Battel of Pavankhind
The Ghodkhind pass was subsequently named PavanKhind (Holy Pass) by Shivaji Maharaj, in honour of the Baji Prabhu Deshpande and his troop for their sacrifice.In Battle of Pavankhind (which is known as Ghodkhind) was a rearguard last stand that took place on 13 July 1660, at a mountain pass in closed proximity to the Fort of Vishalghad, near the modern day Kolhapur, with the Maratha warrior Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Singh Jadhav. The Marathas solider against Masud from Adilshahi of the Bijapur Sultanate.
In 1660, Shivaji was trapped in the fort of Panhala, under siege and vastly outnumbered by an Adilshah army led by an Abyssinian General called Siddi Masud. Shivaji planned to escape to the Maratha fort of Vishalgad. Two Maratha sardars under the Adilshahi General Siddi Jouhar, namely Suryarao Surve and Jaswantrao Dalvi had also encircled the fort of Vishalgad simultaneously. Shivaji waited for months, planning and depleting the Adilshah's food source.
Shivaji, Baji Prabhu, and around 600 of their best troops, would dash through the Adilshahi force at night. A man named Shiva Kashid, Nhavi one of the Maratha troopers, who had uncanny Resemblance to Shivajivolunteered to dress himself like and let himself be captured. who resembled Shivaji in appearance, had volunteered to dress himself like the king and let himself be captured. This bought some additional time due to the confusion over identity, before Siddi Masud realised the error and gave chase.On the night of Guru Pornima, a contingent of 600 select men, led by Maratha commander Baji Prabhu and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj broke through the siege. As expected, they were hotly purusued by the Bijapuri forces. As per plan, Shiva Nhavi allowed himself to be captured and taken back to the Bijapuri camp. This charade allowed the fleeing Maratha forces some time to escape.
However, as soon as the Bijapuri forces realised they have gotten a looklike of Shivaji and not the real Chhatrapati. Shivaji made his escape on the dark night of 13 July, with his troops and the Adilshah army was in pursuit with an army of 10,000. It was clear that there was no way to shake off the enemy, and that the Marathas would not simultaneously prevail over both the Moghul garrison at Vishalgad and the chasing Adilshahi army. The Marathas made their final stand at Ghodkhind (Horse's Pass).Shivaji and half of the 600 Maratha forces proceeded towords Vishalgadh,while Baji Prabhu,his brother Phuaji and the remaining band of men stood their ground to block the advancing Bijapuri army. Shivaji decided to split his forces. Baji Prabhu agreed to face the troops of Bijapur with 300 soldiers. Shivaji told Baji Prabhu that he would hear cannons being fired 5 times from Vishalgad, signaling Shivaji’s safety. The strategic position of Ghod Khind was chosen for the defence, as it was very narrow and only a few soldiers could pass at any one time.
Baji Prabhu occupied Ghod Khind, blocking the path of the Adilshah troops. His brother Fulaji Prabhu as well as sardars such as Shambusing Jadhav were present with him. Fulaji Prabhu and Shambusing were killed after a gallant and fierce fight. Baji Prabhu was severely wounded but carried on fighting at his station. The Adilshahi army repeatedly tried to break through the defenses of the pass, but were repeatedly repulsed. The unequal battle raged for hours, with the defenders maintaining their positions, but with rapidly depleting numbers. Only a handful of Marathas survived, and around a thousand soldiers of the Adilshahi army became casualties in attempting to take the pass.
Shivaji and his 300 soldiers had to break through the encirclement of Suryarao and Jaswantrao at Vishalgadh. Afierce battle ensured in which Shivaji himself fought wearing Dandpatta in his both hands. seeing this fight, the commander of Vishalgadh fort sent help to Shivaji enabling him and his troops to reach the fort safely. Shivaji then fired cannons as a singnal for Baji Prabhu to retreat. It is worth mentioning that Shivaji's journy to Vishalgadh was complited. Shivaji's journy to Vishalgadh with 300 men was no cakewalk. The fort was already under siege by Bijapur sardars named Suryarao Surve and Jaswantrao Dalvi. Shivaji Maharaj, with his men had to defet them to reach the Fort. Five hours after the battle started, the cannon fire announcing Shivaji’s safe return to Vishalgad was heard. Almost three hundred Marathas had been killed. Legend has it that a gravely injured Baji Prabhu continued engaging the enemy and held the pass, only laying down his life once he heard the sound of cannon fire. The handful surviving Marathas then retreated and disappeared in the forest as per the plan.
Baji Prabhu Deshpande has a special place in Maratha History. He sacrificed his life so that his king reaches safely and continues his campainst the marauding Islamic force that had captured much of central India. Deshpande, with his pure grit and determination, held on against the Bijapuri force, to provied enough time to reach the fort after escaping from enemy siege at Panhala Fort.