Question

The Brahmin Minister of Sambhaji (Son and successor of Shivaji) upon whom he bestowed the title of “Pinnacle of Poets” was_______________.
a. Kavi Kalash
b. Kavindra Acharya
c. Kavi Bhushan
d. Kavi Martanda

Answer 1

Hint:
 He was by birth, a Kannauj brahmin was a competent administrator as well as a warrior. He also accompanied several of his campaigns accompanied Sambhaji. In a fierce war near Raigad in 1684, he is considered to have defeated Shahabuddin Khan. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj gave him the title of 'Chandogamatya'.


Complete answer:
 The Brahmin Minister of Sambhaji (Son and successor of Shivaji) upon whom he bestowed the title of “Pinnacle of Poets” was Kavi Kalash. In a fierce battle near Raigad in 1684, he is known to have defeated Shahabuddin Khan. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj also gave him the title of 'Chandogamatya'.

Kavi Kalash was captured by the Mughal army under Aurangzeb in Sangameshwar in March 1689, along with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, and was tortured and killed. They were paraded as clowns and probably killed to a slow death using tiger claws.

Additional information: The second ruler of the Maratha kingdom was Sambhaji Bhosale (14 May 1657 – 11 March 1689). He was Shivaji's eldest son, the founder of the Maratha Empire, and Saibai, his first wife. He was the successor of the empire after his father's death and ruled it for nine years. Sambhaji's rule was largely shaped by the ongoing wars between the Maratha kingdom and Mughal Empire as well as other neighbouring powers such as the Siddis, Mysore, and the Portuguese in Goa.


Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note:
Similar to Kavi Kalash in Sambhaji’s court, Kavi Bhushan (c. 1613–1712) was an Indian poet in Shivaji’s court. He wrote predominantly in Brajbhasha, interspersed with Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian words. He was Anupras and Shlesh Alankar's scholarly poet.