Shivaji took over his first fort away from Adilshah in 1645. In the mean time considering that Shivaji was gaining more power in Maharashtra, Mogul sultan sent Afzalkan down south in 1656.

Adilshah in the mean time was taken sick, and his state was in a disarray. Afzalkhan was in the south. Shivaji took advantage of the situation and took over Jawali in May of 1656. Afzalkhan met Shivaji with plans to kill him but lost his own life instead.

In 1659 when Shahajahan became sick and died Auragzeb took the throne. In June 1659 he sent Shahistekhan to take care of the south. When Afzalkhan was killed, Shahistekhan took over Pune, where Shivaji grew up. Shivaji taught him a good lesson and made him get out of Pune.

It seems Aurangzeb was the only one who understood Shivaji the best. Mirza Raje Jayasingh was one of Aurangzeb�s trusted advisor. He is the one who advised Auranzeb to invite Shivaji to Delhi and put him under house arrest. It was him who insisted that no harm should come to Shivaji. Shivaji ran away in time, but had to leave his nine year old son Sambhaji behind. Sambhaji returned home a few months later.

 In 1674 at the age of 44 Shivaji claimed himself as a sovereign king.

Shivaji had eight wives. His elder son Sambhaji was born to his first wife Saibai, who died soon after he was born. Shivaji�s mother Jijabai took care of young Sambhaji.

It seems during last few months of his personal life was in a disarray. His wife Soyerabai who wanted her son to be the crowned prince had enlisted few of Shivaji�s councilmen in her camp. And then there was Samaji became sick at the end of Marcbhaji who had the military backing.

Although there is no factual baking to the story that Shivaji was poisoned, there is a proof that shows that Shivaji had requested for poison antidote from English tradesmen. Shivh 1680 and died on April the 3^rd 1680.

Shivaji was religious, he wasn�t fanatic. He was strong, he wasn�t violent. He was adventurous, he wasn�t careless. He was a businessman, he wasn�t aimless. He was dreamer, but he also had strength to bring those dreams to reality. He was never a collector of paintings or art, he didn�t have any poets in his court.  His contemporaries were ignoring draught, poverty, English invasion and were busy erecting Taj Mahal. Shivaji could not ignore these things, he neither had time nor money to build Temples or Ghats or hospitals. It was said at the time that since he did neither of the above, there wouldn�t have place in the heaven for him. But taking care of people as whole is any King�s first obligation. For that he has to fight, compete, rise to the occasion, make concessions at times, make some promises and break some promises. These are king�s duties. One that satisfies these duties gets well wishes from his people and that is what opens the doors of heaven for him. A King does not have personal love/hate, honor/dishonor.

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