Jijabai was the mother of the great Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji. She was born in the town of Sindhkhed in Maharastra in 1594. Her father was Lakhuji Jadhav Rao, a descendant of the Yadava kings of Devagiri and a powerful Sardar at the court of Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar and her mother was Malasa Bai. She was married to Shahaji Bhonsle, a Maratha chieftain and the son of Maioji. Shahaji Bhonsle received the jagir of Poona and Supa from Nizam Shah and the fortress of Shivneri and Chakan.

Jijabai had a strong sense of duty, courage , determination that was reflected in her decision when she choose to side with her husband when Shahaji and her father were at loggerheads for some decision. Jijabai even refused to come to her father`s place which spoke of her self respect, a strong point of her character.

These qualities of Jijabai was passed to Shivaji. She was a great source of inspiration for Shivaji and was responsible for cultivating the spirit of bravery and humanism in him. She helped young Shivaji to dream of an independent Maharastra and inculcated in him the spirit of tolerance, justice and fair play.

She died when she was eighty.