Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-123) and index 'James Laine traces the origin and development of the Shivaji legend from the earliest sources to the contemporary accounts of the tale.'-Jacket To read Shivaji's legend today is to find expression of deeply held convictions about what Hinduism means and how it is opposed to Islam.'
The legends of his life have become an epic story that everyone in western India knows, and an important part of the Hindu nationalists' ideology. He defied Mughal power in the seventeenth century, established an independent kingdom, and had himself crowned in an orthodox Hindu ceremony.
'Shivaji is a well-known hero in western India.
