Chhaava Movie: Did You Know That Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's Samadhi Is In Pune District At Vadhu Budruk, Where He Was Killed Mercilessly By Aurangzeb?

"Chhaava," a period drama that portrays the legendary story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has taken Maharashtra and the country by storm since its release. The film stars Vicky Kaushal, who impressed audiences with his role as the Maratha ruler. The film, directed by Laxman Utekar, also stars Akshaye Khanna and Rashmika Mandanna.

The movie is receiving a lot of appreciation, especially in Maharashtra.

Vadhu Budruk

The eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha state, was Sambhaji Maharaj. He was mercilessly killed by Aurangzeb in Vadhu Budruk. Many are not aware that the village in Pune district's Shirur Tehsil houses the Samadhi of the great warrior Sambhaji Maharaj and his aide Kavi Kalash. Every year, hundreds of followers of the great king flood the village to pay tributes to him on his death anniversary.

The village was in the news during altercations over historical disagreements regarding who performed the last rites of Sambhaji Maharaj. The Marathas claim that the Shivale Deshmukhs, their progenitors, carried out his final ceremonies in defiance of Aurangzeb's commands. The Dalit narrative, however, claims that Govind Gopal carried out the king's final rituals.

All you need to know about Sambhaji Maharaj

Sambhaji Maharaj, the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was acclaimed for his bravery and patriotism throughout his nine years as the kingdom's second ruler after his father's death. From 1681 to 1689, he was in power. The continuous conflicts between the Marathas and the Portuguese Empire, the Siddi of Janjira, the Wadiyars of Mysore, and the Mughal Empire significantly influenced his reign.

One of Sambhaji Maharaj's most significant military operations, which even the film starts with, is the assault on Burhanpur, a significant Mughal city and commerce hub in modern-day Madhya Pradesh. He took this action to prevent Aurangzeb from spreading his influence over the Deccan.

Mughals Vs Marathas

Between 1682 and 1688, the Marathas and Mughals fought several battles. However, the Mughals failed in their attempt to seize control of Maratha-held forts. Chhatrapati Sambhaji, also known as Sambhuraje, executed roughly 24 members of powerful families two years after he came to power, after learning that some were plotting his murder.

He was deceitfully arrested by Aurangzeb on February 1, 1689, and after days of harassment, he was put to death in the "most horrible" way imaginable in Vadhu Budruk in Shirur Tehsil, which is a mere 40 km from Pune. The date of his execution was March 11, 1689.

However, Sambhaji Maharaj gained everyone's respect for his extraordinary courage in facing death to protect three of his most valued belongings: Deva, Desh, and Dharma. Maharashtra residents acknowledge and honor the hero for refusing to yield to Aurangzeb's tactics and choosing to die rather than jeopardize the cause he supported.