The Oath of Swaraj

The Temple at Raireshwar : To

the south-west of Pune, there is a beauty

spot called Raireshwar famous for its

temple. In the year 1645, an extraordinary

event took place there. Shivaji and a few

Mavlas from the neighbouring valley had

gathered there. Why had they come to this

lovely spot hidden in deep forest ? What

did they discuss and what favour did they

ask of Lord Shiva ?

The Fiery Eloquence of Young

Shivaji : Shivaji was still quite young

but his mind was already busy planning

big things. He opened his mind to his

playmates and said, “My dear friends,

today I am going to talk to you about

something which is in my mind for a long

time. My father Shahaji Raje is a Sardar at

the court of Bijapur. It is he who has given

me the charge of this Jagir. Everything is

going on well and peacefully. But, friends,

I am not happy. Must we always remain

satisfied as bondmen of the Sultan ? Must

we always eat out of other people’s hand ?

We are surrounded on all sides by foreign

kingdoms which are constantly at war.

Our people get killed for nothing during

these wars and family after family gets

uprooted. Our country suffers destruction.

And what do we get out of all this ?

Nothing but slavery. How long shall we

continue to tolerate this ? How long shall

we lay down our lives for others ? Shall

we allow this to continue just for the sake

of a small Watan ? What have you to say

about all this ?”

Shivaji was speaking with great

emotion and his face was red with anger.

In the middle of his speech he stopped

and looked at his companions. The

young Mavlas gathered there in the inner

sanctum of Raireshwar were greatly

thrilled by Shivaji’s speech. They had

seen a new vision. One of them said, “Our

young prince, tell us clearly whatever is

in your mind. We are prepared, we are

anxious to do your bidding.” “ Yes Raje,”

they all said with one voice, “We are with

you, we shall do whatever you say at the

cost of our lives if need be !”

The Oath of Swaraj : Shivaji

got fresh inspiration from their words.

Looking at each one of them he said,

“Friends, our path is clear. We shall all

strive to attain our ideal, work for it till it

is achieved. All should be ready even to

sacrifice their lives for this ideal which is

‘Hindavi Swaraj’. We will have our own

Raj, yours and mine and everybody’s. We

refuse to live as slaves any more. Let us

take this oath with Lord Raireshwar as

witness; we give ourselves completely

to the great task of establishing our own

Raj, Swaraj.”

The temple echoed the words of

Shivaji. “God thinks that this Kingdom

should take shape as Hindavi Swaraj. We

shall see that God’s wish is fulfilled.”

So the Mavlas left the temple,

committed to the oath of freedom, of

Swaraj. The mind of Shivaji was filledwith great joy. As soon as he reached Pune

he went straight to Lal Mahal to see his

mother. He described to her all that took

place at Raireshwar. Overjoyed, Jijabai

thought with satisfaction that Shivaji

would accomplish what was always in her mind