Draft:Rajabhishek

The Rajabhishek (coronation) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took place on 6 June 1674 at Raigad Fort. The grand ceremony was performed according to ancient Vedic rituals by Pandit Gaga Bhatt from Varanasi. Shivaji was bathed in the sacred waters brought from seven holy rivers across India, including the Ganga and Yamuna. He was officially crowned as Chhatrapati, symbolizing the sovereign ruler of the Maratha Kingdom.

This coronation marked a crucial moment in Indian history, signifying the formal foundation of Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule). The event involved more than 50,000 attendees and established Shivaji’s legitimacy as a Kshatriya ruler, independent of Mughal or Deccan Sultanate control.