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As was the common practice of the time, Shahji and Jijabai started looking for a suitable bride for their 14-year-old son. Shahji expressed his desire to bring Shivaji to Bijapur and celebrate his marriage there. To this, Shivaji replied that as Bijapur had purely Mohammedan atmosphere, he preferred to have his marriage at Pune, where the ceremonies of Hindu religion could be performed without any obstruction. As a consequence, with the consent of Shahji, Shivaji’s marriage took place at Pune in 1640 with great pomp and eclat. The bride chosen was Saibai, a daughter of the distinguished Nimbalkar family.
After the function the family returned with their daughter-in-law at Bijapur. The king noticed Shivaji accompanying his father in the court and his humble etiquettes. Shivaji did not mind staying in Bijapur as far as his ethics were not hurt.
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But he had become aware of his cultural heritage as a Hindu and the strong religious feeling was taking hold over his heart and mind. In Bijapur, he came across the cow-slaughter issue. The cow is the most pious animal for a Hindu and slaughter of these pious creatures was intolerable for Shivaji. Rebelling against cow-slaughter was protesting against the king of Bijapur and especially when his father was one of the loyalists to the king. To avoid the controversy, Shivaji wanted to leave Bijapur. While Shahji and Jijabai were deciding on sending Shivaji out of Bijapur, a new issue came up in the court. It is said that when Shivaji accompanied Shahji to the court, the Sultan asked him whether Shivaji was married. When he came to know about Shivaji’s marriage out of Bijapur, he insisted that Shivaji’s second marriage should take place in Bijapur.
Bigamy was prevalent and accepted in those days. With all the pomp and fair Shivaji was wedded to his second bride chosen from the select Maratha nobility. This second wife of Shivaji was named Soyarabai. |
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