Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a brave Maratha king who formed a Hindu kingdom. The land of Maharastra gave birth to many valorous and lionhearted warriors. This thread is about Shivaji's brave commander named Baji Prabhu Deshpande who died during the Battle of Pavan Khind. 
In 1660, Shivaji was trapped in the Panhala fort, under house arrest by the Adilshahi army (aligned with the Mughals) with 12000+ soldiers led by Siddi Masud. They had lost embarrassingly against Marathas on multiple occasions. Hence, they were determined to kill Shivaji.
But Baji Prabhu had other plans. He created a high-risk plan to break the siege in the stormy night of Purnima & reach Vishalgad. During the release, a soldier named Shiva Nhavi who had physical resemblance like Shivaji, engaged in talks with the Siddi to divert him.
Soon Siddi realized his mistake. He killed Shiva Nhavi and started chasing Shivaji & others with his army. Baji Prabhu wanted Shivaji to reach Vishalgad safely, 60 km from Panhala fort. He offered him to flee with half of the soldiers while rest dealt with the enemy.
Shivaji unwillingly agreed, he promised to fire three cannonballs to indicate his arrival on Vishalagad. Baji Prabhu & rest stood at the entrance to Ghodekind, a narrow pass that the Bijapuri army must cross to recapture Shivaji. The lionhearted Marathas were ready to face them.
Baji Prabhu and his soldiers were the masters of using dandpatta which is sharp as a sword. Despite 40:1 odds &being tired, they started fighting against them on a dark and rainy night and defended the mountain pass for around 15 hours. He & 300 soldiers died during the battle.
It is said that Baji Prabhu was severely injured but kept fighting until he heard 3 consecutive shots of cannonballs. The "Battle of Pawankhind" is our own version of "300" movie which continued for 15hours in which Mughals lost more than 4000 soldiers, 7000+ were deadly injured.
Also to mention, when Shivaji Maharaj approached Vishalgad with 300 men, the fort was already under siege by Bijapuri sardars named Suryarao Surve and Jaswantrao Dalvi. Shivaji Maharaj with his 300 men had to defeat Surve to reach the fort under heavy rain.
