Shivsrushti: Where History Becomes Alive

Photo Credit: Vaastu Vidhan

The magnum opus 'Shiva Bawavani' as "Kashi ki Kala Jati, Mathura Masjid Bhayi, Agar Shivaji na hote, to Sunnat hoti sabki," No other poet is as profound as Kavi Bhushan to describe the civilizational importance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Defense Minister of India Yashwantrao Chavan described the importance of Shivaji Maharaj, as, "Had there been no Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the entire world knows what would have the fate of India. There would not have been a need to go very far to find Pakistan border. Perhaps the border could have been found outside your and my house." 

Union Home and Co-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah quoted this in the inauguration ceremony of first phase of the Shivsrushti at Pune, a dream of the late Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare come true. 

Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare had dedicated his life to bringing Shivaji Maharaj to people with every tool at his disposal. He did extensive research from the primary sources of history on Shivaji Maharaj. He left no stone unturned to get hold on the sources of history like Sanads, Letters, Chronicles (Bakhar), foreign traveler's accounts and many more. His quest for studying and presenting the history of Shivaji Maharaj continued till his last breath. After doing a considerable research he came up with his magnum opus 'Raja Shivchhatrapati' a chronicle based on evidences (Purava Adharit Bakhar). 

Photo Credit: Vaastu Vidhan

Babasaheb Purandare didn't stop there. He gave a whopping 12,000 lectures on Shivaji Maharaj at multiple occasions, places across the world. He wrote and curated the magnum opus play named 'Janata Raja' where he staged Shivaji Maharaj's history at a massive scale. There have been 1,200 shows of the play across the world and counting. 

The idea of 'Shivsrushti' an exhibition where history shall become alive came to Babasaheb's mind. In the year 1967 he came together with Chhatrpati Pratapsinh Maharaj, descendant of Shivaji Maharaj at Satara, Rajmata Sumitraje Bhosale to form Maharaja Shivchhatrapati Pratishthan. He donated the proceedings from these 12,000 lecture and 1200 shows of Janata Raja for the erection of Shivsrushti at Ambegaon near Pune, of which the first phase has been inaugurated by Union Home and Co-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah. 

Shivsrushti is probably one of the best exhibitions where every modern tool, technology has been used to bring history to live. The technologies of holography, project mapping, motion simulations, 3D, 4D tech, Audio-visual tech are employed. Miniatures of historical forts Shivaji Maharaj built, captured have been erected. The historical tools, weapons are at display. In the second and subsequent phases the replicas of Rajsabha, Jagadishwar Temple at Raigad, replicas of various forts, temples shall be dedicated to people. 

Replica of Jagadishwar Mahadeo at Raigad. 
Photo Credit: Vaastu Vidhan

Union Home and C0-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah, being an admirer of the Maratha history stated that no other day would have been accurate to inaugurate the first phase than the Birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj. Shah quoted Maithilisharan Gupt's stanza about Shriram, "Ram tera charit swayam hi kavya hai, kavi ban jae to sahaj sambhavya hai.." Babasaheb also quoted it and stated that it also applies to Shivaji Maharaj. 

HM Amit Shah stated that Shivaji Maharaj carried out multiple projects of for Panchangshuddhi, he encouraged to write Karankaustubh Granth, the Raj Vyavahar Kosh for Bhasha Shuddhi. Where 1400 words were stated down to replace foreign words with Sanskrit, and Sanskrit originated Indian languages. Shivaji Maharaj carved his Rajmudra in Sanskrit, ending with the words "Esha Mudra Bhadray Rajate" that describes the vision of Lok kalyan. 

HM Stated that Shivaji Maharaj was the torch bearer of Dev, Desh, and Dharma. He rebuilt many temples razed by Muslim and Christian invaders. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured and rebuilt the Arunachalam temple of Tiruvannamalai during his Dakshin Digvijaya. He rebuilt the Raj Daivat of Goa Shri Saptkoteshwar razed by Portuguese forces. The Govt. of Goa has recently renovated the Saptkoteshwar temple and dedicated it to the people. 

HM Amit Shah also stated that the movement of Swaraj did not with Shivaji Maharaj but grew eternally to the glory. Sambhaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Bajirao Peshwa, Madhavrao Peshwa took the legacy forward to build the empire. The legacy of Dev, Desh and Dharma, in the form of recapturing, reconstructing the razed temples was also carried forward by many including Shahu Maharaj, Bajirao, Madhavrao Peshwa, and Ahilyabai Holkar. Shah stated that Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji is also following the legacy with the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, gold plating of the Somnath temple, Kedarnath and the Ram Mandir. Shivaji Maharaj not just brought in Swarajya, Sushasan, and Swadharm but also brought back the glory and 'Swatwa' among the Hindus. 

It is pertinent to quote Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare from his 'founder's message' for Shivsrushti, where he says, "To make our great nation even greater every generation has to develop their national character.. ideal values and ethics need to be installed in our youth. Hence, to endeavor this colossal task the life history of Shivaji Maharaj is one of the great sources from yore.. history is the most valued treasure." The project of Shivsrushti which will be Asia's largest historical theme park when completed shall inscribe a sense of pride, and righteousness in the minds of generations to come. 

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