– Lokendra Singh
Shree Raireshwar Garh (Fort) located in the midst of dense forests at an altitude of about 4694 feet above sea level, in the Bhor tehsil of Rohidkhore, 82 kilometers away from Pune, is the witness of the Hindavi Swarajya Pledge Day. On April 26, 1645, the brave boy Shiva took the pledge of Hindavi Swarajya here. He had said – it is not my wish, it is Shri’s wish. If one listens to the wind blowing in the evening between the mountain ranges here, then even today that echo of the vow of the brave child Shiva can be heard. This pledge overthrew the renegade Mughalia Sultanate. Here the ancient pagoda is still there, where Shiva along with some of his friends took the oath of ‘Swarajya’.
This was the period when due to the atrocities of the Mughalia sultanate, the Hindu soul had gone into oblivion. The thought had stopped coming in his mind that this land of India was his own. Why is he serving the Mughals here? Cow-Brahmins, women and religion were no longer safe in the country. Shivaji Maharaj had resolved to bring the Hindu society out of this darkness and once again to instill a sense of self-respect in its mind. It can be said that the concept of Hindavi Swarajya was first declared here.
Paramhadev is sitting here on the delightful summit of Sahyadri. Various types of flowering plants and vines enhance the beauty of the dense forest here. The joy of the mind also increases with the chirping of different types of birds. It is astonishing to think that a teenager must have come from Pune with his companions to take a resolution in the Shivalaya situated on this inaccessible plateau. At that time Shivaji was a teenager of 15-16 years. Kanhoji Jedhe, Baji Pasalkar, Tanaji Malusare, Suryaji Malusare, Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Bapuji Mudgal, Narasprabhu Gupte, Sonopant Dabir were also with him from twelve Maval provinces. Shivaji must have shaken the mind of these lion-like mighty mavals in front of Shri Raireshwar Mahadev – “How long will we tolerate the subjugation of the Mughals? How long will we allow religion to be attacked for the sake of a few jagirs? Atrocities on cows-brahmins and women For how long will you bear? I cannot bear all this anymore. I have made a resolution”.
Shivaji’s powerful speech must have sent a wave among the Mavals and they must have said that Maharaj should express his wish. We will do as you say. Yes, we will do just that. Maharaj must have been excited by this type of answer from Mavals and he must have said, then come, let us all take a pledge in front of Mahadev Shri Raireshwar that “we will establish our kingdom. From now on the establishment of Hindavi Swarajya is the only aim of our life. We will bear all kinds of hardships, we will support each other in every situation. Taking Shri Raireshwar as witness, we pledge that we will dedicate our everything for the establishment of Swarajya”. Veer Shivaji said to further strengthen the faith of his comrades in the concept of ‘Hindavi Swarajya’ that it is not my wish but “Hindavi Swarajya is the wish of Srinchi”. That is, this desire for Hindavi Swarajya is the will of God.
The atmosphere of the pagoda became inspiring due to the vibration of Ojasvi Vani and the energy of auspicious resolution. The thing got stuck in the minds of the Mavals that the dream of Hindavi Swarajya is not of any one Shivaji, it is the dream of all of us and we are the warbankures who are useful for the divine work. Veer Balak Shiva expressed his dedication to the resolution of Hindavi Swarajya by anointing Shri Raireshwar Mahadev with the blood of his finger on 26 April 1645 and took the blessings of Mahadev. Shivaji Maharaj has also mentioned this pledge in one of his state-stamped letters in 1645.
This fort has cherished the memories of Veer Shiva. Whoever goes to the holy premises of Shree Raireshwar, the promised land of Hindavi Swarajya, definitely remembers the virtue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Takes a pledge to follow the national religion. Bharat Mata ki Jai. Glory to Hinduism. Chhatrapati declares Maharaj’s victory. In order to keep the memory of the pledge of Hindavi Swarajya, a big picture has been installed in the first pavilion of Shri Raireshwar Temple, in which Shivaji Maharaj is taking the pledge with his companions in front of Mahadev. That Shivling is still installed in the sanctum sanctorum, in front of which Shivaji had taken a vow to wake up the sleeping society. In the sanctum sanctorum, the divine Shivling of small size is illuminated. Here also on the front wall there is a large size picture depicting the pledge of Hindavi Swarajya. At this place, along with awakening the spirit of spirituality in the mind, there is a feeling of energy that gives courage.
(The author is assistant professor at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication.)
Read the Latest India News Today on The Eastern Herald.
