Belawadi Mallamma was a warrior queen from Bailhongal, Belagavi District, Karnataka, India. Belvadi Mallamma is the first woman to form a women’s army to fight against Shivaji Maharaja. She is also credited with being the first queen in the history the Indian subcontinent who built and trained a women’s army in the 17th century.
Biography
She was the daughter of Sode King Madhulinga Nayaka and wife of King Ishaprabhu. Belawadi Mallamma, also known as Savitribai, was a Queen of Hindu community, who fought with Shivaji. She is credited to be the queen of Belawadi who defeated Shivaji. She fought enemy troops on horseback, wearing a saree in veeragacche (soldier’s tuck – a tight tucking of the front pleats in the back). She was Lingayat by faith.
Conflict with Shivaji
The main cause for the conflict was the harassment of the Belawadi farmers by Shivaji’s men who carried away the farmer’s livestock to their camp. The farmers approached the Desai Ishaprabhu and complained about the Maratha harassment. The Desai sent his commander (Dalvoy) Siddangaud Patil to bring back the cows from the Marathas. The Chatrapati’s men insulted him and as per the source, even Chatrapati himself did not entertain him.
Upon learning about this insult Mallamma lead her force of two thousand women soldiers to attack the Marathas and slaughtered the enemy. Within an hour two hundred men were wounded and ten to twelve men were dead. At this point the Maratha commander agreed to surrender the livestock. Shivaji when he heard the news was exasperated and ordered his cavalry to attack Belawadi till it surrendered. The Maratha commander gathered his army and laid siege to Belawadi. The battle raged for fifteen days. The Marathas had access to the provisions outside, while the Desai was confined in the fort, and his provisions were exhausted. In the battle Ishaprabhu was stabbed from behind and lost his life. Mallamma continued the war, with her force and vowed to avenge her husband’s death. One day Shivaji sent his army under Dhanaji to attack Belawadi, while he went to seek blessings of the goddess in a near by temple early morning. Upon learning this Mallamma attacked Shivaji and his associates near the temple. It is said that when Mallamma attacked she looked like “Goddess Jagdamba” to Shivaji and he began to pray. When he learnt that she was the Desain of Belawadi, he asked her to pardon saying “I made a mistake Ma..! Kindly forgive me..! Reconciliation was brought about and the conflict was put to an end.
Sources
1, As mentioned in The book Turukari panchamara itihasa written by shiva basava shastri of Brahanmatha (heritage site of Belavadi Sansthana). History of Belawadi Sansthana starts from 1511 with king Chandrashekhara raja And it mentions about war between Shivaji and Mallamma. Ishaprabhu died in the battlefield later Mallamma fought with Shivaji and she defeated the Shivaji. As result of battle hero stones are installed in their Samshtana. .
2, Shiva vamsha sudharnava in Sanskrit book written by mallamma’s teacher Shankara bhattaru . The book says Shivaji was defeated by Belawadi Mallamma . Tarabai second daughter-in-law of Shivaji gave first prize for this book and mentioning that the book contains exact subject of Shivaji and Mallamma. Second prize for Balasaheb bhaves Shivaji charitra and third prize for the book written by Shesho Shinivas Muthalika.
3,Jadunaath sarkar wrote biography of Shivaji in Marathi language. He mentioned Mallamma as Savitribai and 27 days war held between Shivaji and Mallamma.
4, A contemporary British work says He Shivaji is At present besieging a fort where.. he has suffered more disgrace than even he did from all power of the moghul of the deccan (Bijapuri) and he who hath conquered so many kingdoms is not able to reduce this woman Desai .
5, Yadavada stone is a symbol about compromise between Shivaji and Mallamma.
6,Other Marathi works jede shakavari , Chitragupta bakhar , 91 Kalami bakhar mentioned about battle between Shivaji and Mallamma but there are some misconception in these books.
7,Scholar Shesho Srinivas Muthalik recorded the life in the palace of Madhulinga Nayaka in 1704-5 A.D. in the Marathi language.