Sai Bhonsale

Saibai was a member of the prominent Nimbalkar family, whose members were the rulers of Phaltan from the era of the Pawar dynasty{{Cite book |last=Commission |first=Indian Historical Records |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Proceedings_of_the_Session/XfRtAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Saibai%22++%22Nimbalkar%22++%22Phaltan%22&dq=%22Saibai%22++%22Nimbalkar%22++%22Phaltan%22&printsec=frontcover |title=Proceedings of the Session |date=1977 |publisher=Superintendent Government Printing, India |language=en}} and served the Deccan sultanates and the Mughal Empire. She was a daughter of the fifteenth Raja of Phaltan, Mudhojirao Naik Nimbalkar, and a sister of the sixteenth Raja, Bajaji Rao Naik Nimbalkar.{{cite book|last=Katamble|first=V.D.|title=Shivaji the Great|year=2003|publisher=Dattatraya Madhukar Mujumdar, Balwant Printers|location=Pune|isbn=9788190200004|page=36}} Saibai's mother Reubai was from the Shirke family.

Rani Saibai and Shivaji Maharaj were married while still in their childhood on 16 May 1640 at Lal Mahal, Pune.{{cite book|last=Balkrishna Deopujari|first=Murlidhar|title=Shivaji and the Maratha Art of War|year=1973|publisher=Vidarbha Maharashtra Samshodhan Mandal|page=35}}{{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Stewart|title=The Marathas 1600-1818|year=1993|publisher=Cambridge University|isbn=9780521268837|pages=60}} The marriage was arranged by his mother, Jijabai; but was evidently not attended by his father, Shahaji nor his brothers, Sambhaji and Ekoji. Thus, Shahaji soon summoned his new daughter-in-law, son, and his mother, Jijabai, to Bangalore, where he lived with his second wife, Tukabai.{{cite book|last1=Rana|first1=Bhawan Singh|title=Chhatrapati Shivaji|date=2004|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788128808265|page=19|edition=1st}} Shahaji held a grand wedding ceremony at Bangalore.{{cite journal |author=B. Muddachari |title=Maratha Court in the Karnatak |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=28 |year=1966 |pages=177–179 |publisher=Indian History Congress |jstor=44140420 }}

Rani Saibai and Shivaji Raje shared a close relationship with each other. She is said to have been a wise woman and a loyal consort to him.{{cite book|last=Sen|first=Surendra Nath|title=Foreign Biographies of Shivaji Volume 2 of Extracts and Documents relating to Maratha History|year=1930|publisher=K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company Limited|page=165}} By all accounts, Saibai was a beautiful, good-natured, and affectionate woman. She is described as having been a "gentle and selfless person."{{cite book|last1=Kincaid|first1=Dennis|title=The History of Chh.Shivaji Maharaj: The Grand Rebel|date=1987|publisher=Karan Publications|page=78|language=en}}

All of her endearing personal qualities, however, were a sharp contrast to Shivaji‘s second wife, Soyarabai, who was an intriguing lady.{{cite book|last=Sardesai|first=H. S.|title= Chh.Shivaji Maharaj, the Great Maratha|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publ.|isbn=9788177552881|page=1011|edition=1. publ.}}{{cite book|last=Vaidya|first=Sushila|title=Role of Women in Maratha politics : 1620-1752 A.D.|year=2000|publisher=Sharada Publ. House|isbn=9788185616674|page=77|edition=1. publ.}} She also had significant influence over her husband and the royal family as well. Saibai is reported to have acted as a counsel to Shivaji when he was invited by Mohammed Adil Shah, the king of Bijapur, for a personal interview.{{cite book|last1=Kulkarni|first1=A. R.|title=Medieval Maratha country|date=1996|publisher=Books & Books]|location=[New Delhi|isbn=9788185016498|page=20|edition=1. publ.|language=en}} During Saibai's life time, the entire household of Shivaji bore a homogeneous atmosphere despite the fact that most of his marriages were performed due to political considerations.

After Saibai's untimely death in 1659 followed by Jijabai's death in 1674, Shivaji's private life became clouded with anxiety and unhappiness.{{cite book|last1=Sardesai|first1=Govind Sakharam|title=New History of the Marathas: Chh.Shivaji Maharaj and his line (1600-1707)|date=1957|publisher=Phoenix Publications|page=263|language=en}} Although Soyarabai had gained prominence in the royal household following their deaths, she was not an affectionate consort like Saibai, whom Shivaji had dearly loved.{{cite book|last=Kincaid|first=Dennis|title=The Grand Rebel: An Impression of Chh.Shivaji Maharaj, Founder of the Maratha Empire|year=1937|publisher=Collins|pages=162, 176}}

Saibai remained Shivaji's favorite till he died. A great source of inspiration to him, legend has it that "Sai" was the last word he uttered on his deathbed.

During the course of their nineteen years of marriage, Saibai and Shivaji became parents of four children: Sakavarbai (nicknamed "Sakhubai"), Ranubai, Ambikabai, and Sambhaji. Sakhubai was married to her first-cousin, Mahadji, the son of Saibai's brother, Bajaji Rao Naik Nimbalkar{{Citation needed|reason= Please give your explanation here|date=February 2017}}. Ranubai married into the Jadhav family. Ambikabai married Harji Raje Mahadik in 1668.{{cite book|last=Charles Augustus Kincaid, Dattātraya Baḷavanta Pārasanīsa|title=A History of the Maratha People: From the death of Chh.Shivaji Maharaj to the death of Shahu|year=1922|publisher=S. Chand|page=44}} Saibai's fourth issue was her only son, Sambhaji, who was born in 1657 and was Shivaji's eldest son and thus, his heir-apparent. The birth of Sambhaji was an occasion of great joy and significance in the royal household for many different reasons.{{cite book|last=Joshi|first=P.S.|title=Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 A.D.|year=1980|publisher=S. Chand|pages=3, 4}}{{Cite book |last=Pradhan |first=Gautam |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/300_Brave_Men_Shivaji_Trilogy_Book_I/SV02DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Saibai%22++and+shivaji+children&pg=PT18&printsec=frontcover |title=300 Brave Men - Shivaji Trilogy Book I |date=2017-09-07 |publisher=One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-5201-973-1 |language=en}}

Saibai died in 1659 in Rajgad Fort while Shivaji Maharaj was making preparations for his meeting with Afzal Khan at Pratapgad. She was ill from the time she gave birth to Sambhaji and her illness became serious preceding her death. Sambhaji was taken care by her trustworthy Dhaarau. Sambhaji was two years old at the time of his mother's death and was brought up by his paternal grandmother, Jijabai.{{cite book|last1=Mehta|first1=J. L.|title=Advanced study in the history of modern India, 1707-1813|date=2005|publisher=New Dawn Press, Inc.|location=Slough|isbn=9781932705546|pages=45, 47}} Saibai's samadhi is situated at Rajgad Fort.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |date=2023-12-03 |title=Pune: Maharani Saibai's Samadhi To Be Built At Rajgad Fort With Rs 30 Crore Allocated By Maharashtra Government |url=https://www.punekarnews.in/pune-maharani-saibais-samadhi-to-be-built-at-rajgad-fort-with-rs-30-crore-allocated-by-maharashtra-government/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Punekar News |language=en-US}}

• Literature - Shivpatni Saibai, a biography of Saibai's life written by Dr. Sadashiv Shivade.{{cite web|title=Shivpatni Saibai, Sadashiv Sivade|url=http://www.sahyadribooks.org/books/shivpatnisaibai.aspx?bid=323|publisher=Sahyadribooks.org|access-date=30 May 2013}}
• Film- Umadevi Nadgonde, popularly known as Baby Shakuntala portrayed Saibai in the Marathi language 1955 film Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj {{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
• Film- Smita Patil played Saibai in the 1974 film Raja Shiv Chhatrapati{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
• Film - Isha Keskar played Saibai in the 2022 Film Sher Shivraj directed by Digpal Digpal Lanjekar{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
• In Colors TV's 2012 historical drama, Veer Shivaji, Saibai was portrayed by an actress Palak Jain as a teenager and by Sonia Sharma as an adult.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
• Television- Rujuta Deshmmukh portrays Saibai in the popular TV series, Raja Shivchatrapati which aired on Star Pravah. {{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
• Television- Poorva Gokhale played Saibai in Swarajyarakshak Sambhaji, based on the life of Sambhaji{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
• Television- Saibai is portrayed by Samira Gujar-Joshi while Gargi Ranade plays the young Saibai in Swarajya Janani Jijamata based on the life of Jijabai{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

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Category:1633 births

Category:1659 deaths

Category:Indian female royalty

Category:Queens consort of the Maratha Empire

Category:Indian queens consort

Category:Shivaji

Category:17th-century Indian women

Category:17th-century Indian people