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தஞ்சை மராட்டிய
Parasoji's wife was called Umahu and they were blessed with a son called Babaji.
Babaji's wife was Rekavu and they had two sons Maloji and Vitthoji.
Vitthoji's wife was Anu Bai. Their daughter was named Amba Bai and they had eight sons.
In those days Nizan Shahi dynasty was ruling at Deogiri and Ali Adil Shah, son of Ibrahim Shah was ruling at Vijayadurg (Bijapur) When a war broke out between them, Nizam Shahi won the war with the help of Maloji and Vitthoji and Nizam Shah, much pleased, conferred on them: the “Chouth.” and continued them in his service.
Maloji had no children. Hence he approached a Fakhir, Shah Shariff Ali Kalandar who, offering him two swords called Nagini and Padmini, a “Langoad", the “Panja" etc., told him that he would be blessed with two sons who should be named after him. Accordingly in Shaka 1531 (A.D. 1609) a son was born who was named Shahji and another Shariffji or Sarabhoji).
When Shahji was five years old, Maloji died in a battle between Nizam Shah and the Rajah or Kolhapur.
As Shahji and his brother were very young, they were brought up by Vitthoji with paternal care.
When he came of age, Shaji took Tukka Bai as his first wife and in Shaka 1543 (A.D. 1620) he became the ruler of Satara. Then Jadaw Rao gave his daughter Jija Bai in marriage to him.
Sarabhoji (Shariffji), the brother of Shahji, was married to Durga Bai the daughter of Viswasa Rao.
The eight sons of Vitthoji were in the service of Nizam Shah.
2
Assasination of
Jadaw Rao:Birth
of Shivaji & Ekoji
Once Nizam Shah conducted a Durbar. At its conclusion of while all were returning, an elephant belonging to a Surda called Gandagle, went mad and trampled many. Dattaji son of Jadaw Rao, rushed to kill the elephant. Sambhaj and Keloji, the sons of Vitthoji, intervened; but Dattaji fought with them and met with death. At once Jadaw Rao, began to fight with Sambhaji and Keloji. Shahji intervened on behalf of his cousins unsuccessfully and Sambhaji fell down dead. On hearing what had happened, Nizam Shah bade them all to leave.
