The air at Tulapur in early 1689 wasn't just cold; it was heavy with the stench of an ending era. Most people know the name Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. They know he was the son of the legendary Shivaji. But when you get into the gritty, uncomfortable details of how Sambhaji Maharaj died, the story shifts from a simple historical footnote into one of the most harrowing displays of psychological and physical endurance ever recorded in Indian history. It wasn't just an execution. It was a weeks-long ordeal designed to break a kingdom's spirit.
Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, didn't just want Sambhaji dead. He wanted him humiliated. He wanted the Maratha resistance to crumble at the sight of their king begging for mercy. He failed.
History is often sanitized. We like our heroes to go down in a blaze of glory on the battlefield, sword in hand, sun setting behind them. Sambhaji’s end was different. It was slow. It was calculated. It was, honestly, hard to even read about if you have a weak stomach. But if you want to understand why he is called Dharmaveer, you have to look at those final forty days.
The Capture at Sangameshwar
It happened fast. Sambhaji was at Sangameshwar, likely preparing for a move toward Raigad or dealing with internal administrative issues. Sources like the Masir-i-Alamgiri (a primary Mughal record) and local Maratha bakhars suggest a sense of betrayal. Ganoji Shirke, Sambhaji's own brother-in-law, reportedly provided the intelligence the Mughals needed.
Muqarrab Khan, a Mughal commander, led a lightning strike.
Sambhaji was caught off guard. Along with his most trusted advisor, Kavi Kalash, he was captured and shackled. This wasn't just a win for Aurangzeb; it was the ultimate prize. The Mughals had been chasing the Marathas for decades, and now, they had the "Mountain Rat's" son in a cage. Literally.
The Humiliation Parade
When the prisoners reached the Mughal imperial camp at Bahadurgarh (later renamed Dharmaveergarh), Aurangzeb orchestrated a spectacle. He dressed Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash in clownish clothes—caps with bells, brightly colored tunics that mocked their royal status. They were paraded on camels.
Thousands of Mughal soldiers cheered. They jeered. They threw insults.
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Aurangzeb offered a deal. It was a simple one, really. Give up the Maratha forts, reveal the locations of the hidden treasures, name the Mughal traitors who were helping the Marathas, and—the big one—convert to Islam. If Sambhaji did this, his life would be spared. He might even have lived out his days as a puppet king or a high-ranking noble in the Mughal court.
Sambhaji’s response? He insulted the Emperor. He told Aurangzeb that even if he offered his daughter in marriage and all his wealth, he wouldn't bow. That was the moment the "execution" turned into a marathon of torture.
Forty Days of Agony: How Sambhaji Maharaj Died
The actual process of how Sambhaji Maharaj died lasted roughly forty days. This wasn't a quick beheading. Aurangzeb ordered a systematic dismantling of the man.
First, they blinded him. They used red-hot iron nails to poke out his eyes. Think about that for a second. The king who had spent his life surveying the rugged Sahyadri mountains was now plunged into permanent darkness. He didn't break.
Next, they went for his tongue. Since he used it to insult the Emperor and refuse the conversion, they cut it out. He was now blind and mute, yet the Maratha records suggest he spent his time in internal prayer or meditation, refusing to show the "weakness" of a plea.
Day after day, the torture continued. They pulled out his fingernails. They peeled off his skin using tiger claws (waghnakh style instruments, ironically a weapon his father was famous for). This wasn't just cruelty; it was a political statement. Aurangzeb was trying to prove that the Maratha God-King was just flesh and bone.
The Final Blow at Tulapur
By March 11, 1689 (on the eve of Gudi Padwa, the Hindu New Year), Aurangzeb realized he was losing the psychological war. The longer Sambhaji stayed alive and defiant, the more he became a martyr. The Emperor ordered the final execution.
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Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash were taken to the banks of the Bhima River at Tulapur. Their limbs were hacked off, one by one. Finally, they were beheaded.
According to some accounts, their bodies were thrown to the dogs. However, the local villagers of Vadu Budruk, specifically those from the Mahar community led by Govind Gopal Mahar (though historical debates exist around the specifics of this), gathered the pieces of the King's body and sewed them together to give him a proper funeral. This act of bravery—defying an imperial order that forbade any last rites—is why Vadu Budruk remains a site of immense pilgrimage today.
Why Aurangzeb’s Plan Backfired
Aurangzeb thought that by killing Sambhaji so brutally, the Marathas would scatter. He was wrong. Totally wrong.
Actually, the death of Sambhaji did the one thing the Mughals feared most: it unified the Maratha clans. Before this, there were internal rifts, family squabbles, and power struggles. But the image of their King being slowly torn apart for his faith and his land turned a political war into a holy crusade.
Sambhaji’s younger brother, Rajaram, took the throne, and the Maratha War of Independence shifted into high gear. The Mughals spent another 18 years in the Deccan, losing money, men, and morale, until Aurangzeb himself died in 1707, never having fully conquered the region.
Sifting Through the Myths
When you look into how Sambhaji Maharaj died, you’ll find different versions. Some later Mughal chroniclers tried to paint Sambhaji as a man of "loose character" to justify the brutality. Most modern historians, looking at the Shedgaonkar Bakhar and contemporary Dutch or English East India Company records, see a much more complex figure.
- The Conversion Myth: Some argue the torture was purely political. Most evidence, however, points to the fact that the offer of "life for conversion" was repeatedly made. Sambhaji’s refusal is what gave him the title Dharmaveer (Protector of the Religion).
- The Kavi Kalash Connection: Often dismissed as a mere advisor or a "bad influence," Kalash stayed loyal to the very end, suffering the exact same fate as his King. Their friendship is one of the most underrated alliances in Indian history.
Practical Takeaways from the Legacy of Sambhaji
Understanding this history isn't just about memorizing dates of a grizzly execution. It's about the psychological impact of defiance.
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Analyze the source material. If you're researching this, don't just stick to one book. Read the Adnyapatra, which gives insight into the administration of the time, and compare it with the Khafi Khan accounts. You'll see the bias in both, and the truth usually sits right in the middle.
Visit the sites. If you are in Maharashtra, go to Tulapur and Vadu Budruk. The atmosphere there isn't one of mourning anymore; it's one of immense pride. You can see the Samadhi (memorial) of both Sambhaji and Govind Gopal Mahar.
Recognize the shift in Maratha Tactics. Post-1689, the Marathas moved away from large-scale fort defense to a more fluid, "Ganimi Kava" (guerrilla warfare) style that eventually exhausted the Mughal Empire. Sambhaji's death was the catalyst for this tactical evolution.
Sambhaji Maharaj lived for 31 years and ruled for only nine. But those final forty days defined the next century of Indian history. He went into the Mughal camp a captive and left it a legend. By refusing to bow, he ensured that while his body was destroyed, the idea of Swarajya (self-rule) remained indestructible.
To truly honor this history, look beyond the gore. Focus on the resilience. The story of how he died is ultimately a story of how a kingdom found its soul.
Next Steps for History Enthusiasts:
- Research the primary documents from the Maratha-Mughal War (1681–1707) to see how the tide turned after 1689.
- Explore the architecture of the Sangameshwar temple, the site of his capture, to understand the geography that played a role in the ambush.
- Study the works of historians like Jadunath Sarkar or G.S. Sardesai, who offer deep dives into the Persian and Marathi records of this specific period.