useful picture of contemporary south-
ern Indian life.
Shivaji
(1627–1680) Maratha chieftain who
carved out an independent kingdom in
western Maharashtraand Goa, and was
able to hold onto it despite the efforts of
the Moghul emperor Aurangzebto take
it back. Shivaji’s father Shahji was a
Moghul governor in the city of Bijapur,
and Shivaji began his operations as a
robber chief there. He gained the sup-
port of the local Maratha people, and his
first important conquest was a hill fort
near the city of Pune. From there he
expanded his territory and consolidated
his power, building forts to hold the ter-
ritory. Shivaji was a devout Hindu,
which undoubtedly helped gain him
support from the common people. In
modern times his Hindu roots, and his
opposition to Moghul rule, have
transformed him into a Hindu national-
ist hero, particularly in Maharashtra. See
also Moghul dynasty.Shivananda, Swami
(1887–1963) Hindu ascetic, teacher, and
founder of the Divine Life Society.
Shivananda’s first calling was to be a
doctor; after getting his degree, he spent
some time practicing medicine in
Malaysia, spurred by a passion to serve
others. Later in life he felt the call of
renunciation and, in 1924, settled in
Rishikesh, where he was based for the
rest of his life. Shivananda’s message
stressed the teachings of the Advaita
Vedantaschool, which is devoted to a
belief in monism (the belief in a single
Ultimate Reality where all things are
united), and the practice of yogafor a
disciplined life. He saw his own mission
as teaching others, a mission fostered by
the Divine Life Society’s publications,Shivaji
Ascetics observing Shivaratri.