Fort (Part I- Introduction)

The fort is also known by the names Gad, Gad-kot, Durg. When we thaought about fort, we only imagine the high and remote mountains. But if you want to build a fort, it is not necessary to have only high and remote mountains but surroundings, water supply, fulfillment of basic human needs, protection, structure, construction etc. many aspects have to be considered for the same and Maharaj used to build forts by considering all these aspects. Today, we have so much fort wealth that we can find ancient or obsolete forts in every nook and cranny of Maharashtra. Due to the forts, it was possible to maintain security in the surrounding area. The importance of forts in Swarajya was unique. Maharaj was also born in Durga. Maharaja got glory because of the forts.

Shivaji Maharaj has given importance of forts as follows:

‘‘जैसे कुळंबी शेतास माळा घालून शेत राखितो तसे किल्ले राजास रक्षण आहेत. तारवांस खिळे मारून बळकट करितात, तशी राजास बळकटी किल्ल्यांची आहे. किल्ल्यांच्या मुळेच आपणास धर्मस्थापन व राज्यसंपादन करणे, सर्वांस अत्र लावून, शत्रू प्रवेश न होय. सर्वांचा निर्वाह आणि दिल्लीसारखा शत्रु उरावर आहे. तो आला तरी नवे जुने तीनशे साठ किल्ले हजरतीस आहेत. औरंगजेबाची उमर गुजरून जाईल. एक किल्ला वर्ष वर्ष लढला तरी तीनशे साठ वर्षे पाहिजेत.’’

Translation:

“Forts are the protection of a king, just as a mulberry tree guards a field by garlanding it. Ark is strengthened by nailing it, as a king is strengthened by castles. It is because of the forts that you can establish religion and acquire a kingdom, keeping everyone at a distance, and the enemy will not be able to enter. Everyone’s sustenance and an enemy like Delhi is at stake. Even if he comes, the new old three hundred and sixty forts are in presence. Aurangzeb’s age will pass. Even if each fort is fought for an year, it will take three hundred and sixty years.

(Here, Dharmasthapana should be interpreted as self-rule religion and humanism religion. Please do not interpret it as Hindu or Muslim and as any other religion)

Forts are more important to to Maharaj even beyond life.

Maharaj always says:

‘गडकोट हे राहण्यासाठी, स्वरक्षणासाठी तसेच युद्धकाळात लढाया करण्यामध्ये एक महत्त्वाची भूमिका बजावत असत. म्हणूनचं हे गडकोट हे फक्त डोंगर नसून ते राजाचे सार, खजिना, लक्ष्मी आदी सर्वच आहेत’

Translation:

Forts used to play an important role for living, self defense and fighting during war. That is why these forts are not just a mountains but these are the essence of the king, treasure, Lakshmi etc.

Amati has said in one of his edicts:

‘‘संपूर्ण राज्याचे सार ते दुर्ग! दुर्ग नसता मोकळा देश. परचक्र येतांच निराश्रय, प्रजा भग्न होऊन देश उध्वस्त होतो. देश उध्वस्त झाल्यावरी राज्य असे कोणास म्हणावे? याकरता पूर्वी जे जे राजे झाले त्यांनी आधी देशामध्ये दुर्ग बांधून तो तो देश शास्वत करून घेतला आणि आले परचक्र संकट दुर्गाश्रयी परिहार केले. हे राज्य तर तीर्थरूप थोरले कैलासवासी स्वामीनी (छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांनी) गडावरून निर्माण केले. जो जो देश स्वशासन वशा न होय त्या त्या देशी स्थळ विशेष पाहून गड बांधिले, तसेच जलदुर्ग बांधले; त्यावरून आक्रमण करीत करीत सालेरी अहिवंतापासून कावेरी तीरपर्यंत निष्कटंक राज्य संपादिले. औरंगजेबासारख्या महाशत्रू चालून येऊन विजापूर भागानगरसारखी महासंस्थाने आक्रमिली, संपूर्ण तीस-बत्तीस वर्षे या राज्याशी अतिश्रम केला, त्याचे यत्नास असाध्य काय होते? परंतु राज्यांत किल्ले होते म्हणून अवशिष्ट तरी राज्य राहिले. पुढे पूर्ववत करावयास अवकाश नव्हता ………………. गडकोट विरहीत जे राज्य त्या राज्याशी स्थिती म्हणजे अभ्रपटल न्याय आहे याकरिता ज्यांस राज्य पाहिजे त्यांनी गडकोट हेच राजा, गडकोट म्हणजे राज्याचे मूळ, गडकोट म्हणजे खजिना, गडकोट म्हणजे सैन्याचे बळ, गडकोट म्हणजे राज्यलक्ष्मी, गडकोट म्हणजे आपली वस्तीस्थळे. गडकोट म्हणजे सुख निद्रागार किंबहुना गडकोट म्हणजे आपले प्राण संरक्षण, असे पूर्ण चित्तांत आणून, कोणाचे भरवशावर न रहाता आहे त्याचे संरक्षण व नूतन बांधण्याचा हव्यास स्वताच करावा, कोणाचा विश्वास मानू नये.’’

Translation:

“The essence of the entire state is the fortress! Country is unsecured without a fortress. As soon as the enemy comes, desperation, people get divided and the country is destroyed. What should considered as the state after the country is destroyed? For this reason, the kings who became kings in the past first built forts in the country and took control of that country and avoided the cycle of calamity.

This state was built by the great Kailasavasi Swami (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) from the fort. Whichever country is not came under Swarajya, they build forts as well as water forts; By invading it, acquired the unbroken kingdom from Saleri Ahivanta to Kaveri Tir. A great enemy like Aurangzeb came and attacked a great organization like Bijapur Bhaganagar, and overworked this state for thirty-two years, what was his efforts hopeless? But because there were forts in the states, the residual states remained. There was no space to restore further ………………. The state without forts is the state without justice. Those who want a state must treat Forts as the king, origin of the state, treasure, strength of army, Rajya Lakshmi, residence, happiness, sleep, in fact, forts are protection of life, with their full concern. They should protect and rebuild the old forts as well as build the new forts, without becoming dependent on or trusting anyone.

At the time of construction of any fort, Maharaj always said that no fort should be constructed without proper investigation of natural, man-made, geographical facts etc.

At the time of Rairi’s inspection, Maharaj says…

‘‘…..राजा खासा जाऊन पाहाता, गड बहुत चखोट…. कडे तासिल्याप्रमाणे दीड गाव उंच… पर्जन्यकाळी कडियावर गवतही उगवत नाही… पाखरू बसू म्हणेल तर जागा नाही… तक्तास जागा हाच गड करावा….’’

Translation:

“…..The king went and looked, the fort was very difficult…. The corners of fort were so sharp and they are one and a half villages high as seen… During the rainy season, grass does not even grow on the ridge… If a bird wants to sit there, there is no place… This fort should build as a Capital …”

In another edict, Maharaj says:

‘‘….. गडावर आधी उदक पाहून किल्ला बांधवा. पाणी नाही आणि ते स्थळ तो आवष्यक बांधणे प्राप्त झाले तरी खडक फोडून तळी, टाकी पर्जन्यकाळापर्यंत संपूर्ण गडास पाणी पुरेल ऐसी मजबूत बांधावी. गडावर झराही आहे, जसे तसे पाणी पुरते, म्हणून तितक्यावरीच निश्चिंती न मानावी, कि निमित्य की, झुंजामध्ये भांडियाचे आवाजाखाली झरे स्वल्प होतात आणि पाणियाचा खर्च विशेष लागतो, तेव्हा संकट पडते याकरीता जखिरयाचे पाणी म्हणून दोन चार टाकी तळी बांधावी. त्यातील पाणी खर्च न होऊ द्यावे. गडाचे पाणी बहुत जतन राखावे….’’

Tranlsation:

Build the fort by first seeing Udak / water source on the fort. There is no water and even if it is possible to construct the necessary construction at that place, a pond, a tank should be built strong enough to provide water to the entire fort till the rainy season. if there is also a spring on the fort, as it supplies water, so one should not be too sure, because the springs become weak under the noise of the pots in the battle and the cost of water is very high, so when there is a crisis, two or four tanks should be built as reservoir water. The water in it should not be wasted. The water of the fort should be preserved.

Explaination:

In short, it means that even if there are springs in the fort or there is a situation where the fort has barely enough water throughout the year, we should not depend on it. In times of crisis, more expenditure is required to meet the need of water. Then first pond, tank, udak etc. should be constructed on the fort. Break the rind and extract the water. Water should not be misused and water from the fort should be used sparingly.

Continue to reading with Part II

or goto Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI