Shivpatni Sai Bai Bhonsale- The Life and Love Of Shivaji's First Wife

Books have been written immortalizing Shivaji's life for obvious reasons, with him being the founder of the Maratha Empire. Little do people know about the person who was the reason for his strength and courage, the woman he loved, the only true companion he ever accepted during his entire great life. It was his first wife's name on his lips as he died. One must learn about the woman whose virtues became a source of inspiration for the man who bends swords and established an entire rebellion.

Maharani Sai Bai Bhonsale, Chief Consort of Shivaji Raje Bhonsale, Source: Google Images

It was no hidden fact that along with wisdom and all the chaste virtues of a noblewoman, Sai Bai possessed admirable brains which Shivaji used to pick from time to time. Along with such gentle and selfless qualities, Shivaji was equally enamoured by the tender beauty of his Sai. She was the one true woman who ruled his heart and mind, while he ruled others and stationed a whole rebellion. So strong and significant was their bond that it is said that Shivaji’s last word was ‘Sai’.

They were married for 19 years and Sai birthed four children, three daughters, and one son. The most awaited and adored son ultimately became the reason for Sai’s death. Two years after the birth of Sambaji, Sai Bai died at Rajgarh Fort of an illness which never subsided after the birth of her son. It was a prolonged and painful death, her children were left under the care of Jijabai. But it was Shivaji who felt the blow of stark loneliness at her sudden death. At the time of her death, he was not even present, as he was preparing to meet Afzal Khan at Pratapgarh.

Eventually, Shivaji recovered from the immense grief he suffered after Sai Bai’s death. She remained his only true companion and love among all the women he married. Soyarabai, his second wife was a woman of a grudging and trifling nature and not at all close to what Sai Bai was for Shivaji. Sambaji became his heir, and the ruler who succeeded him, he was the last memory, the flame of the Maratha Empire Shivaji, during whose birth Shivaji lost his companion.

Indeed Sambaji was the apple of the eyes of his parents despite the brutal fate Shivaji and Sai suffered. Sai Bai’s ceremonial memorial is still present at Rajgarh Fort, immortalizing the memory of the woman who played a great role to make Shivaji, what he eventually came to be, the hope of freedom and survival.

It is said that behind every man’s eternal success, there is a woman’s hand, in the form of her love, dedication, and support. Though ignoring the high gender stereotypical connotation of this saying, there is a lot to focus in Sai Bai's life. So much so that when that woman, the pillar of support and source of wisdom is lost from that man’s life, he crumbles and loses all sense of comprehension, to make his way back to his normal life.

Such was Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s condition when he lost his beloved first wife, childhood companion, and his Chief Consort, Sai Bai Bhonsale, to childbirth illness. Bards and legends have written great theories about the greatness and untamed courage of the founder of the Maratha Empire, yet not one of them throws light on Shivaji’s darkest time during his life, first in 1667 and second when he lost his mother Jijabai in 1674. This story narrates the story of the loving bond shared between Shivaji and Sai Bai, emphasizing Sai’s life and what made her so prominent and special to have melted the heart of the Iron Man of the Maratha Empire.

Sai Bai was the dearest wife of Shivaji

Sai Bai was born into the famous Nimbalkar family who were the famous rulers of Phaltan, the minister and allies of most of the Deccan Sultans and the Mughal Empire. Born in 1633, Sai was the daughter of the sixth ruler of Phaltan and was married off at just seven as per the customs of most Maratha clans. The marriage was approved and arranged by Jijabai, Shivaji’s mother and wife of Shahji Raje Bhonsale. Shahjai and the groom’s brothers were not present at the time of the wedding but a lavish ceremony was arranged by Shahji at Bangalore to celebrate this auspicious union. Their union turned out to be truly auspicious and blessed, as Sai and Shivaji being just children at the time of their marriage, found themselves truly dependent on each other and as time passed, this childhood companionship turned into passionate love and togetherness. Even though during his vast political career, Shivaji was bound to enter into numerous marriage alliances for political reasons, Sai Bai remained his one true favourite, always by his side she stood, poised and calm, giving him valuable counsel during his most challenging political affair. It is said that Shivaji closely followed his Chief Consort’s advice when he was meant to meet Mohammed Adil Shah on a political pursuit.