By : Vijay Rawoot
In Buddhism there is a transcendent state called Nirvana in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism. Now all over the world Buddhism is known as the religion of peace. Even Samrat Ashoka gave up his ambition to expand his kingdom through war after Kalinga episode and surrendered to Buddha. That was the greatness of Buddha and whoever goes to his ideology thinks of attaining Nirvana
Shivaji after trouncing his most of the enemies had become an undisputed King of Maratha Empire after his coronation at Raigad. Later he started his famous South India Expedition Dakshin Digvijay. During that time along with warfare and diplomacy, he also visited lot many holy places of South. He had been to Titupati and witnessed the exorbitant wealth of Lord Vishnu. After that in 1677 he traveled to Shri Sailam ... another spiritual place where Lord Shiva's incarnation is worshiped. After taking the darshan of the deity, he had the feeling of taking Vairagya , leave everything and go on the path of Nirvana. It's believed that he was about to offer his sacrifice there but some divine power intervened him from going ahead. Whenever I visit Raigad, more than Shivaji's Coronation Ceremony or other events, my heart n mind keeps on I think of his last days on this capital fort. The politics of Soyarabaee - wife and the Queen and Brahmin Ministers to keep Shivaji's brave handsome son Sambhaji out of power had made his life painful at the end. On the last day when he was on the death bed, he asked everyone to go out of the room, took bath, applied ash (Bhasm) on his body, wore Rudrakhs Malas around the neck and became ready for final journey. This was kind of Nirvana state of mind of this great King. From there his soul left his body for heavenly path.
After fighting with five different enemies, most close encounter with Aurangzeb for nine consecutive years, Shivaji's cub Sambhaji too must have been fatigued. A motherless child, right from his youth must have had enough of his character assassination, step mother's attitude, treachery , heartbreak (If Godavari's incidence believed to be true), day n night fights against multiple enemies and so on. If this bravest of brave King was thinking of Nirvana, it should not be irrational logic for sure. If this fighter thinking of moving on spiritual path, whether to attain Moksha or not is debatable issue if we think of his age of just 32 years then. But spending his most of the days at Sangameshwar must be step in that direction. Sambhaji, aggressive fighter but also was a poet certainly must have attracted to this place to surrender to the Supernatural. But the treachery by his own brother in law Ganoji Shirke, helped Mukarrab Khan caught Sambhaji at Sanagameshwar certainly not before the gallantry fight by this young fighter king. Sambhaji was taken to Tulapur after his infamous procession at Bahadurgad. The King of Maratha's paraded in the city, riding on a camel in clone's attire with wooden cap. What a painful scene ! Certainly plenty of cyclones must have been raised in his mind. Then Tulapur ... Everyday a new test ... physical, psychological and what not ! Forty days of hell he had to suffer day and night. What must be thoughts in his mind ? Torture of the worst kind from thrashing on the bare chest n back with the hunter , taking off the nails, skinning the body to piercing hot iron into the eyes ! And there was no word from his mouth about surrendering for the sake of life.
Sambhaji left food and water in the final days of this bloody imprisonment. There I think he started walking on the path of Nirvana that was shown by Buddha , till his head was chopped off finally by the barbarians on the fortieth day of his capture !
Did Warrior father and son duo embraced the Nirvana path shown by Buddha ?
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