SHIVAJI MAHARAJ CHILDHOOD
Shivaji maharaj passed the first six years of his life in highly unsettled conditions. Even so, Jijabai did not neglect his education. Every evening she would light the household lamps and then call Shivaji to her. She would shower all her affection on him and tell him stories of Rama and Krishna, of Bhim and Abhimanyu. On other occasions she would recite to him the devotional songs of Namdeo, Dnyaneshwar or Eknath. Shivaji maharaj liked to listen to the exploits of brave men. Shivaji maharaj felt that on growing up, he should also display valour like them. Jijabai used to tell him stories of many pious persons and saints. That instilled in him, a respect and honour for all saints and great men. Children from poor families came to play with Shivaji maharaj. Sometimes he visited them in their huts and shared their simple meal of onion and bhakri with great relish. They invented interesting games to pass the time. The children of the Mavlas were like birds in the forest. They would imitate the sound of the cuckoo or parrot or tiger to perfection. Their pastime was building small forts of earth and making earthern elephants and horses. They played hide and seek, or played with a ball or top. Shivaji maharaj joined them in all these games and became popular with them
SHIVAJI MAHARAJ EDUCATION Shahaji Raje himself was a scholar of Sanskrit. In the Bangalore court, he had under his patronage, artists and scholars of various languages. He appointed intelligent teachers for Shivaji maharaj. Shivaji maharaj education began when he became seven years old. Soon, Shivaji maharaj became skilled in the art of reading and writing. He began to read the stories from ‘Ramayan’, ‘Mahabharat’ and ‘Bhagwat’, on his own. To teach him warfare, Shahaji Raje had appointed some teachers. They began to teach Shivaji maharaj to ride a horse, to wrestle, to use swords and Dandpatta. Thus, at the age of twelve, Shivaji maharaj became acquainted with different branches of learning and arts. Soon, Adilshah sent Shahaji Raje on an expedition to conquer the States of the Nayakas (local chiefs) in Karnatak. Before setting out upon the expedition, Shahaji Raje sent Shivaji maharaj and Jijabai to Pune. With them, he sent elephants, horses, an infantry, a treasury, a flag,
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