Shivaji's Religious Policy: Hindavi Swarajya and the Mughal Jizya

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Shivaji Maharaj's approach to religion—how his vision of Hindavi Swarajya balanced Hindu revival with pragmatic tolerance. They discuss his protection of mosques and Muslim scholars, his letters to Aurangzeb condemning the jizya tax, and the controversial question of whether he was a 'Hindu king' or a secular ruler ahead of his time. The conversation covers his treatment of the Siddi of Janjira, his alliances with Muslim chieftains, and how his religious policies compared to those of the Mughals and Adil Shahis. They also touch on the role of the Ashta Pradhan, particularly Nyayadhish, in administering justice across faiths. Drawing on the Marathi bakhar chronicles and Persian court histories, they untangle fact from hagiography, revealing a ruler who used religion as both a unifying symbol and a tool of statecraft. #ShivajiMaharaj #HindaviSwarajya #MughalEmpire #Aurangzeb #Jizya #MarathaEmpire #ReligiousPolicy #AshtaPradhan #Nyayadhish #SiddiOfJanjira #Konkan #Bakhar #DeccanHistory #IndianHistory #SouthAsia #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo