Belawadi Mallamma
Belawadi Mallamma was an Indian warrior queen born into Bailhongal, Belagavi District, Karnataka, India. Belvadi Mallamma is the first woman to form a women's army to fight against Shivaji Maharaja. She is also credited with being the first queen in the history the Indian subcontinent who built and trained a women's army in the 17th century. Biography. She was the daughter of Sode King Madhulinga Nayaka and wife of King Ishaprabhu. Belawadi Mallamma, also known as Savitribai, was a Queen from Lingayata community , who fought with Shivaji. She is credited to be the queen of Belawadi  who fought Shivaji. She fought enemy troops on horseback, wearing a saree in "veeragacche" (soldier's tuck - a tight tucking of the front pleats in the back). Conflict with Shivaji. The main cause for the conflict was the harassment of the Belawadi farmers by Shivaji’s men who carried away the farmer’s livestock to their camp. The farmers approached the Desai Ishaprabhu and complained about the Maratha harassment. The Desai sent his commander (Dalvoy) Siddangaud Patil to bring back the cows from the Marathas. The Chatrapati's men did not entertain him. At this point the Maratha commander agreed  to surrender the livestock but Desai attacked them. Shivaji when he heard the news was exasperated and ordered his cavalry to attack Belawadi till it surrendered. The Maratha commander gathered his army and laid siege to Belawadi. The battle raged for fifteen days. The Marathas had access to the provisions outside, while the Desai was confined in the fort, and his provisions were exhausted. In the battle Ishaprabhu was stabbed and lost his life. Upon learning about this Mallamma lead her force of two thousand women soldiers to attack the Marathas. Mallamma continued the war, with her force and vowed  to avenge her husband’s death. One day Shivaji sent his army under Dhanaji to attack Belawadi, while he went to seek blessings of the goddess in a near by temple early morning. Upon learning this Mallamma attacked Shivaji Maharaj and his associates near the temple. The outcome of this battle is unclear and has been recorded differently by various sourced. (See below) Sources. 1. As mentioned in The book Turukari panchamara itihasa written by "shiva basava shastri" of Brahanmatha (heritage site of Belavadi Sansthana). History of Belawadi Sansthana starts from 1511 with king "Chandrashekhara raja" And it mentions about  war between Shivaji and Mallamma. Ishaprabhu died in the battlefield later Mallamma fought with Shivaji and she defeated the Shivaji. As result of battle hero stones are installed in their Samshtana. [ The book " Turukari panchamara itihasa" published first time in 1929]. 2. Shiva vamsha sudharnava in Sanskrit book written by mallamma's teacher "Shankara bhattaru" . The book says Shivaji was defeated by Belawadi Mallamma . "Tarabai" second daughter-in-law of Shivaji gave first prize for this book and mentioning that the book contains exact subject of Shivaji and Mallamma. Second prize for "Balasaheb bhave"s "Shivaji charitra" and third prize for  the book written by "Shesho Shinivas Muthalika". 3. In Jadunath Sarkar's biography of Shivaji in Marathi language, he mentioned Mallamma as "Savitribai" and 27 days war held between Shivaji and Mallamma. 4. A contemporary British work says "He Shivaji is At present besieging a fort where.. he has suffered more disgrace than even he did from all power of the moghul of the deccan (Bijapuri) and he who hath conquered so many kingdoms is not able to reduce this woman Desai" [Factory records,Surat,107]. 5. "Yadavada stone" is a symbol about compromise between Shivaji and Mallamma. 6. Other Marathi  works "jede shakavari" , "Chitragupta bakhar" , "91 Kalami bakhar" mentioned about battle between Shivaji and Mallamma. 7. Scholar Shesho Srinivas Muthalik recorded the life in the palace of Madhulinga Nayaka in 1704-5 A.D. in the Marathi language.