What is the relation between Marathas and Varanasi?
In the 18th century, India witnessed a political revival of the Indian society with regional dynasties – largely the Marathas making it big in the subcontinent
With the rise of the Marathas, Varanasi witnessed a massive surge in the new construction of Temples and Ghats on the banks of Ganga and the redevelopment of the old ones.
Marathas carried out rebuilding on a grand scale in the eighteenth century and Varanasi once again
regained its Hindu look
The Maratha connection to Varanasi goes back to at least 1590, when Narayan Bhatt a Marathi Brahmin assisted Todarmal in rebuilding the Kashi Vishwanath temple (which had been destroyed by Sikander Lodhi and which was in turn destroyed by Aur@ngzeb).
He was the grandfather of Gagabhatt, who presided over Chhatrapati Shivaji’s coronation ceremony in 1674.
Chhatrapati Shivaji is himself known to have halted in disguise at Benares after successfully escaping from Agra, on his way to the
south.
Although not one to base any decision solely on emotional reactions, the destruction of temples in Kashi and Mathura played an important role in Shivaji Raje's decision to open hostilities against the Mughals in 1670.
Following the death of Aurangzeb, Peshwa Balaji
