Histroy of Sadashivgad

History of Sadashivgad

B. P. KADAM, President, Shivaji Education Society,
Sadashivgad.

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In the old records, Chittakula is the village on the northern bank of river Kali. This name is preserved in the government records even today. Chittakula included the fort of Sadashivgad. In old records, Sadashivgad included all the round about areas including considerable portion on the southern bank of river Kali. After splitting the District in 1862, it was the new head quarter and started as the Sadashivgad Municipality. Only after a couple of years it was named as Karwar (after Kadwad). Chittakula comprises of two words; "Chitta" means mind, "Akula" means attractive.

At the confluence of the river Kali and the Mavinhalla, the scene comprising a group of islands viz. Kurumgad, Madlingad, Devgad and Anjadiv, present from the top of the Sadashivgad fort, a unique scenery all around. One can have a view of the entire valley of river Kali in the east and the entire beautiful beach from Karwar to Majali in the west. The region of Chittakula was included in the kingdom of the Mauryas (257 B.C.). From 450 A. D. up to 1119 A. D., it was under the Kadambas, Chalukyas and Bhojas. Then came the Hoysalas from 1119 A.D. followed by the Yadavas of Devgiri up to 1318A.D.

From 1330, Chittakula came under the rule of Vijayanagar and the entire region had peace and prosperity. After its fall in the battle of Talikot, it was included in the Sultanate of Bijapur.

Vasco da Gama on his return journey from India to Portugal halted at Anjadiv island and got all the provisions from Chittakula. He was followed by Pedro Alvares, Dom oFrancis De Almeida and other admirals from Portugal. On the 25th Feb. 1510 Alfanso de Albuquerque while on his way, to Goa from the south, attacked the Fort of Chittakula causing great damage. Considerable ammunition fell in the hands of the Portuguese commander by name Diego de Fernandez who rebuilt this fort.

The Portuguese record of the fort of Chittakula is to be found under the name of the fort of 'Piro' the background of which is the following: La the year 1633, a Muslim saint by the name of Shah Shamsuddin Kharbat alias Karimuddin Ghouse-e-Azam Abdul Quadir came down to Bijapur from Bagdad. It is said that this Saint performed many miracles and the Sultan was pleased with him and became his votary. The saint came down to Chittakula and settled near the fort. Since then, the fort was named as the fort of Pir or Piro. It is worshiped both by the Muslims and Hindus.

THE PRINCIPALITY OF SONDA

The principality of Sonda was ten miles away from Sirsi; the Sonda chieftains descended from the royal family of the Kadambas and professed Hinduism. They were the feudatories of Vijayanagar. But after its fall, they had to accept the authority of Bijapur. During the decadence of Bijapur, Sadashiv Nayak of Sonda assumed the title of "Raja" and incorporated in his principality Chittakula, Simveshwar (Angadi), Kadra, Kadwad, Ankola and some other parts of Canara. After his death, in the year 1697, his son Basavling Raja ascended the throne, rebuilt the fort in 1715 to commemorate the name of his father Raja Sadashiva Immadi. Since then this fort is known as the fort of Sadashivgad.

MARATHAS IN KARWAR

Having marched from Bednore in the south, visiting on his way the sacred temple at Gokarn, Shivaji seized Ankola and the next day came to Karwar (then known as Kadwad). Both the East India Company and Sher Shah, the sardar of Bijapur, were very much alarmed at this sudden development. They collected huge amount and offering it to Shivaji, prayed that they may be spared. Satisfied at the recognition of his authority, Shivaji crossed the Kali River and conquered Sadashivgad on 21st Feb. 1665; installed Durga Devi deity here and entrusted it to the local Bhandaris for worship. Simveshwar (Angadi) was also seized. he had to give up his plans to attack Goa and returned.

After his coronation in 1674,Chhattrapati Shivaji again undertook the conquest of Konkan. In the month of May 1675, he had a speedy sway and conquered the entire territory from Sadashivgad up to Mirjan, near Gokarn. The noted historian, Jadunath Sarkar in his book 'House of Shivaji' has stated that at the time of his death Shivaji's Swaraj included the entire area from Dharampur in the north to Gangavali in the south and his authority was recognised as legally established and beyond question.

The chieftains of Sonda had come under the swaraj of Shivaji and were paying regular tributes to him. After Sambhaji's death, Rajaram took the reins but being unable to manage the affairs, leased this area to the Sonda chief, the deed took place in 1699. These territories were retained by Sonda chief.

These areas were annexed by Hyder Au in the year 1763. Sadashiv raja fled to Goa along with the members of his family and settled down at Bandodem in Phonda mahab '~1o foil the designs of Hyder Mi, the exiled Raja of Sonda went into a treaty of alliance with the Portuguese of Goa who lost no time to send their military detachment to Sadashivgad. At the same time the army of the Peshwa was descending the ghats, their naval ships too were on their way to Sadashivgad and some of them were in the waters of the Kali River. The battle was imminent. Hyder Mi, realising that he could not fight on two fronts, ordered his army to fall back. The army of the Peshwa and their navy drove the Portuguese out of the fort of Sadashivgad on the plea that the Rajas of Sonda were the vassals of the Chhatrapatis and were under the protection of the Peshwas.

In the year of 1783, the British also had occupied Sadashivgad for a short while. By the treaty of Mangalore in March 1784. Sadashivgad was restored to Tipu Sultan by the British. War erupted between Tipu and the British in 1791. Taking advantage of this unsteady position, the Portuguese invaded Sadashivgad but they had to surrender it to Tipu in March 1793. After the battle of Shringapattan in which Tipu died fighting bravely in May 1799, the entire district came under the authority of the British.

COURTESY: Golden Jubilee Souvenir
1986 of Shivaji Composite Pre-University College-Sadashivgad
Editor.