Jijabai Shahaji Bhosale

Jijabai Shahaji Bhosale (12 January 1598 – 17 June 1674), sometimes referred to as Rajmata Jijabai or even simply Jijai, was the mother of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of Maratha Empire.

Born	Jijabai 12 January 1598 Jijau Mahal, Sindkhed Raja, Buldhana, Maharashtra, India
Died	17 June 1674 Pachad
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Jijamata, Rajmata, Jijabai
Known for	Rajmata
Spouse(s)	Shahaji Bhosale
Children	Sambaji Shahaji Bhosale Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Parent(s)	Lakhojirao Jadhav, Mahalasabai

History

Jijabai was born on 12 January, 1598, as the daughter of Lakhojirao Jadhav of Deulgaon, near Sindkhed, in present-day Buldhana district of Maharastra. Her mother's name was Mhalsabai. Jijabai was married at an early age to Shahaji Bhosle, son of Maloji Bhonsle of Verul village, a military commander serving under the Adil Shahi sultans ...........
Jijabai's father-in-law, Maloji Bhosle, had begun his career as a shilledar serving under the command of her father, Lakhojirao Jadhav. Her natal family the Jadhav family was of relatively high standing in the region, whereas her husband's family were just raising into importance newly and according to some accounts, they had risen from the ranks of the Kunbi caste of cultivators.
Jijabai bore Shahaji as many as eight children, six daughters and two sons. All the daughters died in infancy^{[citation needed]} and only the two sons, Sambhaji and Shivaji, reached adulthood. In 1630, three years after Shivaji's birth, Jijabai received a co-wife into her household after Shahaji married Tukabai, daughter of Sardar Bajirao Mohite Pongwadikar of Bijapur, who was Shahaji's close friend and, like him, also a commander serving the sultan of Bijapur. By this time, Shahaji had achieved a certain status and importance as a commander and his new wife came from a friendly family with no hang-ups about status or background. She was also much younger than him, and Shahaji could patronize and indulge her without being made to feel inadequate. He found acceptance and comfort in his second wife and developed a close rapport with her. Within a few years, Shahaji separated his household, granting his estates located near Pune to Shivaji. Jijabai and her younger son Shivaji then moved to these estates near Pune, while her elder son Sambhaji remained with Shahaji because he was the elder son and heir to his father. Shahaji remained in Karnataka with his second wife Tukabai, her growing family and Sambhaji, his eldest son(born of Jijabai). Jijamata died on 17 June, 1674