At the same time, the Bombay Council ordered that Mr. Oxendon should prepare to go to Rairi quickly and take the gifts with him. Also, it was directed that Mr. John (Child), Mr. Oxendon and Mr. Astik should gather this afternoon and organize the gift and consider how it would be presented. After this, full details of this should be presented to the President on the next council day.
“It was also ordered that Mr. George Robinson and Mr. Thomas Mitchell should accompany Mr. Oxendon to assist in this work.”
Details of the arrangement of gifts (11 May 1674): In the meeting of the Bombay Council on 11 May 1674, the details related to the arrangement of gifts were recorded as follows, “Mr. Child, Mr. Oxendon and Mr. Astik prepared the gifts for Shivaji Maharaj and divided them properly, so that they could be presented according to the rules. The Council and the President reviewed these gifts and approved them.
The list of gifts for Shivaji Maharaj is as follows:
- A head ornament (embedded with diamonds, etc.) – Cost: ₹690
- Two bracelets (embedded with diamonds, etc.) – Cost: ₹450
- Two pearls (weighing 10 1/10 rattis) – Cost: ₹510
Total: ₹1650
For Sambhaji Raje (Son of Shivaji Maharaj):
- Two bracelets (embedded with small rubies) – Cost: ₹125
- A chest ornament (embedded with 8 diamonds) – Cost: ₹250
Total: ₹375
For Moropant Trimbak Pingle (Prime Minister of Shivaji Maharaj):
- Two large pearls – Cost: ₹400
For Anaji Pandit (Another prominent minister of Shivaji Maharaj):
- Two gold chains (weighing 7 tolas) – Cost: ₹125
For Niraji Pandit (Another minister of Shivaji Maharaj):
- Two Pamarin (special garments) – Cost: ₹70
For Ravji Somnath (Secretary of Shivaji Maharaj):
- Two Pamarin (special garments) – Cost: ₹70
Total Cost: ₹2690
“Apart from this, there were other small gifts, which were to be distributed to various officers at the discretion of Mr. Oxenden, so that the interests of the company could be strengthened.”
Henry Oxenden, along with George Robinson and Thomas Mitchell, left Bombay on 13 May 1674 in a small boat (Shibad). After staying at Chaul, they reached Pachad on 19 May 1674. From there they reached Raigad on 22 May 1674 and after signing the treaty, left back on 13 June 1674. They returned to Bombay on 16 June 1674. A detailed account of this journey is found in Henry Oxenden’s diary.
Important Excerpts from Henry Oxenden’s Travel Diary:
May 19, 1674:
“We departed for Raigad and reached Pachad at nine in the morning. It is a settlement located at the base of Raigad Fort. There, we learned that Shivaji Maharaj had gone to Pratapgad, where he had visited the temple of Goddess Bhavani to perform rituals and offer prayers. On this occasion, he presented several offerings, including a pure gold umbrella (sombrero) weighing approximately 114 maunds, which he dedicated to the goddess. Since we were not permitted to enter the fort until his return, we set up our camp on the flatlands.”
May 21, 1674:
“We remained at the same campsite in Pachad. We experienced extreme heat and discomfort, but by evening, we were delighted to hear that the Maharaj had returned from Pratapgad. Subsequently, I requested Niraji Pandit to help us gain permission to enter the Raigad Fort.”
May 22, 1674:
“We were finally granted permission to enter the fort. The Maharaj assigned a building for our accommodation. We left Pachad in the third quarter of the day and reached the summit of Raigad by sunset. The fort is naturally very strong and appears impenetrable with artificial fortifications. There is only one route to enter the fort, secured by two narrow gates surrounded by a high, sturdy wall and bastions. The rest of the mountain is completely steep and inaccessible, making the fort virtually invincible. There are about 300 important buildings inside, including the Maharaj’s royal court and the residences of his key officials. The fort spans approximately 2.5 miles in length and 1.5 miles in width, but no fruit-bearing trees or grain cultivation is possible here. Our residence was about a mile away from the Maharaj’s palace, where we retired for a peaceful rest.”
May 26, 1674:
“Thanks to Niraji Pandit’s efforts, we were granted an audience with the Maharaj. Although he was occupied with significant events such as his coronation and marriages, he still made time for us. I presented him and his son, Sambhaji Raje, with the gifts determined by the Council and the President, which they accepted graciously.”
In Henry Oxenden’s letter from May 27, 1674, written from Raigad to Bombay, he mentioned, “The Maharaj is extremely busy with his coronation and marriages to two other women.”
Gajanan Bhaskar writes that, in reality, Shivaji Maharaj did not enter into any new marriage on this occasion. After his Maujibandhan Sanskar (sacred thread ceremony) on May 29, 1674, he remarried his own queens. This was necessary because his earlier marriages were not performed according to Vedic rituals. This time, the marriages were conducted in a pure Vedic manner, known as Samantarik Vivah and Mantra Vivah.
Oxenden further mentioned in his letter, “After the coronation, the Maharaj is considering establishing a royal mint.”
Description of Shivaji Maharaj’s Coronation Ceremony:
The coronation celebrations began on May 30, 1674, and concluded on June 6, 1674. For this occasion, the renowned scholar Gagabhatta specially composed a comprehensive text detailing the procedures for performing the various rituals. This text is known as “Rajyabhishekprayog,” a copy of which is currently preserved in the Bikaner Archives.
Henry Oxenden’s account is the only eyewitness description of the coronation ceremony written by someone who was personally present at Raigad during the event. However, since all these rituals were religious in nature and Henry Oxenden was not a Hindu, he was not allowed to witness these ceremonies. He only participated in the royal court held on June 6, 1674, after the coronation.
At the time, a Tantric named Nichalpuri was also present at Raigad. His accounts are available in the text titled “Shivraj-Rajyabhishek-Kalpataru.” However, this short text was not written by Nichalpuri himself; it was compiled by his disciple Govind Narayan Barve.
To obtain a brief understanding of the various rituals related to Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation, we will rely on the following sources.
Rajyabhishekprayog
Jedhe Chronology
Shivapur Chronology
Oxenden's Narrative
Shivraj-Rajyabhishek-Kalpataru
Letter sent by Abraham Le Feber, a servant of the Dutch East India Company, from Vengurla to the Governor General and Council of the Dutch East India Company on October 13, 1674:
It does not appear that Abraham Le Feber was present at Raigad during the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj. It is unclear where he obtained the information mentioned in his letter. Marathi historical texts also describe the coronation, but they were written after Shivaji Maharaj’s time, and many of their details seem to be imaginative.
May 29, 1674:
As mentioned earlier, Jedhe and Shivapur chronicles state that Shivaji Maharaj’s Mounjibandhan (sacred thread ceremony) was completed on this day. Abraham Le Feber also mentioned this event. On the same day, Shivaji Maharaj’s Tuladaan (weighing ceremony) was also performed. However, while the Jedhe and Shivapur chronicles do not mention this, it is referenced in Oxenden’s narrative, Le Feber’s letter, and Shivraj-Rajyabhishek-Kalpataru.
According to the Dutch letter, Shivaji Maharaj was weighed against gold, silver, copper, iron, clothes, spices, ghee, sugar, fruits, and many other items. The Mounjibandhan and Tuladaan can be seen as rituals conducted before the main coronation ceremonies. Possibly, this is why they are not mentioned in the Rajyabhishekprayog text.
May 30, 1674:
According to the Jedhe Chronology, Shivapur Chronology, and Shivraj-Rajyabhishek-Kalpataru, Shivaji Maharaj remarried his queens following Vedic rituals on this day. As mentioned in the Rajyabhishekprayog, religious rituals such as Ganesh Puja and Punyahavachan were also performed.
May 31, 1674:
As per the Rajyabhishekprayog, the Aindrishanti Vidhi (a peace ritual invoking Lord Indra) and Aishanyag (a fire ritual) were conducted on this day.
June 1, 1674:
According to the Rajyabhishekprayog, rituals such as Grahayajna (a fire ritual for the planets) and Nakshatra Homa (a fire ritual for constellations) were performed on this day.
June 2, 1674:
This day corresponded to Tuesday and Jyeshtha Shukla Navami (the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha according to the Hindu calendar). As per the Rajyabhishekprayog, performing any coronation-related rituals on Navami Tithi or Tuesday was considered prohibited. Hence, no rituals were conducted on this day.
June 3, 1674:
On this day, the Nakshatra Yajna (a fire ritual dedicated to the constellations) was performed, as mentioned in the Rajyabhishekprayog.
June 4, 1674:
The Nivritti Yag (a ritual symbolizing completion) was conducted on this day, as specified in the Rajyabhishekprayog.
June 5 / June 6, 1674:
According to the Jedhe Chronology, the auspicious time for Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation (Rajyabhishek) was set for three Ghatis (72 minutes) before sunrise. This timing was determined based on Jyeshtha Shukla Trayodashi, in the Shaka year 1596.
The Dwadashi Tithi (12th lunar day) ended between 2:00 to 3:00 AM on the night before the coronation.
Subsequently, the Trayodashi Tithi (13th lunar day) began, and Shivaji Maharaj's coronation was conducted during this auspicious time.
According to the Hindu calendar, the coronation took place on Friday night, but as per the Western calendar, it fell on June 6, 1674, because the date changes at midnight in the Western system.
After the coronation, Shivaji Maharaj participated in the traditional chariot procession (Rathayatra) and later visited the temple while riding a grand elephant. This was a historic moment when a Hindu ruler was formally coronated according to Hindu traditions. It was a unique event in contemporary history.
Did the Brahmin community oppose the coronation?
Gajanan Bhaskar writes that the belief that the Brahmin community opposed Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation is not supported by any contemporary or credible sources. In fact, Shivaji Maharaj’s ascension to the throne was widely welcomed by Hindu society, especially by the Brahmin community.
Henry Oxenden’s Account
June 5, 1674:
“Niraji Pandit sent me a message stating that the next day, around seven or eight in the morning, King Shivaji would ascend the throne. He requested that I come to congratulate him on this auspicious occasion and also mentioned that according to the customs of Eastern countries, one must not visit a ruler empty-handed but must bring a gift. I replied that I would certainly come to meet King Shivaji at the appointed time, following his advice.”
June 6, 1674:
“Around 7 or 8 in the morning, I arrived at the court and saw that King Shivaji was seated on a grand throne. All the courtiers and nobles were present to honor him, dressed in magnificent attire. His son Sambhaji Raje, Peshwa Moro Pandit, and a renowned Brahmin who was seated on an elevated platform below the throne were also present. In addition, military officers and other individuals stood respectfully. I bowed humbly from a distance.
During this time, Narayan Shenvi picked up the diamond ring that was to be presented to Shivaji as a gift. King Shivaji immediately acknowledged our presence and ordered us to approach the throne. There, we were dressed in ceremonial robes, after which we were asked to step back.
I also noticed that symbols of authority were placed on gold-plated spears on both sides of the throne.”
On the right side, there were two large golden fish heads with big, sharp teeth.
On the left side, there were several horse tails.
A golden scale, symbolizing justice, was also present in a balanced position.
When we came out of the palace gate, we saw two small elephants and two beautiful horses standing on either side of the entrance. These horses were adorned with golden bridles and magnificent decorations. We were amazed to see how they were brought to such a height, as the path was extremely difficult and dangerous.
Shivaji Maharaj’s New Calendar (Samvat)
On the day of his coronation, Shivaji Maharaj initiated a new calendar (Samvat), which began on Jyeshtha Shukla Trayodashi, Shaka Samvat 1596 (6th June 1674). All official documents issued after this date mentioned this new Samvat. However, he continued to use the Shuhur Calendar for regular correspondence. In the documents of the new Samvat, he was referred to as “Kshatriya-Kulavatasansa Shri Raja Shivachhatrapati.” In contrast, the documents following the old Samvat continued to address him as “Rajashri Shivaji Raje.”
Thus, “Raja Shivachhatrapati” became the formal title adopted by Shivaji Maharaj after his coronation.
Shivaji Maharaj’s Coins
The gold and copper coins issued by Shivaji Maharaj bore the inscription “Raja Shivachhatrapati.” This clearly indicates that these coins were minted after his coronation.
In Oxenden’s letter sent to Bombay on 27th May 1674, it was mentioned that Shivaji Maharaj planned to establish his own mint after the coronation.
Expenses Incurred During the Coronation
According to Abraham Le Feber, an officer of the Dutch East India Company, Shivaji Maharaj spent 1,50,000 pagodas (also known as hons) on his coronation and charitable activities. However, as per the Sabhasad Bakhar, the expenditure was recorded as 1,42,00,000 hons. The first figure appears to be an underestimate, while the second seems to be highly exaggerated. There is no authentic source available to determine the exact expenditure. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that a substantial amount was spent on the coronation.
For this reason, a new tax called “Simhasan Patti” or “Miras Patti” was imposed on the watandars (hereditary landholders) after the coronation.
Death of Jijabai
Shivaji Maharaj’s mother, Jijabai, passed away on 17th June 1674 at Pachad, just a few days after the coronation.
Abraham Le Feber writes, “Shivaji’s mother, who had come to witness her son’s coronation, was around 80 years old. She passed away 12 days after the coronation. At the time of her death, she entrusted Shivaji Maharaj with a fortune of approximately 2.5 million pagodas (gold coins). Some say the amount was even higher.”
Second Coronation of Shivaji Maharaj
The first coronation of Shivaji Maharaj took place at the Raigad Fort, where Nishchalpuri was present. Later, on 24th September 1674 (Ashwin Shuddha Panchami, Shaka Samvat 1596, Lalita Panchami), he conducted Shivaji Maharaj’s second coronation. Nishchalpuri narrated this event to his disciple Govind Narayan Barve, who documented it in the book “Shivraj-Rajyabhishek-Kalptaru.”
According to this text, certain tantric rituals were not properly performed during the first coronation, which reportedly led to a few inauspicious incidents.
- Death of Prataprao Gujar (Senapati) in battle.
- Demise of Shivaji Maharaj’s wife, Kashibai.
- A meteor (shooting star) sighted in the sky a day before the Yajnopavita Sanskar (Sacred Thread Ceremony).
In addition, Gagabhatt insulted the Brahmins sent by Nischalpuri and instructed Shivaji Maharaj not to bow to them (Gagabhatt). Following this, some ominous signs were observed—
A piece of wood fell on Gagabhatt's nose.
A decorative wooden lotus fell on Shivaji Maharaj's family priest Balambhatt's head.
In addition, Gagabhatt also made some mistakes in certain rituals.
The coronation was conducted at an inauspicious time.
No sacrifices were offered to the mountain, Vetal (the king of the netherworld), and other deities.
The goddess Shirkai was not worshiped.
After the first coronation, when Nischalpuri left Raigad, he warned Shivaji Maharaj about upcoming troubles. Concerned by these ominous signs, Shivaji Maharaj requested Nischalpuri to perform a second coronation using Tantric rituals. Nischalpuri conducted the second coronation on September 24, 1674 (Lalitapanchami) through proper Tantric procedures.
The Shivapur Chronicle under Shaka 1596 mentions the following:
“Ashwin Shuddha 5: Re-coronation.”
Although the Shivapur Chronicle does not mention Nischalpuri by name, it clearly points to the same second coronation conducted by him. This text records events such as Shivaji’s marriages, the deaths of Prataprao, Kashibai, and Jijabai — all of which are corroborated by other contemporary sources. However, other details found in this chronicle that lack external confirmation cannot be considered entirely historical. Thus, it is reasonably certain that Shivaji’s second coronation took place on September 24, 1674, under Nischalpuri’s guidance with Tantric rituals.
There is no mention of Shivaji’s coronation in Persian sources. However, the Sabhasad Chronicle provides a detailed account of how the Mughal emperor, Adilshah, and other Muslim rulers reacted to the news. Sabhasad writes:
“Thus, the king was seated on the throne. In this era, the entire world is dominated by Muslim rulers. Only this Maratha king has become a Chhatrapati. This event is no ordinary matter.”
Bahadur Khan Kokani sent the news of this coronation to the Mughal emperor in Delhi. Upon hearing this, the emperor rose from his throne and went to the harem (the queen’s chambers). He struck the ground with both hands and, in extreme grief, repeatedly invoked the name of his God.
He remained without food or water for two days, lamenting continuously, “God has taken away the empire from the Muslims, destroyed our throne, and handed it over to a Maratha. Now these events have reached their peak!”
He was overwhelmed with sorrow and kept mourning. Eventually, his chief ministers consoled him in various ways, made promises, and helped him return to the throne. Similarly, when the Sultans of Bijapur and Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad) and other Muslim rulers heard this news, they too were deeply saddened. Moreover, the Sultans of Constantinople (Turkey), Syria (Sham), Persia (Iran), Turkistan (Turan), and the maritime regions were also distressed by this news, seeing it as a great calamity.
Gajanan Bhaskar writes that the information provided by Sabhasad might be exaggerated or fictional. However, its essence appears to be true. The Mughal emperor and Adilshah were undoubtedly deeply disheartened by this news. As Sabhasad eloquently wrote: “It was no ordinary event for a Maratha ruler to become a Chhatrapati!”
Additionally, we came to know about Bhavan Singh Rana’s book on Chhatrapati Shivaji. According to a report by Satyahindi, this book discusses various events related to Shivaji’s coronation. In his book, Bhavan Singh writes that before 1674, Shivaji was merely an independent ruler. He had not been officially crowned, and he was not officially recognized as the ruler of an empire. Shivaji had won many battles, but he was not yet accepted as a king.
Shivaji began preparing to ascend the throne in 1673, but before his coronation, he faced a significant challenge when the orthodox Brahmins of that era refused to acknowledge him as a king. According to them, only someone from the Kshatriya caste could become a king. They argued that Shivaji was not a Kshatriya, so his coronation could not take place.
According to historians, Pandit Gang Bhatt convinced the Brahmins of Marathwada, leading to the commencement of preparations for Shivaji’s coronation. Many notable figures from across the country arrived in Raigad to participate in this grand ceremony. Prominent scholars and priests from various parts of the country were invited for this occasion.
Shivaji had started preparing to ascend the throne in 1673, but before the coronation, the conservative Brahmins of that era refused to recognize him as a king. They insisted that only a person from the Kshatriya caste could be a king. Since they believed Shivaji was not a Kshatriya, they argued that his coronation could not take place. However, Pandit Gang Bhatt convinced the Brahmins of Marathwada, and the preparations for Shivaji’s coronation began. Many prominent personalities arrived in Raigad for the grand ceremony, and renowned scholars from across the country were invited to participate.
According to the report, it is believed that more than 50,000 people attended the coronation ceremony. The attendees spent four months enjoying Shivaji’s hospitality. Special envoys were sent to Kashi to bring Pandit Gang Bhatt. The local Brahmins who had initially opposed the coronation eventually agreed with Pandit Gang Bhatt’s arguments, and preparations for Shivaji’s coronation began with great enthusiasm.
Chhatrapati Shivaji’s coronation was conducted entirely according to Vedic rituals. He also presented gifts to all the priests and guests who participated in the ceremony. With the chanting of mantras, he was adorned in royal attire. On this occasion, along with Chhatrapati Shivaji, eight of his ministers also assumed their respective titles.
Following this, a grand procession was organized with decorated elephants. Shivaji rode one of the elephants through the streets of Raigad, where he was given a magnificent welcome.
| Claim | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation was done with the toe. |
| Claimed by | Akhilesh Yadav and others |
| Fact Check | Around 11,000 Brahmins, along with their families, participated in Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation ceremony. Jadunath Sarkar mentioned in his book how orthodox Brahmins initially refused to accept Shivaji as a king because he was not a Kshatriya by birth. However, he was later declared a Kshatriya through rituals. Brahmin Gaga Bhatt placed a silk canopy with golden embroidery on Shivaji’s head and declared him Chhatrapati. Meanwhile, Marathi historian Gajanan Bhaskar denies the claim that Brahmins opposed Shivaji’s coronation. Bhavan Singh Rana has also written about the coronation in his book. However, none of these three historians mentioned anywhere that Shivaji Maharaj was coronated by applying a tilak with a Brahmin’s toe. |
Also Read: Claim that Mumbai Airport’s UDF Hike Will Increase Ticket Prices is False
