The Maratha Empire, also known as the Maratha Confederacy, dominated a large portion of India during the 17th and 18th century. The Maratha Empire formally began with the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1674. The Maratha Empire brought an end to the chaos that prevailed in the Deccan Plateau, as a result of the expansion and advent of the Mughal Empire into South India. Hence, Maratha Empire is largely credited with ending the Mughal rule in India and often seen as a true Indian power, as it dominated the Indian subcontinent during 17th and 18th centuries.
At its peak, the Maratha Empire extended from Peshawar in the North to Thanjavur in the South. The Marathas, who started as a warrior group emerging from the Deccan Plateau, went on to control most parts of the Indian subcontinent before their decadence in the early 19th century.
“The rise of the Marathas in the seventeenth century is an important and fascinating event in the history of India. The political power had entered the Southern arena, changing the complexion of the Deccan states and influencing the Mughal Deccani relations. Shivaji welded the Marathas into a superb mobile fighting force. The Marathas fought for the defence of their religion and territory against Mughal rulers. Shivaji succeeded in achieving the aim of protecting Hinduism and organising the Marathas under him to carry out an independent kingdom in Maharashtra. On June 6, 1674 AD, Shivaji assumed the title Chatrapathi at the formal ceremony at Raigarh. It was proclaimed to the world that an independent Hindu kingdom had been established in the teeth of Muslim opposition. The coronation elevated Shivaji from a mere rebel or free booter to the status of a crowned monarch. After the death of Shivaji in 1680 AD, Sambhaji, Rajaram, Tara Bai, Sahu and Marathas under the Peshwas ruled upto 1761 AD. The third battle of Panipat marks a turning point in the history of India. It dealt a fatal blow to the dominance of Maratha power in India. The development of the Marathi literature accelerated during the Shivaji’s rule. Tukaram and Ramdas Samarth are the well known poets. The unique and diverse architecture of the Marathas was a good place for the people of India with many different religions and culture. Maratha architecture developed from Yadava Style Architecture and have some Isalmic, Vamana and Nagara architecture. Wadas, temples, forts, palaces are main structures and still influencing the social life of the people of Maharashtra.Vernacular architecture were also designed and constructed by the native people. They used locally available materials and followed locally evolved construction methods. The Maratha rulers also incorporated many cultural influences which can be seen in Maratha architecture even today. Prof. J. N. Sarkar, great historian rightly said Marathas welded into a national power under Shivaji and are the makers of Maharashtra,” said Dr. Sanmathi Kumar, HOD & Assistant Professor, Department of History, SDM College (Autonomous), Ujire.
Origin of Maratha Kingdom:
For many years, the western Deccan Plateau served as home for a group of Maratha warriors, which flourished under a prominent warrior named Shivaji Bhonsle. The Marathas, as they called themselves, were led by Shivaji in a protest against the rule of the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1645. Subsequently, Shivaji coined the term ‘Hindavi Swarajya,’ which called for self-rule among the Hindus. The Marathas were also determined to drive the Mughal rulers out of India as they wanted their country to be ruled by the Hindus. Also, Shivaji’s conflicts with the Mughals, which started from the year 1657, served as one of the primary reasons for the hatred towards the Mughals. Meanwhile, Shivaji had accumulated large areas of land through his campaigns. He had also gathered an armed force to tackle issues with various other rulers, including the Mughals. However, he lacked an official title to rule over the new land of the Marathas. Hence, with an aim of establishing and expanding a Hindu state in the subcontinent, Shivaji was declared the ruler of the Maratha kingdom on June 6, 1674.
Famous rulers of Marathas:
Shivaji I
Sambhaji I
Rajaram I
Shivaji II
Shahu I
Art and Architecture of Marathas:
The Maratha Architecture was formed when Indian architects were influenced by Western design elements from various areas such as France, Holland, and England. Maratha architecture was influenced by the Roman architecture of the early Medieval period and the French Gothic style of architecture.
Although many architects were active in Maharashtra during the Maratha rule, the most notable construction projects can be attributed to two very prominent architects, Narayan Kirti Pai and Vishweshwar Iyer. Their contributions are mainly in their designs for constructions at fortresses, palaces, tombs, gateways, and temples.
The Maratha ruler’s influence on Indian architecture extended from the Hindu and Muslim architectural traditions that preceded them. Maratha rulers often used this fact to their advantage and their ability to provide for many of their own needs through the lucrative international trade routes, reinforce their cities, and create great palaces.
For example, the Marathas helped to influence the design of temples after they built them or provided funding for additional development at a temple. The Marathas also created a unique type of mosque that was one of the most influential Islamic structures built during their rule.
Vernacular architecture is an architectural style designed and constructed by the native people of a place and not by professional architects. In India, it is mainly built of locally available materials and follows locally evolved construction methods. The architecture can be found in all regions of India.
The concept was first noted and developed by John Lockwood Kipling in his book “The Village Architecture of Southern India (1888)”, which he co-authored with Ernest Benjamin Parker. The book analysed the architecture of village dwellings in Southern India and the earliest study to focus on the architectural tradition of those in the region. In 1972, John Stanley Beard (1930-2010) further expanded on this theory in his book “Indian vernacular architecture: Studies in spatial organisation.
Maratha architecture has a vast influence on contemporary Indian architecture. The structures are also influenced by many other foreign cultures like Mughal, British and Persian.
This tradition of Maratha architecture is still present in the Indian state of Maharashtra.