Shahaji Shahaji Raje Bhosale ( Marathi : शहाजी राजे भोसले ) was a Maratha general from the 17th Century . . He was an early exponent of guerilla warfare . He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul ( present - day Ellora , Maharashtra ) . He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence . The princely state s of Tanjore , Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosale legacies . He was father of Shivaji , the founder of the Maratha Empire . About Shahaji . Shahaji ' s father , Maloji was childless for a long time . After seeking blessings from a famous Sufi pir of the time , called Hazrat Shah Sharifji , two sons were born to him . Maloji named his sons Shahaji and Sharifji in honour of the pir . Maloji was a capable soldier and eventually became Sar Giroh and was awarded independent Jagir ( Fief ) of Pune & Supe districts in the court of Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar . Shahaji was an extremely ambitious and capable general . At a young age , Shahaji had achieved a lot . He was well known not only for his military and leadership skills but also as a Man who kept his word . He had not lost a single battle in his entire life which made him the prominent Maratha legend who was treated even at par with Nizam and Adilshah . Shahaji had defeated quite a number of eminent commanders of Mughals , Adilshah and Nizamshah . Shahaji was prominent in the whole of Hindustan ( India ) for he had not lost a single battle in his lifetime and had always prevailed no matter what the circumstances . Mughal , Adil , Nizam Sultanates were leaving no stone unturned to get Shahaji on their side . When Shahaji was serving in the Adilshahi court , he was awarded the title of " Farzand " ( someone placed much higher than a chief commanding an army of 10 , 000 ) which was equivalent to the designation of a Prince . Battle of Bhatvadi . The battle of Bhataudi was fought in 1624 near Ahmednagar , Maharashtra between forces of Shahaji , Nizam and the combined forces of Mughals and Adilshahi Sultanates . Mughal Emperor Jahangir ' s son , Prince Khurram ( later on Emperor Shahjahan left his father in hostility and took asylum with Shahaji Raje Bhosale of Nizamshahi . To defeat Shahaji and rescue Khurram , Jahangir had ordered his commander - in - chief Lashkar Khan to finish off Nizamshahi . Accordingly , Lashkar Khan with an army of 120 , 000 ( 1 . 2 lakhs ) marched on Ahmednagar . The Adilshahi Sultanate had also agreed to help the Mughals . Adilshahi army amounted to no less than 80 , 000 men . Thus , a massive army of 200 , 000 ( 2 lakhs ) walked on Ahmednagar . On the other hand , Shahaji had an army of 20 , 000 at his disposal . Shahaji had assigned 10 , 000 of these , the task of protecting and defending the Ahmednagar fort and town . The remaining 10 , 000 were with Shahaji . Such a huge army required huge amount of food and water . Thus , both Mughal and Adil forces were encamped on the bank of the " Mehkari " River . It flowed North - South . The river had a dam to conserve water , as Ahmednagar experienced water shortage . However , during this period , there had been good amount of rainfall . The river had abundant water and was filled to the brim . Shahaji came up with a brilliant idea . With utmost care , cracks were developed in the dam . It was night time ; the whole Mughal and Adil encampments were fast asleep . Suddenly , water started gushing out of the dam from each of the cracks . Mughals and Adils were clueless about what was happening . It was as if a huge wall of irate water was running over the Mughals and Adils . Everyone started running helter - skelter to save their lives . There was chaos and confusion . The whole encampment was flooded with water . Clothes , rations , arms , ammunitions , cannons and cattle everything drowned . Dead elephants were seen floating in the water . Many were taken as prisoners . As many as 25 renowned Mughal and Adil chiefs were imprisoned by Shahaji . It was a huge win for Shahaji , after which Shahaji became very well - known throughout India . Alliance with Deccan Sultanates and the Mughals . At various points of time Shahaji allied himself with the Adilshah of Bijapur , the Nizamshah of Ahmednagar and the Mughals . His ultimate ambition was to set up an independent Maratha kingdom . He tried on two occasions , first one after the brutal murder of his father - in - law Lakhuji Rao Jadhav ( father of Jijabai ) and second in 1636 . The second attempt was a formidable challenge . In the meantime , Jahan Khan , the wazir of Nizam killed Nizam on the reasoning that the Nizam was an incapable and unwise ruler , who couldn ’ t take appropriate decisions and was easily deceived by some people . Jahan Khan greeted Shahaji with open hands and asked Shahaji to join him . Shahaji started leading Nizam ’ s forces . However , at that time , the Mughal forces on the order of Shah Jahan had slain all the men in relation to Nizam and also killed two pregnant women . This was done to finish off the Nizamshahi , as there wouldn ’ t be any Male heir to the throne of the Nizam . However , Shahaji , in order to protect Nizamshahi decided to crown a child named Murtuza , who was in relation with Nizam , as the next Nizam . Shahaji assured Murtuza ’ s mother that he would not be harmed and vouched for his safety . Shahajahan dispatched a force of 48 , 000 to reduceShahaji , Nizam and his ally Adilshah . Under such mounting attack Adilshah sued for peace . With the withdrawal of Adilshah ' s support , Shahaji could not hold much against the Mughals . His possessions were reduced quickly . In the fort of Mahuli he was besieged . Portuguese did not offer any help from naval side due to fear of the Mughals . In this war , Shahaji fought till the last . But , unfortunately Murtaza , the infant Nizam , was kidnapped by Mughals and for the purpose of saving the life of Nizam , it became necessary for Shahaji to make compromise . This compromise finished Nizamshahi . Shahaji , on the condition of protecting the life of little Mourtaza Nizam at any condition , handed him over to Shahajahan . Nizam was taken away by Sardar Ranoji Wable ( regional sardar of Shah Jahan ) to Delhi . He was inducted into Adilshahi . As a precaution Shahajahan , ensured that Shahaji was posted in deep south so as not to pose any challenge to Mughals . He finally became one of the top generals in the Adilshah ' s army , accepting a Jagir in his court , being based in Bengaluru ( Present day Bangalore in Karnataka ) . This is one phase of Shahaji ' s life . In 1638 , a large Bijapur army led by Ranadulla Khan and accompanied by Shahaji defeated Kempe Gowda III and Bangalore was given to Shahaji as a jagir . Shahaji successfully led the Bijapur army to many victories against the " Rajas " of southern India . Instead of punishing or executing them , Shahaji reprieved all the " Rajas " . The " Rajas " thus developed healthy relations with Shahaji and offered military support to Shahaji whenever required . Crisis phase . After this military defeat , the second phase of Shahaji ' s life started . He sent his wife Jijabai and their younger son , Shivaji to Pune to manage his jagir of Pune . The couple ' s elder son , Sambhaji and another son Venkoji from his second wife stayed with him at Bangalore . Shivaji and Sambhaji both emerged as accomplished generals . Meanwhile young Shivaji started capturing territory controlled by Adilshah around Pune . AdilShah , alarmed by the activities of Shivaji in particular , deceitfully captured Shahaji and imprisoned him as he suspected that Shahaji encouraged Shivaji . Two expeditions were sent simultaneously against Shivaji and his elder brother Sambhaji , who defeated Adilshahi forces . Shivaji meanwhile approached Mughal Emperor Shahjahan asking for help against Adilshah . Fearing another Mughal campaign against Bijapur , Adilshah released Shahaji from prison . However , the elder son Sambhaji was killed during an expedition due to the treacherous role of Afzal Khan . Later Shivaji killed Afzal Khan . Thus these events proved that Shahaji had taken a sensible decision in keeping Shivaji in the original stronghold of Pune barring which , like Shahaji , Shivaji would have been imprisoned or killed like his elder brother . This period of crisis was overcome by sacrifice and personal bonds of the family . Shahaji actively supported Shivaji in his earlier enterprises , like the campaign against Afzal Khan . Sensing treachery by Afzal khan , Shahaji was waiting near Bijapur with his army of 17 , 000 . He had warned Badi Begum of Adilshah that , if Afzal Khan and his Adilshahi forces killed Shivaji by deceit , then there wouldn ' t remain even a brick of the Adilshahi kingdom . Shahaji died around 1665 , after falling off his horse during a hunt . Legacy . Shahaji had two sons by Jijabai , Sambhaji and Shivaji . Sambhaji was killed while on a military expedition in Karnataka . He was cremated in town of channagiri taluk of Davanagere district of karnataka . Shahaji had one son Venkoji ( Ekoji I ) by his second wife , who came from the Mohite family . Venkoji later ruled over the independent Maratha kingdom of Thanjavur . Shahaji groomed all his sons as good administrators and men of culture and taste , Shivaji in the Pune region , Sambhaji in Banglore , and Venkoji in Thanjavur region . Shivaji encouraged farming and cultivation , similarly Venkoji also dug canals in Thanjavur and promoted farming activities . Both were good administrators . Like Shahaji they were scholars and warriors . Shahaji had causeed a " champukavya " . At Bangalore , literary activities were promoted by him . His court poet Jayram Pindye composed " Radha madhav vilas champu " in flowery Sanskrit . His literary traditions were carried on by his sons , and had strong influence on the mind of Shivaji and the Thanjavur branch . Shahaji samadhi / tomb is at Hodigere near Channagiri ( Davangere Taluk ) in Karanataka . Karnataka state govt ( 2012 ) is releasing fund for maintaining it . Shahaji ' s dream of an independent kingdom was made a reality by his second son , the great Shivaji Maharaj .