Is it true that Marathi Brahmins refused to do 'Rajyabhishek' of...
Shivkumar Somvanshi@__shivv_09
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Sep 07, 2026
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Is it true that Marathi Brahmins refused to do 'Rajyabhishek' of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
The fact is that none of the Brahmins really opposed the coronation of Shivaji Raje.
The fact is that none of the Brahmins really opposed the coronation of Shivaji Raje.
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The Aindrābhisheka of Shivaji Maharaj, was performed by Vedonarayan Gagabhatta, a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin, who was considered to be the greatest Brahmin of that time.
No brahmin opposed the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj. It was simply the inability to perform coronation.
There was “no learned Brahmin” in Deccan who could perform the Vedic rites of Rājyabhiśek due to continuous Islamic rule of 300 years. Even the likes of Samrat Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and such had done coronation by Pauranik rites and not Vaidik.
No brahmin opposed the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj. It was simply the inability to perform coronation.
There was “no learned Brahmin” in Deccan who could perform the Vedic rites of Rājyabhiśek due to continuous Islamic rule of 300 years. Even the likes of Samrat Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and such had done coronation by Pauranik rites and not Vaidik.
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Contrary to baseless propaganda, it was Shri Vishweshwar Gagabhatta himself who approached Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja for this coronation, not the other way around.
This is simply the truth, and there are NO other versions of this event in any contemporary source.
This is simply the truth, and there are NO other versions of this event in any contemporary source.
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Gagabhatt, then wrote a book to describe the coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj, named as "Śivrājyābhiśek Prayog"
Edited by VS Bendrey, great historical scholar.
VS Bendrey clarified in the Preface: Mahāraj was taken to bathing hall & all his ministers poured milk and water, and said, "महते क्षत्राय महते अधिपत्याय, महते जनार्दनाय वो भरता सोमो ऽस्माकम् ब्राह्मणानां राजा", thus making him king of all including Brahmins.
Edited by VS Bendrey, great historical scholar.
VS Bendrey clarified in the Preface: Mahāraj was taken to bathing hall & all his ministers poured milk and water, and said, "महते क्षत्राय महते अधिपत्याय, महते जनार्दनाय वो भरता सोमो ऽस्माकम् ब्राह्मणानां राजा", thus making him king of all including Brahmins.
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Henry Oxenden was sent as an envoy from the EIC factory to Shivaji Maharaj's coronation.
He was at Raigad fort for about a month but he did not mention anywhere in his record about such controversy.
But Oxenden records that the large number of Brahmins from neighbouring countries also attended the coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj.
English records mention that Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation ceremony was attended by over 20,000 Brahmins!
Source: English records on shivaji, letter no 439
Link:archive.org/details/in.ern…
He was at Raigad fort for about a month but he did not mention anywhere in his record about such controversy.
But Oxenden records that the large number of Brahmins from neighbouring countries also attended the coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj.
English records mention that Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation ceremony was attended by over 20,000 Brahmins!
Source: English records on shivaji, letter no 439
Link:archive.org/details/in.ern…
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Historian Jadunath Sarkar has developed some myths about Coronation & lineage of Shivaji Maharaj in his book "SHIVAJI AND HIS TIMES".
Jadunath Sarkaar to substantiate his information, has given the reference of Shivdigvijay Bakhar.
Shivdigvijay Bakhar is extremely unreliable and not a contemporary bakhar (Jadunath Sarkar himself says so! 👇)
But Sarkar's information resembles only Shivdigvijay Bakhar.
No other bakhar has even questioned Shivaji Maharaj's Genealogy or Kshatriyahood.
Jadunath Sarkaar to substantiate his information, has given the reference of Shivdigvijay Bakhar.
Shivdigvijay Bakhar is extremely unreliable and not a contemporary bakhar (Jadunath Sarkar himself says so! 👇)
But Sarkar's information resembles only Shivdigvijay Bakhar.
No other bakhar has even questioned Shivaji Maharaj's Genealogy or Kshatriyahood.