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, as also trusted ministers, brave generals and renowned teachers. When Shivaji maharaj returned to Pune, his education continued under the supervision of Jijabai. While returning from Bangalore, Jijabai and Shivaji maharaj were accompanied by eminent teachers sent by Shahaji Raje. They taught him many sciences, branches of learning and languages. Shivaji maharaj acquired the knowledge of excellent administration, war tactics, fort architecture, selection of horses and elephants, ways of escaping from difficult enemy territories and many other things. Shivaji maharaj progress in education pleased Jijabai very much.