Indian History: Maratha Empire and Mythology

Murarbaji Deshpande was the military commander of Purandar fort who famously defended it against the Mughal forces led by Mirza Raje Jai Singh in 1665. His legendary resistance and eventual martyrdom are celebrated in Maratha history. Netaji Palkar served elsewhere, Baji Prabhu is associated with Pavankhind, and Moraji Panth is not a documented historical figure.

The Battle of Kondana (later renamed Sinhagad) was fought between Tanaji Malsure and the Mughal fortkeeper Uday Bhan Rathore in 1670. Both leaders died in the battle, but the Marathes captured the fort. Mirza Raje Jai Singh led earlier campaigns, and the other Rathore options are not documented historical figures.

Raghunath Rao, the younger brother of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, led the Maratha expedition to Punjab in 1750s and defeated Timur Shah Durrani (Abdali's son). Murarbaji died earlier, Shah Alam was a Mughal emperor, and Ahmed Shah Abdali (Durrani) was Timur's father, not the one defeated.

Historical records indicate that young Shivaji took an oath of swaraj (self-rule) at the Rohideshwar temple near Jejuri. This temple visit is documented as a significant moment when he resolved to establish Hindu independence. Bhavani Temple honors his patron deity, Pratapgad was a fort built later, and Raigad became his capital.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born at Shivneri Fort near Junnar in Pune district in 1630. The fort was named after the goddess Shivai Devi. Pratapgad was built later, Lal Mahal was in Pune city, and Vishalgad is a different fort entirely.

Baji Prabhu Deshpande fought the rear-guard Battle of Pavankhind in 1660 to protect Shivaji's escape to Vishalgad. He held the pass against a much larger Adilshahi force until he heard the cannon signal confirming Shivaji's safety, then died fighting. Suryaji Malsure was Tanaji's brother, Raghunath Rao was a later Peshwa.

Ahmed Shah Abdali (also spelled Ahmad Shah Durrani) led the Afghan forces that defeated the Maratha Empire in 1761. Aurangazeb died decades earlier in 1707, while Bahadur Shah II was a Mughal emperor much later in the 19th century.

Duryodhana's birth was accompanied by numerous ill omens - donkeys brayed, jackals howled, and fearful beasts roared. The wise men predicted that this child would destroy the Kuru lineage, which later proved accurate in the Kurukshetra war.

Yudhishtira, the eldest Pandava, was an expert charioteer. He had mastered the skills of charioteering along with warfare. While Arjuna was the archer, Nakula and Sahadeva excelled in swordsmanship and other martial arts, and Bhima was renowned for his mace prowess.

Bheeshma (born Devavrata) took the terrible vow of lifelong celibacy to allow his father King Shantanu to marry Satyavati, whose father demanded that her future children inherit the throne. This selfless act earned him the name 'Bheeshma' (the terrible) and the boon to choose his time of death.

Pandu succeeded his father as king because his elder brother Dhritarashtra was blind from birth and considered unfit to rule according to the customs of the time. This set up the central conflict between the Kauravas (Dhritarashtra's sons) and the Pandavas (Pandu's sons).