Which Brahmins opposed the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? Is there any contemporary evidence regarding this? What exactly did the opposition do?

 

Brahmins of that time in Maharashtra had no knowledge of coronation. This custom disappeared not only from Maharashtra but also from the whole of India 300-350 years ago. At that time the coronation of Hindu kings had stopped. Rajput kings were also staged. Some people who spread caste hatred say that the Brahmins of Maharashtra of that time considered Shivaji Maharaj to be a Shudra, so they opposed the coronation and refused to do it. The Brahmins of Maharashtra neither had the courage nor the need to call Maharaj a Shudra. Therefore, the Brahmins of Maharashtra, because of their ignorance, told the Maharaja and requested that they call some wise Brahmin and coronate him. For this, Kashi-based Gagabhatta was called. Many Sanskrit texts of Gagabhatta were also in vogue so he was also very famous. And the Bhatt family was also prominent at that time.

Now again those spreading caste hatred say that Brahmins had to be called from Kashi due to opposition from Brahmins in Maharashtra. They don't know that Gagabhatta is a Marathi by origin and moved to Kashi. Govindabhat left Paithan for Kashi in the early sixteenth century. Gagabhatta is the fifth descendant of that Govindapant. Hence the Marathi Brahmins protested, called the Maharaja a Shudra, refused to do the coronation even when he had knowledge, all these are rumours. The Hindus who were protected by the Maharaja and established Hindu Swaraj were highly respected by all castes at that time. And seeing the inclusion of all castes in the Maharaja's army proves this beyond doubt. Anyway, I am giving all this with reference from the historical book Marathi Riyasat. This is not a novel.