Jijau Janmotsav - When the Maratha host dumbstructs India.

The town Sindhkhed Raja brimmed with saffron on 12 January 2015. Nearly 12 lac Marathas all over India swooned over the chorus of "Jai Jijaau, Jai Shivray" and one could see men shaking hands of random people, as though they were long lost kins. Government entities such as Nitin Gadkari, Devendra Fadnavis staged speeches. Why?

Because of this man. This man whose Army held Indian seat of Delhi against the invasion of Mohammadshah Abdali, a brutal mughal invader. This man established a kingdom, an ideal one - "Swarajya". This man whose heir is the king for the day, given a place of honour above any entity in the world. This man, whom the host of 12 lac love by heart. 

The event was the birthday of Rajmata Jijabai.

A Queen Mother who nurtured all essential qualities in her son, Chhatrapati Shivaji, to realise her dream of Swarajya Birth12 January 1598 AccomplishmeA Queen Mother who nurtured all essential qualities in her son, Chhatrapati Shivaji, to realise her dream of Swarajya

Birth: 12 January 1598

Accomplishment has to seep into one’s mind before reaching one’s hand. The shape of a pot is entirely dependant on the potter’s skill and creativity. The same is true of an accomplished person. One, who on catching sight of a tiger is taught as a child to leap ahead and fight it as passionately as the tiger would, does not bother with foxes and dogs in life.

It was RajMata(Queen Mother) Jijabai who nurtured courage in her son Prince Shivaji through her own courageous example, to fight the enemy obstructing the establishment of Hindavi Swarajya.

Jijau was born to Mhalsabai and Lakhoji Jadhav, a commanding officer in charge of the Sindakhed territory (a part of Buldhana district today) under the Mughal reign. Jijau was exposed to her courageous father’s accomplishments right from birth. But as she matured, her perception of the subjection suffered by the Hindu under the Mughals grew. She developed an intense revulsion towards the helplessness proliferating among the Hindus.

In an age when young girls play with dolls to prepare themselves for a married life, Jijau was immersed in learning the fine art of sword fighting. Her mother Mhalsai nurtured Jijau’s courageousness by telling her tales of valour. Excited and inspired by these tales, Jijau compelled her father to send her for armament training.

The prevalent situation in the country was appalling. Hindus were supposed to be servants whose sole purpose in life was to loyally serve the Mughal dynasty and at the most become commanding officers of territories. They were forced to loot their own communities for the enemy (the Mughal) and even give an account of it to Mughal rulers. Artists were forced to sing the glory of the enemy and the disparagement of their own people before the Mughal.

The Muslim officers would assault the Hindu women. Young girls were being auctioned. A society, who had forgotten self rule and self-esteem, had become mute spectators to all this debauchery. The farmers were in an equally bad state. All their efforts went into filling the coffers of the Mughal rulers, leaving their own stomachs empty. Jijau could not bear to see this pathetic state of affairs. She wanted a courageous person who could fight against this injustice and debauchery. But unfortunately the man in her own household was a servant of the Mughal.

Jijau was married to ShahajiRajeBhosale in 1605. Two bright souls were joined in marriage, and yet Jijau’s dream of a Hindu rule did not see the light of day. She finally found recourse in prayer by appealing to Bhavani, the Goddess of valour and the deity of this land. She entreated to the Goddess to give her a son who would be bright, accomplished, and immensely capable of establishing Swarajya. She could see the turmoil of her accomplished husband. She could sense her husband being undervalued despite his great feats of valour under the reign of various Muslim rulers like Adilshah, Nizamshah and the Mughal. Jijau realised that though there was power, it was still just servitude under the Muslim ruler, with no recognition, security or benefit of the community. 

God knows how many women there have been who have decided one’s child’s purpose in life even before their birth, but Jijau was definitely one who achieved this feat and put an end to the decades old reign of marauders over the community.

Goddess Bhavani had to fulfil Jijau’s appeal since she too shared Jijau’s sorrow in the extended assault on her land. Her religion was drowning; her temples destroyed and idols broken. She too was looking for a capable mother who could appropriately nurture an accomplished son. Both therefore shared the same goal and requirement. Both shared the same dream of Hindu Swarajya. The result of this dream was the birth of Shivaji and thus was laid the foundation of Hindu Swarajya.

Jijau told Shivaji tales which startednt has to seep into one’s mind before reaching one’s hand. The shape of a pot is entirely dependant on the potter’s skill and creativity. The same is true of an accomplished person. One, who on catching sight of a tiger is taught as a child to leap ahead and fight it as passionately as the tiger would, does not bother with foxes and dogs in life. It was RajMata(Queen Mother) Jijabai who nurtured courage in her son Prince Shivaji through her own courageous example, to fight the enemy obstructing the establishment of Hindavi Swarajya. Jijau was born to Mhalsabai and Lakhoji Jadhav, a commanding officer in charge of the Sindakhed territory (a part of Buldhana district today) under the Mughal reign. Jijau was exposed to her courageous father’s accomplishments right from birth. But as she matured, her perception of the subjection suffered by the Hindu under the Mughals grew. She developed an intense revulsion towards the helplessness proliferating among the Hindus. In an age when young girls play with dolls to prepare themselves for a married life, Jijau was immersed in learning the fine art of sword fighting. Her mother Mhalsai nurtured Jijau’s courageousness by telling her tales of valour. Excited and inspired by these tales, Jijau compelled her father to send her for armament training. The prevalent situation in the country was appalling. Hindus were supposed to be servants whose sole purpose in life was to loyally serve the Mughal dynasty and at the most become commanding officers of territories. They were forced to loot their own communities for the enemy (the Mughal) and even give an account of it to Mughal rulers. Artists were forced to sing the glory of the enemy and the disparagement of their own people before the Mughal. The Muslim officers would assault the Hindu women. Young girls were being auctioned. A society, who had forgotten self rule and self-esteem, had become mute spectators to all this debauchery. The farmers were in an equally bad state. All their efforts went into filling the coffers of the Mughal rulers, leaving their own stomachs empty. Jijau could not bear to see this pathetic state of affairs. She wanted a courageous person who could fight against this injustice and debauchery. But unfortunately the man in her own household was a servant of the Mughal. Jijau was married to ShahajiRajeBhosale in 1605. Two bright souls were joined in marriage, and yet Jijau’s dream of a Hindu rule did not see the light of day. She finally found recourse in prayer by appealing to Bhavani, the Goddess of valour and the deity of this land. She entreated to the Goddess to give her a son who would be bright, accomplished, and immensely capable of establishing Swarajya. She could see the turmoil of her accomplished husband. She could sense her husband being undervalued despite his great feats of valour under the reign of various Muslim rulers like Adilshah, Nizamshah and the Mughal. Jijau realised that though there was power, it was still just servitude under the Muslim ruler, with no recognition, security or benefit of the community. God knows how many women there have been who have decided one’s child’s purpose in life even before their birth, but Jijau was definitely one who achieved this feat and put an end to the decades old reign of marauders over the community. Goddess Bhavani had to fulfil Jijau’s appeal since she too shared Jijau’s sorrow in the extended assault on her land. Her religion was drowning; her temples destroyed and idols broken. She too was looking for a capable mother who could appropriately nurture an accomplished son. Both therefore shared the same goal and requirement. Both shared the same dream of Hindu Swarajya. The result of this dream was the birth of Shivaji and thus was laid the foundation of Hindu Swarajya.

On the eve of Jijau Janmotsav, after one visits the birthplace of Jijabai, Jijau Srushti is the place where the whole of a host celevrates the royal birth. A cultural and infrastructural project of estimated 2100 crore INR, the art and beauty of the place is mesmerizing. Powadas are sung and bookstalls with a rich collection of Marathi literature are the major attractions.

Each year, the number of people visiting increases, and entities adorn the stafe with inspirational speeches. 

Know more about Jijau Srushti.

This whole festival is a demonstration of unity of an Indian clan that has given births to martyrs of past and future.

Read more about Jijau Janmotsav at Jijau Srushti, which means The Universe of Jijau.