Biography:
Belawadi Mallamma was a queen of the Belawadi kingdom during the 16th century. She is renowned for being the first queen in history to build and train a women’s army. Mallamma was born as the daughter of King Madhulinga Nayaka, who ruled the Sodhe Kingdom in present-day Uttara Kannada district and south Goa.
From a young age, Mallamma received a quality education. At the age of 5, her father built a school specially for her and her brother, Sadashiva Nayaka. The school was led by Shankar Bhat, a prominent scholar, and had ten senior shastris (respected teachers of philosophy and ancient texts) as Mallamma’s instructors.
As Mallamma reached the age of marriage, her father organized a swayamvara, where she could choose her husband from a group of suitors. However, Mallamma decided to set a challenge for the suitors. She asked them to hunt a number of tigers equal to their age plus one within a month. The Prince of Belawadi, Ishaprabhu, who was 20 years old at the time, successfully hunted and killed 21 tigers, earning Mallamma’s hand in marriage.
After their marriage, Mallamma and Ishaprabhu became the ruling couple of the Belawadi kingdom. The kingdom covered parts of present-day Belagavi and Dharwad districts. Mallamma, now known as Belawadi Mallamma, took an active role in the administration of the kingdom.
Mallamma’s reign faced a significant challenge when she engaged in a war with the renowned Maratha warrior, Shivaji. The history of the Belawadi kingdom mentions the war between Shivaji and Mallamma. Ishaprabhu tragically died on the battlefield, leaving Mallamma to lead the kingdom alone. However, during the war, Shivaji realized Mallamma’s strength and stopped the conflict.
Various historical texts have mentioned the battle between Shivaji and Mallamma. The book Turukari Panchamara Itihasa, published in 1929, references this war. Marathi works such as Jede Shakavari, Chitragupta Bakhar, and 91 Kalami Bakhar also mention this battle.
One significant book, called Shiva Vamsha Sudharnava, written by Mallamma’s teacher Shankara Bhattaru in Sanskrit, talks about Shivaji fighting against Belawadi Mallamma. This book received recognition from Tarabai, the second daughter-in-law of Shivaji, who awarded it the first prize. The book was praised for its accurate depiction of Shivaji and Mallamma’s story.
Scholar Shesho Srinivas Muthalik recorded the life in the palace of Madhulinga Nayaka in 1704-5 A.D. in the Marathi language. In Jadunath Sarkar’s Marathi biography on Shivaji, titled Savitribai, he mentions Mallamma and the 27-day war between Shivaji and Mallamma.
Belawadi Mallamma’s story continues to be a symbol of bravery and strength. Her legacy as the first queen to build and train a women’s army has had a profound influence on society and has inspired countless women throughout history.