Rajmata Jijabai: Shivaji Maharaj’s Inspiration and the Visionary of Hindavi Swaraj

FACT Museum
Jul 2
7 min read

Updated: Jul 10

In the grand saga of India’s struggle for self-rule, certain names shine brightly. Among them is Rajmata Jijabai, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. She was more than a royal matriarch — she was the first ideologue of Hindavi Swaraj, the deeply rooted idea that Indians should rule themselves, in accordance with their own dharma, culture, and values.

While Shivaji is rightly celebrated as the founder of the Maratha Empire, it was Jijabai who planted the first seeds of rebellion — not through war, but through education, conviction, and an unwavering belief in the righteousness of the cause. She is a rare example of a woman who shaped the course of history not from a throne or battlefield, but from the quiet, disciplined life of a mother raising a future king.

A Childhood Marked by Courage

Born around 1598 into the Jadhav family of Sindkhed in present-day Maharashtra, Jijabai grew up in a household steeped in martial tradition and strong Hindu values. Her father, Lakhoji Jadhav, was a respected Maratha noble who served under the Nizamshahi Sultanate of Ahmednagar. Jijabai’s early life was shaped by both warfare and political intrigue, as the Deccan region was a hotbed of struggle among the Mughal Empire, the Deccan Sultanates, and emerging Maratha clans.

Jijabai was married at a young age to Shahaji Bhonsle, a prominent Maratha general whose shifting allegiances among sultanates reflected the survival tactics of Hindu nobility during that period. While Shahaji served various Muslim courts, Jijabai harbored a quiet but burning discontent. She saw the humiliation of dharmic leaders forced to serve foreign rulers, the destruction of temples, and the erosion of civilizational pride.

Even at a young age, she began nurturing an inner vision: that Bharatvarsha, the sacred land of India, must one day be governed by her own children—not as slaves of foreign courts, but as sovereign rulers.

Shivneri and the Birth of a Vision

In 1630, during a period of conflict and instability, Jijabai gave birth to her son Shivaji in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near Junnar. It was not an ordinary birth. She believed that he had come into the world for a divine purpose — and from that moment on, her life was entirely dedicated to preparing him for that destiny.

While Shahaji remained mostly away, occupied with military campaigns under the Adilshahi Sultanate, Jijabai took charge of Shivaji’s education. She became his mentor, moral compass, and spiritual guide. She didn't merely raise a prince — she sculpted a warrior-statesman, deeply grounded in dharma and justice.

She taught him stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata Purana, but always with a purpose: to instill the ideals of righteousness, courage, and leadership. Shivaji learned about Lord Rama’s exile, Krishna’s diplomacy, and Arjuna’s dilemmas — not as myths, but as blueprints for ethical governance and fearless action.

Pune: Cradle of Swaraj

When Shivaji was still a child, Shahaji entrusted Jijabai with the administration of Pune — a region devastated by wars and raids. At the time, Pune was barely more than a ruin. But Jijabai, with a quiet determination and vision, began to transform it. She restored temples, revived agriculture, and re-established Hindu cultural life.

She personally oversaw village settlements, helped poor farmers, and offered shelter to Brahmins and artisans. Her rule was just, kind, and culturally rooted — a miniature Swaraj in itself.

At the same time, she ensured that Shivaji was trained in politics, military strategy, and ethics. She encouraged his early raids against enemy outposts, and when he returned with victories, she reminded him that these were not personal triumphs, but steps toward a larger mission — the restoration of dharma and protection of the common people.

The Silent Strategist Behind the Throne

Though Jijabai never picked up a sword, her role was deeply political. She opposed alliances with the Mughal Empire, resisted the forced cultural assimilation that came with foreign rule, and consistently advised Shivaji to pursue autonomy. When his advisors debated diplomacy with Bijapur or Delhi, it was Jijabai who reminded Shivaji of the greater goal: Hindavi Swaraj — Indian rule for Indian people.

Saints like Samarth Ramdas and Tukaram visited her, and she was known for her devotion to Lord Rama. She was not a narrow sectarian figure; her vision of Swaraj was inclusive, ethical, and justice-driven. For Jijabai, dharma was not ritual, but a code of conduct — based on compassion, order, and service.

Witnessing a Dream Realised

In 1674, at the grand age of around 76, Jijabai witnessed the fulfillment of her life’s greatest dream. After decades of resistance, battles, diplomacy, and endurance, Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort in a grand Hindu coronation ceremony. Vedic priests from across the country were invited, ancient rituals were revived, and the Maratha king was declared the protector of dharma.

It was a moment of deep emotion for Jijabai. The boy she had once cradled at Shivneri was now the sovereign of a powerful and independent kingdom. Her vision of Hindavi Swaraj had taken form — not merely as a political state, but as a symbol of Indian self-respect and renaissance.

But fate, ever so poignant, had one final turn.

Her Death: The End of an Era

Just twelve days after Shivaji’s coronation, Rajmata Jijabai passed away peacefully at Raigad. Some accounts suggest she had long prayed to witness her son’s coronation before she died — and once that wish was fulfilled, her soul departed in satisfaction. Her death marked not just the loss of a beloved mother, but the passing of the first moral architect of the Maratha Empire.

Her funeral was held with full royal honours. Shivaji, devastated by her death, was said to have withdrawn for days. He had lost not only his mother, but his closest advisor, teacher, and inner voice. She had been the light that guided him — and now he had to walk alone, carrying her legacy forward.

Legacy and Reverence

Rajmata Jijabai remains one of the most revered women in Indian history. Schools, universities, and institutions across Maharashtra bear her name. She is remembered not only as Shivaji’s mother, but as a nationalist visionary, centuries ahead of her time.

Her story is a reminder that revolutions are not born only on battlefields — they begin in homes, in the minds of mothers, and in the quiet resilience of those who dare to dream differently.

In today’s India, as the idea of Swaraj continues to evolve, Jijabai’s life offers a powerful lesson: true leadership begins with values, vision, and the courage to shape the future — one child at a time.