"Meghdambari" is the holy place where "Shivrajyabhishek" (Coronation Ceremony) was held. At the time of Shivaji Maharaj's coronation twenty-thousand Brahmans were present at Raigad. Gaga Bhatt, an authority of Vedas officially presided over the ceremony, and had a gold vessel filled with the seven sacred waters of the rivers Yamuna, Sindhu, Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. He held the vessel over King Shivaji's head and chanted the coronation mantras, as the water kept dripping from the several tiny holes in the vessel. After the abulation, King Shivaji bowed before Jijamata and touched her feet. Nearly fifty thousand people gathered at Raigad for the ceremonies. Shivaji Maharaj was bestowed with the sacred thread jaanva, with the Vedas and was bathed in an abhisheka. Shivaji then had the title of "Shakakarta" conferred upon him.
View from Maha Darwaja, Raigad < Previous | Next > Shiv Samadhi, Tomb of Shivaji Maharaj
It is really sad that once such a mighty warriors forts are in a terrible state of ruins. We visited Vijaydurg and our hearts sank at the sight of the fort. Devgad fort has fallen off. People who are so proud to call themselves descendants of the Maharajs family must do something about it, else it wont be long till his forts,the only signs of him will be lost forever.
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