Shivaji's Sacred Duty: The Cow Protection Policies of Swarajya

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known but deeply revealing aspect of Shivaji Maharaj's rule: his deliberate policy of cow protection (goraksha) and the regulations he imposed on cattle slaughter and beef consumption across Swarajya. Drawing on the 17th-century Marathi legal text 'Majmua', Shivaji's farmans (royal decrees), and accounts from European travelers like John Fryer and Manucci, they uncover how this policy was both a spiritual mandate and a strategic political move to unite his diverse Hindu subjects against Mughal and Adil Shahi rule. Lucas explains the specific punishments for cow slaughter, the economic logic behind protecting cattle as agrarian assets, and how Shivaji's stance contrasted with the more tolerant policies of his Mughal contemporary Aurangzeb. They also touch on the controversy around Shivaji's alleged instructions to his soldiers regarding cows during the sack of Surat. The conversation ends with a reflection on how these policies shaped Maratha identity and continue to influence political discourse in modern India. #ShivajiMaharaj #CowProtection #Goraksha #MarathaHistory #Swarajya #Majmua #Aurangzeb #AdilShahi #HindaviSwarajya #JohnFryer #Manucci #Surat #Chhatrapati #Deccan #IndianHistory #17thCentury #FexingoHistory #History #MarathaEmpire #RaigadFort Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo