Thread by @GampaSD

Thread - Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's early life
Shivaji was born on 6 April 1627, in Shivner fort. The early life of Shivaji was full of peril and adventure. He was taught reading, writing and arithmetic and heard portions of Ramayana and Mahabharata. (1)

He was fond of harikirtana and devotional music and attended sermons of Sant Tukaram. Shivaji received his best education not through books and classes but in the wide world by personal contact and practical experience. Intense love of religion was a trait he developed...(3)

...by the sight of M atrocities and the reports he heard about them. He later introduced compulsory recitations of the war chapters of Ramayana by all his fort garrisons. The young Shivaji looked up to his mother for guidance in life. The secluded hilly region offered...(4)

...him plenty of outdoor occupation and adventure. Constant exposure to rain, sun, cold and rough life in wild nature hardened the young boy's body and mind. Riding, wrestling, speargames, swordsmanship, swimming through torrential streams became his main occupation. (5)

Shivaji developed intimate comradeship with man and nature away from temptations of vice and luxury of court life. The art of disguise was highly perfected for purposes of protection. Shivaji himself could imitate voices of birds and beasts. He could quickly cover...(6)

...long distances on foot or riding. With eyes and ears ever alert, he gained first hand knowledge of sentiments of people, their joys & sorrows, their occupations and resources, their needs and comforts. Shivaji possessed a pervasive tongue with which he won people's hearts. (7)

He held secret conferences and deliberated on liberation of his homeland from M control to put an end to persecution of Hindus. (8)

Source: History and culture of the Indian people - Volume 7 (The Mughal Empire)