Keshav Pandit
Encyclopedia
Keshav Swami Purohit also known as Keshav Pandit or Keshav Bhat Pandit, was Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Rajpurohit (Religious chief) and a Sanskrit
scholar and poet of his times. He was also the ‘Rajpurohit’ and Danadhyaksha of Chhatrapati Sambhaji
and Chhatrapati Rajaram. Sambhaji
's schooling took place under his guidance.
and Udaipur
for obtaining Shivaji’s family history which was necessary for the coronation
ceremony.
At the time of the ceremony on 5 and 6 June 1674, Gagabhatta sought his assistance for all the rites and rituals performed.
Shivaji gifted him a sum of Rs. 24,000/- towards Dakshina
which was the second largest Dakshina
ever given during the ceremony. (Gagabhatta was given the largest i.e. Rs.1,00,000/-.)
poetical biographies of all the Chhatrapati
s he had worked with. Especially, his book ‘Rajaram Charitam’ written in 1690, gives a detailed account of Rajaram’s secret flight to Gingee fort
from Panhala fort
through the areas occupied by the Mughal
army. It is supposed to be the most reliable source of Rajaram’s escape as Keshav Pandit himself was one of the participants of this journey. The original book is kept intact in the royal library of Tanjavur.
Soon after completion of this book, Keshav Pandit died at Gingee
approximately at the age of 60. His heirs are staying in the villages near Devrukh in Ratnagiri
district with the surname 'Purohit'.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholar and poet of his times. He was also the ‘Rajpurohit’ and Danadhyaksha of Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
and Chhatrapati Rajaram. Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
's schooling took place under his guidance.
Contribution to Coronation
Keshav Pandit accompanied Shivaji’s secretary Balaji Awji in his campaign to Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
for obtaining Shivaji’s family history which was necessary for the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
ceremony.
At the time of the ceremony on 5 and 6 June 1674, Gagabhatta sought his assistance for all the rites and rituals performed.
Shivaji gifted him a sum of Rs. 24,000/- towards Dakshina
Dakshina
Dakshina in the historical Vedic religion is the term for the recompense paid by the sacrificer for the services of a priest, originally consisting of a cow...
which was the second largest Dakshina
Dakshina
Dakshina in the historical Vedic religion is the term for the recompense paid by the sacrificer for the services of a priest, originally consisting of a cow...
ever given during the ceremony. (Gagabhatta was given the largest i.e. Rs.1,00,000/-.)
Contribution to history
Keshav Pandit has written in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
poetical biographies of all the Chhatrapati
Chhatrapati
Chhatrapati is the Indian honorific title equivalent to the European Emperor. It is more formally written as Kshetrapati, from the Sanskrit kshetra- and -pati...
s he had worked with. Especially, his book ‘Rajaram Charitam’ written in 1690, gives a detailed account of Rajaram’s secret flight to Gingee fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
from Panhala fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
through the areas occupied by the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
army. It is supposed to be the most reliable source of Rajaram’s escape as Keshav Pandit himself was one of the participants of this journey. The original book is kept intact in the royal library of Tanjavur.
Soon after completion of this book, Keshav Pandit died at Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
approximately at the age of 60. His heirs are staying in the villages near Devrukh in Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
district with the surname 'Purohit'.
His Works
- Shivaji’s biography in SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
- SambhajiSambhajiSambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
’s biography in SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand... - Rajaram’s biography ‘Rajaram Charitam’ in SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
- 'Dandneeti'(SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
)i.e. Criminal CodeCriminal CodeA criminal code is a document which compiles all, or a significant amount of, a particular jurisdiction's criminal law...
proposed for Maratha EmpireMaratha EmpireThe Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....