Siege of Panhala

At every place, Jijau had sent a message to Rayat and Shivray that he was a deserter. The Adil Shahi court was shocked to see the prowess of Shiva Raya at Pratapgarh and the killing of Afzal Khan. Since Afzal Khan was killed in this way, Adil Shah was in a state of dismay. Adilshah's fear had increased due to this. Shivaji Raj killed Afzal Khan. Defeated Rustamijman and took Panhalagad and started looting in Bijapur. After knowing all this, Adilshah's attitude remained on the floor. How to settle Shivaji Raj? All this was thought of by the court.

After the killing of Afzal Khan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Raja's army fell on them at the signal of a cannon. The trunk of the elephant was cut. Teeth were broken, camels were killed, immeasurable booty was obtained. Ammunition, guns seized. Khan's eldest son, Fazal Khan, escaped; But his two sons, Fitur Maratha Sardar and many others were imprisoned. The wives and children were abandoned.

Due to Khana's killing, the Marathi people got courage and the power of Shivaji Raj increased. Both the Bijapurkars and the Delhikar Moguls were frightened by the increasing prowess and movements of the Maharaja. Shivaji Raja should kill an experienced and mighty chieftain like Khana without killing his army; This matter was very much felt by the Bijapur people. Just then he got another news that Shivaji Raj won Panhala immediately. But then Fazal Khana planned a vigorous campaign. Siddi Johar was given the leadership of the ride.

Saddars such as Fazal Khan, Rustam Khan, Sadat Khan, who were enraged by the killing of Afzal Khan, received Siddi Johar with a large force. Maharaj was at Panhala fort at this time. Maharaj also had a small army. Siddhi Johar's huge army besieged Panhala on 2 March 1660. At this time, not one but two enemies had come upon Shivajiraj's small kingdom. Fazal Khan from Adil Shah, and his maternal uncle Shahiste Khan from Aurangzeb, entered Pune with a large army. Shahiste Khan was encamped in Shivaji Raja's Lal Mahal when he saw that Pune was under his control.

The Maharaja's residence, Jijau's favorite Lal Mahal was completely destroyed by Khana. As a child, in the Lal Mahal where mother Saheb performed the rites of her beloved Shivba, in the same Lal Mahal, alcohol and hookah started pouring in. A green sign had started flying over Pune. Aisaheb was worried at Rajgad. Panhala was trapped.

Netaji Palkar was defeated there. The Mughals attempted to swallow the Swarajya. Ai Saheb faced extreme difficulties, disappointing events, lack of army, subhedars who left Swaraj for the homeland, what a dire situation. Even in such a situation, Aisaheb was maintaining Swarajya and Gad Kilya. Despite the crisis of Shahistekhana, they were supporting Swarajya with a sad heart without wavering. Shivba's mother should be the one to endure the cruel atrocities of the Mughals. What kind of mauli would it be up to to keep calm when life-threatening calamities befall an only child? However, after bearing all the stress, Aisaheb was waiting for her son's visit. There was no one who could save and rescue his son who was brave and risky.

Siddhijohar was a brave chieftain in the eyes of the Bijapurkars; He was sent for the settlement of Shiv Raya. For almost three and a half months, Siddhijohar sat with great persistence and tightened the siege of Panhala. Shivaji Raje was in great trouble. There was no way out. The king of Maharashtra was in the arms of the enemy. Jijamate's life was hanging. All their attention was on Panhala. The enemy will be defeated and Maharaj will surrender. Ammunition and food stock in the fort was slowly running out. The enemy was vast. Maharaj and his army were in great peril. There was no possibility of getting help from outside

In Shivajiraj's absence, Jijau himself was looking after the affairs of Swarajya. Jijau stayed at Rajgad. She was thinking day and night about how to rescue her son who was trapped in the palace while staying at Rajgad. Shivba was worried. There was no way for the kings to escape by raising the siege of Siddhijohar or breaking it. How can the crisis be avoided by being cheap and desperate? Something must be done.

Then one day this brave mother got a strange impulse and started doing those things. Jijau decided that he himself should go with some troops and attack Siddhi Johar, who was besieging Panhala, and break the enemy's siege and bring his Shivbas. He started preparations for that. Gathering the forces that were not in the fort, Jijamata himself armed himself and proceeded towards Panhala. There, Netaji Palkar realized that Maharaj was stuck on the pavement. They attacked Bijapur. But Khavaskhana drove them six kos away. So Netaji Palkar left Bijapur and came to Rajgad to meet Matoshree Jijau. Netaji Palkar came to Raigad to meet and interrogate the Jijau alone as they were defending the Swarajya alone.

Seeing Netaji Palkar at the Rajgad, Jijau got very angry, said that 'Shivaba would have been stuck on the porch for many days' Do you like how you came here? So now I am the one who will rescue Shivbas and bring him' It was Netaji Palkar's turn to go in front of the angry mother. No one had the courage to speak in front of Ai Saheb, to stop them. Netaji was standing in front of Aisaheb in fear. As soon as Ai Saheb's eyes fell on Netaji Palkar, Ai Saheb became very angry, "When your king was in the frenzy of the enemy, you ran away in fear of the guerrillas, didn't you?" Well done! You didn't feel even a bit hesitant while coming back like that, did you?.

Now I myself go to Panhala and cut off Siddhijohar's head and rescue my Shiva. Now, it is difficult for me to stay away from Shivba even for a moment. Because it had been almost three months since the siege of Panhala. Maharaj was worried. But Dhir was not exhausted. Aisaheb was running before God. Pune and Lal Mahal were swallowed up by the Mughals. It had been almost forty days. Khan Lal Mahal was not ready to leave. In Pune, the name of Marathas and Swarajya was not even a trace. The entire region was razed to the ground by the Mughals

A very important feature of Maharaja's character is that at times, during times of crisis, the kings themselves used to come forward with a sword in hand. Therefore, not only the loyalty of many to the kings, but anyone and everyone was ready to help the kings with their heads in their hands. A good example of this is Shambhu Singh Jadhavrao, Baji Prabhu Deshpande, the descendants of Bandal Deshmukh and Lakhujiraje of Hirads Maval, whose blood sanctified Ghodhkhind. When the king escaped from Panhala, he shielded his breast and barred the pass till he reached Vishalgad and heard five gunshots. Shivaji Raja had told Shambhu Singh Jadhav Rao, Krishnaji Raja Naik Bandal, Baji Bandal, Fulaji Bandal, Rayaji Bandal that the enemy has come to face. I also stand with you and fight with the enemy; Then Shambhu Singh Jadhavrao and Bandal Deshmukh say, 'Die a million kings but don't die as a slave to millions! Shivaji Raja had a great collection of people only because of Jijau's guidance.

Shivaji Raje was able to escape even if the enemy's encampment was as big as Panhala. There were many compelling reasons for that. She is the blessing of Mother Bhawani Devi, heroes like Shambhu Singh Jadhavrao, Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Bandal Deshmukh, Tina Bandal Sena, Shiva Kashid who gave his life to save the life of Maharaja and sacrificed himself.