Today, June 6th (2026), is mostly remembered the anniversary of D-Day but I noticed that it was also an anniversary relating to Shivaji being crowned as the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire at Raigad Fort in 1674. To find out more I asked Gemini:
It is incredibly fitting that you are asking about this today—today, June 6, 2026, marks exactly the 352nd anniversary of this monumental event in Indian history. The coronation (or Rajyabhishek) of Shivaji Maharaj was much more than a grand ceremony; it was a profound political and cultural declaration that changed the map of the Indian subcontinent.
Here is a complete breakdown of the character, the event, and its lasting significance.
The Character: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Shivaji Bhonsale I (1630–1680) was a brilliant military strategist, administrator, and visionary leader. Born to a military general who served various Deccan Sultans, Shivaji began capturing forts while still in his teens.
By the early 1670s, through sheer tactical brilliance, the mastery of guerrilla warfare (Ganimi Kava), and the establishment of a strong naval fleet, he had carved out a massive, independent territory. He controlled roughly 300 forts across the western Indian coastline and the strategic Sahyadri mountains, successfully fighting off both the declining Deccan Sultanates and the heavily resourced Mughal Empire led by Aurangzeb.
Chhatrapati of the Marathas
The Event: The 1674 Coronation
Despite ruling a vast and powerful territory, Shivaji was technically still considered a rebellious zamindar (landlord) or a rogue commander by the Mughal Emperor and the regional Sultans. In the eyes of the era's diplomacy, a ruler without a formal crown commanded no legal royal authority. To negotiate on equal footing and secure the loyalty of his subjects, a formal coronation was strictly necessary.
The event took place at Raigad Fort, the heavily fortified and nearly impenetrable capital of his empire, perched high in the mountains.
The 1674 Rajyabhishek Ceremony
The preparations and the ceremony itself were an enormous undertaking, attended by nearly 50,000 people.
Event Details
Information
Date
June 6, 1674
Location
Raigad Fort, Maharashtra
Chief Priest
Gaga Bhatt (Vishweshwara Pandit), a renowned Brahmin scholar from Varanasi.
Key Rituals
The Indrabhishek (sacred ablution), where water from seven holy rivers was poured over Shivaji's head from a gold vessel.
Titles Assumed
Chhatrapati (Paramount Sovereign) and Shakakarta (Founder of an Era).
Gaga Bhatt played a crucial role in the event. Because historical texts dictated that only a true Kshatriya (warrior class) could be crowned king, Gaga Bhatt thoroughly researched and authenticated Shivaji's royal lineage, successfully pacifying regional opposition and allowing the complex Vedic rituals to proceed.
The Significance of the Event
The coronation at Raigad was a watershed moment in Indian history for several critical reasons:
Establishment of Sovereignty: By taking the title of Chhatrapati, Shivaji declared absolute independence. He was no longer a vassal to any sultan or emperor; he was the legally recognized, sovereign monarch of the newly established Maratha Empire.
Hindavi Swarajya (Self-Rule): During a century when the vast majority of the Indian subcontinent was ruled by Islamic empires (the Mughals in the north, the Adilshahi and Qutbshahi sultanates in the south), the coronation marked the formal birth of a powerful, independent Hindu state. It was a massive symbol of cultural and political resilience.
Administrative Reforms: Following his coronation, Shivaji formalized his government. He established the Ashta Pradhan (a highly organized council of eight ministers), promoted Sanskrit and Marathi in official courts to replace Persian, and organized a formal standing army and navy.
The Fall of the Mughals: This event laid the institutional foundation for the Maratha Empire. The state Shivaji formalized in 1674 would eventually grow to become the dominant power in India throughout the 18th century, directly leading to the decline and territorial collapse of the Mughal Empire before the British took control.
By crowning himself Chhatrapati on that June morning, Shivaji transformed from a highly successful rebel commander into the father of an empire that would shape the destiny of India for the next century and a half.
Of course Meher Baba said that he had been a minor incarnation of Shivaji and I got Notebook LM to find out more about this:
The Avataric Lineage of Meher Baba and Shivaji
Meher Baba explicitly stated that for certain spiritual work, there occur in varying centuries two types of Avataric incarnations: major and minor. He revealed to his disciples that he was the Maratha warrior-king Shivaji in a past minor incarnation.
Here are the key details and connections Meher Baba made regarding his past life as Shivaji:
Shivaji's Character and Spiritual Mission
Meher Baba held Shivaji in the highest regard, stating that despite how European historians painted him, "there was no warrior so brave, so sincere, so clever, so gentle, or so pure".
Comparison to Other Leaders: Baba compared him favorably against other great historical leaders, noting that while Napoleon was brave, he was also proud, greedy, and vicious. Shivaji, however, was neither proud nor greedy, making him "the greatest warrior of them all" and "the only great king of the Hindus since the time of Ashoka". Baba praised Shivaji's bravery, noting that even when a situation was hopeless, he never ran away and adhered to a "do or die" spirit.
Devotion to His Guru: Baba explained that Shivaji was a perfect devotee and a true disciple of his Spiritual Master, the Sadguru Swami Ramdas. Everything Shivaji did, including his military trickeries, was guided by his guru, and Shivaji went so far as to offer his entire kingdom to him.
Preparing for the Avatar: Historically, Shivaji founded the Maratha kingdom in the 17th century and fought against the oppression of the Moghul ruler Aurangzeb to preserve Hindu religious freedom. Baba explained that, although veiled from his true identity at the time, Shivaji's actions reorganized India and prepared the consciousness of the Muslims and Hindus in the Deccan plateau for the advent of the Avatar.
Physical Similarities and the Avataric Circle
Baba revealed that the human forms a Master and his circle take during their manifestation are similar in stature and of the same sex as they had when the "seed" for their circle was sown. Therefore, Baba claimed that his present form was similar to Shivaji’s in features and build.
Furthermore, Baba revealed that the close disciples and companions surrounding him in his current advent were exactly as they were during Shivaji's time:
Behramji was Afzal Khan, the Moghul general who was killed by Shivaji. Baba noted that in the current advent, Behramji would "assume the lion’s share of the work".
Sadashiv Patil was Tanaji Malsoore, the loyal advisor who gave his life to save Shivaji.
Adi Sr. (and in some accounts, Gustadji) was told by Baba that he had been Shivaji's wife.
Mahatma Gandhi and the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, both had previous spiritual connections to Baba because both lived during the time of Shivaji.
Baba also noted that of the 24 people who played a key role during Shivaji's time, 10 would once again be instruments of great spiritual workings in the world.
Physical Locations and Inspiration
Baba frequently visited areas connected to Shivaji's history, referring to places like the Lohagen and Visapur Forts as "Shivaji's playground".
When seeking a place for seclusion in 1947, Baba deliberately chose the hill fort of Ajinkya Tara in Satara—a ruined fortress intimately connected with Shivaji's life—to complete his spiritual work. Pointing out the intense dedication of the Maratha warriors, Baba used his past connection to inspire his modern disciples: "The area was Shivaji’s playground. His men were so good, so devoted, they were ready to lay down their lives at his feet at his slightest nod. You too should become like that".
Of course care needs to taken with this June 6th 1674 date. Is it based on the Julian or Gregorian calendars. I asked Gemini:
The date June 6, 1674, widely cited for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, is based on the Julian calendar. If converted to the Gregorian calendar (the standard calendar used worldwide today), the exact date of the coronation is June 16, 1674.
Here is a complete breakdown of why this specific date was recorded and how the calendars align.
The 10-Day Difference
During the 17th century, there was exactly a 10-day gap between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The Gregorian calendar had been introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII to correct astronomical inaccuracies in the Julian system, but Protestant countries—including England—resisted the change for centuries.
Why the Julian Date Became the Standard
The date we use today is the result of how the event was originally documented by international witnesses:
The Traditional Hindu Calendar: Internally, the Maratha Empire and traditional scholars did not use European calendars. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the exact date of the Rajyabhishek (coronation) was the 13th day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha, in the year 1596 of the Shaka era (Jyeshtha Shukla Trayodashi, Shaka 1596).
The British Records: An English East India Company delegation, led by envoy Henry Oxinden, was present at Raigad Fort during the ceremony to negotiate a trade treaty with Shivaji. Because the British Empire was still using the Julian calendar in 1674 (they did not switch to the Gregorian calendar until 1752), Oxinden officially logged the historic event as taking place on June 6, 1674.
When modern historians later cross-referenced the traditional Marathi and Sanskrit texts with the logs of the European trading companies, Oxinden's Julian date of June 6 became the most commonly taught and referenced date in English-language history books.
So, while June 6th is the date cemented in the history books, the actual solar anniversary on our modern wall calendars falls on June 16th.
BABA’S INSTRUCTIONS TO A GROUP OF HIS LOVERS IN MAY 1943
The following instructions, if carried out wholeheartedly by you, will allow you to help my work of spiritualizing the world. They are not to be treated like long-established sermons, read, heard and forgotten. They are not to be understood in the light of philosophical slogans preached merely for the sake of preaching.
They are simple, eternal truths which I want all of you to try your utmost to live.
The instructions are:
1. Amidst all your duties and attachments, let the background of all your thoughts be only the one thought that: “God alone is real, and all else is illusion.”
2. Infuse into others the idea that the ultimate goal of all life is to know God in His true, infinite aspect.
3. Think less of yourself and more of others by trying to make others happy, even if you have to suffer for it.
4. Learn for yourself, and teach others that recognition of God’s Will means not to complain of your lot, that control of the mind means not to be upset by misfortunes;
6. That loving all as children of the same One God means not to be jealous of anyone, and not to hurt the feelings of anyone.
I don't usually report my dreams on this blog but last night's dream was unusual. I was scheduled to be hung along with a small group of maybe three other men. The site was a single story house on acreage. Initially I was on the verandah and there were lots of people about, chatting and enjoying themselves. There a party atmosphere such as might have existed back in the early 19th century in England when hanging of criminals was public and a source of entertainment.
I was free to move about and nobody seemed to be paying attention to me. I pondered whether to run away and thought about hiding at John Contarino's house. I knew my old school friend was dead but that meant there was a spare room that his mother might let me use. It didn't occur to me that she was long dead. I knew I'd be found however, and things might be even worse for me. There was an awful sense of dread knowing that I was to be executed. I couldn't believe that my existence was about to end.
I've had similar dreams in the past, though not many. At one point I asked Baba for help which I've never done before. Earlier in the evening I'd been talking to Sabina about the timing of my passing. A Pak Haji whom she had known predicted that I would decline healthwise once she graduated. She herself felt that my demise would occur soon after she got engaged. That's not on the cards at the moment but her current boyfriend in the United States is planning to visit mid-year. I'll have to wait and see how that relationship evolves. Clearly that conversation with Sabina and discussion of my time of death had prompted the dream.
I remember thinking in the dream that hanging was a nasty way to go and that I would have preferred a bullet. As my concern showed, I'm still very much attached to my body and my physical existence. The fact that I called out to Baba is positive I guess. I've only done this once before in a dream when I was falling to my death and remembered to take His name before impact. Here is a description of the merriment accompanying public executions.
Public hangings in early 19th-century England were major, rowdy public spectacles, often attracting thousands of spectators who treated the events as entertainment, with vendors selling food and drink. Executions typically occurred at locations like Newgate Prison for offenses ranging from murder to theft, continuing until 1868.
Why is the Quran only in Arabic?
I've heard this question so many times.
"If the Quran is for all of humanity—why isn't it in every language?"
"Why do I have to learn Arabic to understand it properly?"
"Isn't that unfair to non-Arabs?"
Here's the answer:
Because language isn't just words.
It's precision.
And Arabic? It's one of the richest languages on earth.
One word can carry multiple meanings—depending on how you read it.
Take the word: عَÙ‚ْد
With different vowel marks (tashkeel), it means completely different things:
عِÙ‚ْد (Ê¿iqd) = a necklace (worn around the neck)
عَÙ‚ْد (Ê¿aqd) = a contract (a binding agreement)
عُÙ‚ْد (Ê¿uqd) = complexity, or the act of tying knots
عَÙ‚َد (Ê¿aqada) = he made a contract, or he complicated something
And here's the beauty:
عَÙ‚ْد can also mean a decade—ten years.
Same letters. Different meanings. All precise. All intentional.
Now imagine trying to preserve that in translation.
You can't. In English, "necklace" and "contract" are completely different words.
But in Arabic? They share the same root—because both involve binding.
That's the depth of Arabic.
And that's why the Quran was revealed in it. Because no other language could carry the layers of meaning Allah intended.
Now imagine the word of Allah.
If the Quran was revealed in multiple languages
Each translation would lose something.
Each version would be slightly different.
And people would argue:
"Which version is the real Quran?"
So Allah chose one language.
Arabic.
Not because Arabs are better.
Not because non-Arabs are less important.
But because the message needed to be preserved—exactly as it was revealed
"Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand." (Yusuf 12:2)
"And if We had made it a non-Arabic Quran, they would have said, 'Why are its verses not explained in detail? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?'" (Fussilat 41:44)
Allah knew.
If the Quran was in a foreign language to the Arabs
they would have rejected it.
If it was in multiple languages—it would have been distorted.
So He revealed it in Arabic.
Clear. Precise. Preserved.
And here's the beauty:
The Quran can be translated.
You can read it in English, Urdu, French, Chinese, Spanish—any language.
But the translation is not the Quran. It's an interpretation of the meaning. A shadow of the original. The actual Quran
The words Allah spoke— The revelation that came to the Prophet ï·º—
That's only in Arabic.
And that's why Arabs and non-Arabs are equal in this.
Because neither of them speak the Arabic of the Quran anymore.
Modern Arabic ≠ Quranic Arabic. An Arab today has to study the Quran just like a non-Arab.
They have to learn the grammar, the vocabulary, the deeper meanings. No one gets a free pass.
when people say "it's unfair"—
Ask yourself:
Is it unfair that doctors have to learn medical terminology?
Is it unfair that lawyers have to learn legal language?
No.
Because if you want to access something valuable—
You have to put in the effort.
And the Quran is the most valuable thing you'll ever read.
So yes—it takes effort.
Yes—you have to study.
Yes—Arabic is hard.
But that's the point.
The things that matter most—
Are never easy.
And here's the miracle:
Millions of non-Arabs have memorized the Quran.
In a language they don't even speak..
They memorized it.
Word for word.
Letter for letter.
Because when Allah wants something preserved
He makes a way.
Karen Armstrong in her book "Muhammed" makes mention of the richness of the language used in the Quran. Here is a summary from the book generated by Gemini:
Based on the provided text, the Arabic language used in the Qur'an is described as a "sacred language" that provides an encounter with transcendence and acts as a bridge between the mortal world and the divine.
Details regarding its complexity and richness of meaning include:
Oral Tradition and Sound: The word Qur'an means "recitation," and the text was designed to be read aloud, where the sound is considered an essential part of the meaning.
Musical Complexity: The text contains recurring themes, sound patterns, and internal echoes that function like variations in music, subtly amplifying original melodies and adding layers of complexity.
Structural Integration: These internal echoes link passages that may initially seem separate, integrating different strands of the text as one verse qualifies and supplements others.
Intentional Repetition: The Qur'an uses repetition not to impart factual information instantaneously, but to help listeners slow down their mental processes and enter a different mode of consciousness over time.
Shifting Perspectives: The divine voice in the text constantly changes how it refers to itself (using "we," "he," "your lord," "Allah," or "I"), shifting its relationship to both the Prophet and the audience.
Rich Allusiveness: The language is described as "rich" and "allusive," utilizing rhythms that assist in grasping the text's more elusive teachings.
Grammatical Ambiguity: Early surahs often posed teachings as questions with grammatically ambiguous or indefinite responses, inviting listeners to meditate on images rather than providing decisive, certain answers.
Linguistic Roots: The names for God, al-Rahman (the Compassionate) and al-Rahim (the Merciful), while masculine nouns, are etymologically related to the Arabic word for "womb," introducing a strong female presence into the text.
