Shivaji: Encyclopedia II - Shivaji - Coronation

Shivaji - Coronation

A thread ceremony (Upanayanam) took place on May 29, 1674, and then a Vratya Stoma ceremony was performed.

Shivaji was formally crowned Chatrapati ("Holder of the Umbrella", representing the protection he bestowed on his people) on June 6, 1674 at the Raigad fort, and given the title, Kshatriya Kulavantas Simhasanadheeshwar Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Pandit Gaga Bhatt, renowned as Vedonarayana (Greatest exponent of Vedic discourse) Brahmin from Varanasi, officially presided over the ceremony and traced Shivaji's roots to Sisodia dynasty of Mewar from Kunwar Ajaysingh ^[1]. A few days later a second ceremony was carried out, this time according to the Bengal school of Tantricism and presided over by Nischal Puri.

The coronation itself was the subject of controversy among the inner circles of Shivaji, on doubts over Shivaji's status as a Kshatriya, since a Kshatriya alone could be crowned a King ^[2]. Some historians attribute the need for the coronation to resentment by the other Maratha Deccan nobles of Shivaji's success (he being a Bhosle) and his taking a higher seat than them at state dinners ^[3].

Henry Oxinden (later Acting President of the Bombay Presidency) from the British East India Company was present at the ceremony.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Coronation", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki