Very soon, Sambhajiraje secured everything at Raigad, and started thinking about his accession to the throne. Upon this, his brothers-in-law, Mahadaji Nimbalkar, Ganoji Shirke, and Harji Mahadik suggested him,
“The Swami is going to sit on the throne and has parked security guards over the houses of his ministers, somehow this doesn’t feel right.”
Upon this, Sambhajiraje released all the officials who had been kept under imprisonment earlier. After this, on the day of Nagapanchami, Dt 20 July 1680, Sambhajiraje ascended the throne. However, his ritual coronation ceremony took place on the auspicious seventh day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Magha, Dt 16 January 1681. This way, the situation which had taken a turn for the worse initially, quickly turned around. Forgetting the prior anger, Sambhajiraje started administering the kingdom on the right track.
At the time of coronation ceremony, it was necessary to appoint his council of ministers. Hambirrao had captured Moropant, but he had not been kept under strict imprisonment. However, he could not bear the ignominy that had fallen upon him through sheer misfortune. All his accomplishments, done in the cause of Hindavi Swarajya, at times even without caring for his own life, had simply gone waste. And in that distress, he died in one or two months after his capture. Until the end of October, Sambhajiraje continued all the affairs of the Peshwa office using Moropant’s stamps and seals through his Mutalik (representatives). Thereafter he released Moropant’s son Nilopant and appointed him as Peshwa. Of course, he had begun taking care of the affairs three to four months before the actual coronation ceremony. Annajipant was also freed along with Nilopant and given the responsibility of Mujumdar. Annaji became the Amatya (Finance Minister). Prahlad Niraji was continued as Nyayadheesh (Chief Justice) and Moreshwar Raghunath as Panditrao (Religious Affairs). Shivaji Maharaj had appointed Janardanpant Hanmante as Dabir and the epithet of Sumant and had sent him to Panhala. Raghunath Narayan Hanmante did not accept Sambhajiraje, so his Amatya office was taken away and was given to Annaji. Annaji’s office of Surnis, i.e. Secretary was given to Ramchandra Nilkanth at the time of his imprisonment. Hambirrao had been retained as Commander-in-Chief. Kavi Kalash who had been appointed as Chhandogamatya by Shivaji Maharaj himself was continued in that office. The moment Sambhajiraje took the administration in his control, he included Kalash in the council of ministers. Balajibaba Chitnis, Shyamjibaba, and Aavji Ballal continued to hold their traditional posts. In summary, all the ministers had either been retained in their erstwhile posts or given different posts and provided assurance. So, there was no doubt, that at the time of his coronation, the atmosphere atop Raigad had calmed down and satisfaction prevailed. At this time, Sambhajiraje did not allow anger to rise, and avoided any untoward incidents through calm demeanour and patience. It is clear from the appointments to his council of ministers, that he had buried his hatred, and taken care to firm up the erstwhile familial bonds of love further.
Shivaji Maharaj had died while Adilshah, Mughals and Siddi had been hitting the Swarajya hard with their attacks. Due to this, even before taking over the reins of administration, Sambhajiraje had to pay attention to the Battle of Khanderi-Underi. Moropant had returned leaving the war with the Mughals in Khandesh-Baglan provinces in the middle. So Hambirrao had to be dispatched on that front. Besides, the troublesome enemy activities in Kalyan-Bhiwandi and Diu-Daman regions by the Portuguese had to be stopped. For this, apart from the force in Baglan under Moropant, Sambhajiraje himself amassed 20,000-strong force, attacked the Siddis from the front, and took care of the southern borders of the kingdom by attacking the Adilshahi sardars near Kolhapur. In such a situation, there were news reports being received, that Aurangzeb himself was on his way to Deccan.
To be continued…
NDHistories 