| Pattan Prabhus & Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe |
|
| The
Pattan Prabhus were unaware of any references for their
surnames,
gotras and their caste being Kshatriya. Hence in the year 1648 (Marathi calendar) i.e. 1726
A.D. they requested the then Shankaracharya to give the reference
for the same. Shri Shankaracharya prepared a consent letter
referencing the detailed story of the Pattan Prabhus in the chapters of
"Shri Sahyadri ". |
| |
| The description of the Pattan Prabhu Kshatriyas is
found in the first eight chapters of the original Sahyadri Grantha. The
description is composed within five hundred and ten 'Shlokas'. The Sahyadri
Grantha had not only the consent letter of Shri Shankaracharya but also the
consent letters of other Gurjar Brahmins. |
| |
| In the year 1701 (Marathi
calendar) i.e. 1779
A.D. Shri Jagatguru gave the two consent letters in the Maharashtrian language to
the Brahmins
and the Peshwas. Among the other letters this letter stands fifth in
importance. This letter proves the relationship between The Peshwas and the Pathare
Prabhus. This event was not as important to be mentioned in the Maratha history
but one can certainly find it in the Sahyadri Grantha. |
| |
| On behalf of the Patane Prabhus Shri Vidyashankar Bharti wrote a letter to Shrimant Madhavrao Peshwe saying that Patane Prabhus had been living in the
Sahyadri region for a long period. The
enemies of the Patane Prabhus tried to create a misconception in the minds of the
Brahmins of Bombay by getting a letter from the Peshwai. But the Brahmins of Bombay
ignored it and continued to perform the rituals of the Patane Prabhu. The
enemies of the Patane Prabhus then poisoned the mind of the subedar of Vasai,
who ordered the Brahmins to stop the rituals of the Patane Prabhus in
Mumbai and Mahim. But the subedars of Saashti and Uran investigated this
matter, rejected the letter and ordered the Brahmins to continue the rituals. In the end the enemies went to Pune and created a
misunderstanding about Patane Prabhus in the mind of Vedmurti R. R. Ramshastri
Prabune, which led to a letter from Shri Prabune to all the Brahmins of Maharashtra, Bombay & Kelve Mahim (The concept of Maharashtra was that of the Maratha Kingdom
only) The letter stated that those Brahmins who went to the Patane
Prabhus had been out-casted. Due to this, the rituals of the Patane Prabhus stopped.
Since the order was passed without investigation, the Pathare Prabhus requested
a complete inquiry in this matter |
| |
| Considering the above fact, in the year 1709
(Marathi calendar) i.e. 1787 Shrimat Shankaracharya in his consent number 1842 requested
Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe stating that Pathare Prabhu had an ancient origin
and their Rajgurus were from upper caste. The reference to this is found on the
copper plates of Raja Bimba's Era and is also mentioned in the Sahyadri Grantha. Before sending this consent, Shrimat
Shankaracharya took the approval of the Brahmins of Bombay and Mahim. The consent
had the signature of sixteen highly respected Brahmins of Bombay. |
| |
| This consent letter and the goods
of Pathare
Prabhus were presented in the court of Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe by V.S.S.R.
Ghanshyam Shastri Jadye. The instant Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe saw
the letters he congratulated Shri Shankarswami Jagatguru and clearly warned the
enemies of Pathare Prabhus that their allegations were without any base
and ordered all Brahmins to safely continue the rituals of the Pathare Prabhu.
But Nana Phadnavis the political adviser of the Peshwas disapproved this stand
of Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe. |
| |
| Nana Phadnavis had a grudge against the
Pathare Prabhus. During the Peshwe era the Pathare Prabhus of the Bombay and
Kelwe Mahim were under the rule of the Portuguese. The Pathare Prabhus harassed
the local Brahmins and residents of that region by forcing them to behave according to the
Portuguese sayings And hence the brahmins and the others locals of the Peshwa and the Portuguese
kingdoms considered the Pathare Prabhus as their
rivals. Due to the appeal of these locals Peshwe Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasaheb
Peshwe without giving a single thought to the laws, politics etc. time and time
again sent sealed order from Pune to all Brahmins of Maharashtra. The order
stated that all rituals performed at the places of Pathare Prabhus must be
stopped. This hostility led to death atonement of many Pathare Prabhus. |
| |
| Performing marriages, thread ceremonies and
other rituals became a big issue for the Pathare Prabhus. They faced this
suffering for many years. The only available solution was to surrender to
Shrimat Jagatguru Shri Shankaracharya and through him pressurise the Peshwas.
Nana Phadnavis did not challenge the authority of Shrimat Jagatguru Shri
Shankaracharya and this led to the culmination of this issue in the Peshwai. |
| |
|
Courtesy: Pathare Prabhuncha Itihaas (Pratap M. B. Velkar) |
|
Translators : Sau Meghana P. Rane, Mr. Tejas P. Rane
|
|
|
& Mr. Amit P. Kotharé |
|
| |
History
Online
Directory
Email