6. Conflict with the Mughals

The correct chronological order of the events is:

1. (6) Shaistakhan's invasion (February 1660)
2. (2) Raid on Lal Mahal (5 April 1663)
3. (5) Treaty of Purandar (June 1665)
4. (3) Escape from Agra (1666)
5. (4) Coronation (6 June 1674)
6. (1) Southern campaign of Shivaji Maharaj (October 1677)

• (1) A dictionary containing Sanskrit words — Rajya-vyavahara-kosha
• (2) He won Trimbakgad — Moropant Pingale
• (3) This Sardar was defeated at Vani-Dindori — Daudkhan
• (4) A place where the British, Dutch and French had their factories — Surat

Shivaji Maharaj realised that to win general recognition for Swaraj as a sovereign independent State, a formal coronation was necessary. On 6 June 1674, he had himself coronated at Raigad by Gagabhatt, a learned Pandit, and became the Chhatrapati of the Swaraj. As a symbol of sovereignty, the Rajyabhisheka shaka (coronation era) was started. Special coins, a gold coin called Hon and a copper coin called Shivrai, were minted with the legend 'Shri Raja Shivachhatrapati' inscribed on them. Later, on 24 September 1674, a second coronation was performed under the guidance of Nischalpuri Gosavi to honour the Tantric tradition.

Following the Treaty of Purandar, Jaisingh proposed that Shivaji Maharaj should visit Agra and meet the Mughal Emperor, guaranteeing his safety. Shivaji Maharaj visited Agra with Prince Sambhaji and a few trusted people. However, Aurangzeb did not treat him with due honour at his court, which enraged Maharaj. Consequently, the Emperor put him under house arrest. Undeterred, Maharaj devised a clever plan and successfully escaped from Agra. Leaving Sambhaji Raje at Mathura, he reached Maharashtra safely after a few days and proceeded to Rajgad.

Three years after his coronation, in October 1677, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj undertook a campaign of the South. He first went to Golconda and entered into a treaty of friendship with the Qutubshah. Later, he won Bengaluru, Hoskote in Karnataka, Jinji, Vellore, and other forts in today's Tamil Nadu and Adilshahi territories. He appointed Raghunath Narayan Hanamante as the chief administrator for these conquered territories and also tried to persuade his half-brother, Vyankoji, to participate in the activities of Swaraj.

Extensive preparations were made for the coronation. An extremely valuable and grand throne was constructed, featuring eight bejewelled pillars on its eight sides and studded with precious jewels using thirty-two 'mann' of gold. A dictionary showing Sanskrit alternatives for Persian words, known as the Rajya-vyavahara-kosha, was prepared. Special gold (Hon) and copper (Shivrai) coins were minted. Plenty of money, clothes, elephants, and horses were donated to the great scholars who travelled from different regions to attend the ceremony.

To curb the increasing activities of Shivaji Maharaj, Aurangzeb sent a powerful and experienced Rajput Sardar, Mirzaraja Jaisingh. Jaisingh rallied all forces against Maharaj, and Mughal forces severely ravaged the territories of Swaraj. When Jaisingh and Dilerkhan laid an intense siege to the fort of Purandar, Murarbaji Deshpande fought courageously but died a hero's death. Considering the immense seriousness of the situation and the threat to Swaraj, Shivaji Maharaj began talks for a treaty with Jaisingh, which ultimately resulted in the Treaty of Purandar being signed in June 1665.

Immediately after returning from Agra, Shivaji Maharaj did not want any conflict with the Mughals. However, he strongly wanted to recapture the twenty-three forts and the adjoining territories that he had been forced to surrender to the Mughals under the Purandar treaty. To achieve this, he prepared a comprehensive and bold plan to launch an offensive, strategically capturing forts by sending a well-equipped army while keeping the Mughals unstable by invading their Deccan territories.