04-18-2006, 11:25 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->D. Kincaid - The Grand Rebel "In spite of the character of a crusade which Ramdas's blessings gave to Shivaji's long struggle, it is remarkable how little religious animosity or intolerance Shivaji displayed. His kindness to Catholic priests is an agreeable contrast to the proscriptions of the Hindu priesthood in the Indian and Maratha territories of the Portuguese. Even his enemies remarked on his extreme respect for Mussulman priests, for mosques and for the koran. The Muslim historian Khafi Khan, who cannot mention Shivaji in his cronicle without adding epithets of vulgar abuse, nevertheless acknowledges that Shivaji never entered a conquered town without taking measures to safeguard the mosques from damage. Whenever a koran came to his possession, he treated it with the same respect as if it had been one of the sacred works of his own faith. Whenever his men captured Mussulman ladies, they were brought to Shivaji, who looked after them as if they were his wards till he could return them to their relations."
As Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1870-1958) eminent historian, has well expressed:
"Shivaji proved, by his example, that the Hindu race could build a nation, found a State, defeat its enemies; they could conduct their own defence; they could protect and promote literature and art, commerce and industry; they could maintain navies and ocean going fleets of their own, and conduct naval battles on equal terms with foreigners. He taught the modern Hindus to rise to the full stature of their growth. He demonstrated that the tree of Hinduism was not dead, and that it could put forth new leaves and branches and once again rise up its head to the skies."
(source: Shivaji and His Times - By Sir Jadunath Sarkar p. 406). Â
http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Glimpses_VIII.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->saint Ramdas in Maharashtra identified Shivaji as a Hindu King in whose kingdom Hindu nation was strengthened. While praising Shivaji after his coronation, Ramadas wrote, âbuDAle sarvahI pApI| hindusthAna baLAvle| abhaktAncA kZayo jhAlA| Anandavana bhUvani.|| i.e. all the sinners are drowned, Hindustan is strengthened, non devout are eliminated in the land of bliss â Ananda vana bhuvanI. The Hindu identity is made very clear in this whole composition of saint Ramdas.
http://pramodpathak.voiceofdharma.com/reviews/axel.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1870-1958) eminent historian, has well expressed:
"Shivaji proved, by his example, that the Hindu race could build a nation, found a State, defeat its enemies; they could conduct their own defence; they could protect and promote literature and art, commerce and industry; they could maintain navies and ocean going fleets of their own, and conduct naval battles on equal terms with foreigners. He taught the modern Hindus to rise to the full stature of their growth. He demonstrated that the tree of Hinduism was not dead, and that it could put forth new leaves and branches and once again rise up its head to the skies."
(source: Shivaji and His Times - By Sir Jadunath Sarkar p. 406). Â
http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Glimpses_VIII.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->saint Ramdas in Maharashtra identified Shivaji as a Hindu King in whose kingdom Hindu nation was strengthened. While praising Shivaji after his coronation, Ramadas wrote, âbuDAle sarvahI pApI| hindusthAna baLAvle| abhaktAncA kZayo jhAlA| Anandavana bhUvani.|| i.e. all the sinners are drowned, Hindustan is strengthened, non devout are eliminated in the land of bliss â Ananda vana bhuvanI. The Hindu identity is made very clear in this whole composition of saint Ramdas.
http://pramodpathak.voiceofdharma.com/reviews/axel.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->