17th century

The 17th century was a crucial and action-filled era for Kolhapur (in present-day Maharashtra, India). This was the period when Shivaji Maharaj rose to power and founded the Maratha Empire—a movement that deeply influenced Kolhapur. From being part of the Adil Shahi Bijapur Sultanate, Kolhapur transitioned into a Maratha stronghold, eventually becoming a separate princely state toward the end of the century under Tarabai, Shivaji’s daughter-in-law.

1. Political Situation

• Early 1600s: Kolhapur remained under Adil Shahi (Bijapur Sultanate) rule, administered by local Muslim governors and Maratha sardars (chiefs).


• Mid-1600s:




• Shivaji Maharaj (r. 1674–1680) began erting control over western Maharashtra.


• He conducted campaigns in southern Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, challenging Adil Shahi rule.


• Kolhapur came under Maratha control as part of Shivaji’s expansion.




• Late 1600s:




• After Shivaji’s death, a power struggle emerged between Shambhaji (his son) and other factions.


• In 1689, after Shambhaji’s execution by the Mughals, Rajaram (his brother) took refuge in the forts of Kolhapur.


• Tarabai, Rajaram’s wife, set up an independent court in Kolhapur after his death, marking the birth of the Kolhapur branch of the Marathas by 1700.

2. Trade and Economy

• The Mahalakshmi temple remained a major economic center through:




• Land grants,


• Pilgrimage offerings,


• Artisan patronage.




• Trade routes were disrupted by warfare, but local markets survived, trading in:




• Agricultural products,


• Weapons, horses, and textiles.




• Kolhapur’s position near Goa and Karnataka allowed interaction with Portuguese traders, albeit indirectly.

3. Urban and Agriculture

• Kolhapur’s urban structure developed around:




• Forts,


• Mahalakshmi temple,


• Growing residential zones for Maratha elites.




• Rural development included:




• Tank irrigation,


• Sugarcane and rice farming,


• Village-level self-administration.




• Defensive constructions, including hill forts like Panhala, gained importance during Mughal-Maratha warfare.

4. Language and Inscriptions

• Marathi became the dominant administrative and literary language under Shivaji’s regime.


• Persian was used in earlier Adil Shahi documentation but declined over the century.


• Surviving records include:




• Farmans (royal orders),


• Land grants to soldiers and Brahmins,


• Donations to temples and scribes.

5. Religion and Culture

• Kolhapur’s Mahalakshmi temple thrived as a symbol of Maratha identity and divine blessing.


• Varkari saints and Bhakti poets like Tukaram and Ramdas had influence in local religious life.


• Shivaji’s coronation rituals emphasized the religious significance of Shakti, boosting Kolhapur’s status.


• Folk performance traditions, like powadas (heroic ballads) and kirtans, spread patriotic and devotional messages.