On this great auspicious occasion of the coronation in history of Hindustan of an incarnated man who created the world of Swarajya from a great void of despair of Muslim rule, an officiator like Gagabhatt was conspired to be arranged by the universe.

Who was Gagabhatt?

The clan of Gagabhatt is famous in Kashi as Bhattavansha (Bhatta Clan) and is remembered for their erudition, achievements, and competence. This family has the right of forechair (first chair) amongst the scholars of Kashi and perhaps is the only family who has had this honour for so long. As the gotra of this class was Vishwamitra, it is also referred to as 'Gadhivansh'. A poem named 'Gadhivamshanucharitam' contains information about this clan. Accordingly, the patriarch of the clan was 'Shree Nagpash', who was also a bhatt, which means a very learned scholar. His son and grandson were named 'Changadevbhatta' and 'Govindbhatta' respectively. Since this family was originally from the south (Maharashtra), it is important to note that a descendant of this family, viz. Gagabhatt, still had connections and relationships in Maharashtra. In the astrological treaties by Shree Ramakrushna Bhatta, Bhatta Govind is said to be 'Agasti of the South'.

His son, Rameshwar Bhatta, was a distinguished scholar and erudite Brahmin. And in the poem 'Gadhivamshanucharitam', Rameshwar Bhatta's achievements are especially highlighted. He lived in 'Paithan' Maharashtra and is eulogised in texts like 'Tristhali Setu' and 'Rasapradipa'. Rameshwar Bhatta was shown as the eternal moon of the ocean of the Vishwamitra clan (Gotra) and was treasurer of all arts, and the land was populated by his disciples. Rameshwar Bhatta was shown like a sun, which bloomed the lotuses of all branches of study. To compete with Harsha's 'Naishadhiy charitra' he wrote a poem titled 'Ramkutuhala'. During his stay in Paithan, students from all over Hindustan used to come to him in droves to study. He then moved from Paithan to Sangamner. Two poems, "Bhattavamsh Kavya" and "Gadhivamshanucharitam," mention that Rameshwar Bhatta healed the leprosy of the son of Jafar Malik, a lord in the court of Ahmednagar. Rameshwar Bhatta had no son, and hence he also travelled to Kolhapur to worship Mahalakshmi, the reigning deity of Kolhapur, who was also the deity of his clan. From Vijaynagara, where he was invited to the court of Samrat Krishnadevaraya, the emperor, he was greatly felicitated in the royal assembly. He then proceeded on a pilgrimage to Dwarka, and in this journey, he was blessed with a son in the month of Chaitra of Saka 1435. The son was named Narayan Bhatta. After this, Rameshwarbhatta had two more sons, viz., Shreedhar and Madhav. Raghunath bhatta, the grandson of Ramshwar bhatta and the son of Madhav bhatta, has mentioned in his treatise 'Kaltatvaviveshan' that Rameshwar bhatta was adorned with three sons resembling Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh and resembled supreme Brahman. While staying at Dwaraka for four years, Rameshwar Bhatta taught Mahabhashya and Sureshwaracharya's 'Vartik'. Returning from there to Paithan, he stayed for four years, after which he moved to Kashi and later settled there. Among the many disciples of his in Kashi were some who became particularly famous, viz. Madhusudan Saraswati's Guru, Madhav Saraswati, Mahesh Thakkar, Shankar Mishr, Damodar Saraswati, and Anantbhatta Chitale from Konkan.

Narayan Bhatta and his scholarly tradition

Rameshwar Bhatta's eldest son, Narayan Bhatta, did all his studies with his father. After Rameshwar Bhatta's demise his mother went to Sati. Narayan Bhatta was friends with the famous Raja Todarmalla and also won many debates with Gaud and Maithili Pandits. During the reign of Akbar, Narayan Bhatta reconsecrated the Kashi Vishweshwar Linga, which had been destroyed by Muslims earlier. Describing his accomplishments in Dinakarodyot' it says, 'Owing to Narayan Bhatta's deep learning and austerity, he was held in high regard and had been awarded the epithet of Jagadguru'. He had also written a partial commentary on Parthasarathi Mishra's book 'Shastradeepika'. He also authored many books like, Antyeshti paddhati, Ayan Nirnaya, Aatur sanyasa vidhi, Aaramotsargpadhati, Ahnik Vidhi, Kashimaran mukti vichar, Kalmadhavvyakhya, Gotrapravaranirnaya, Teethinirnaya, Tristhali Setu, Tulapurush Mahadan prayog, Divyanushthan padhati, Prayoga ratna, Rudra Padhati, etc.. Many of his books are in circulation today and are regarded as authoritative in the matter of Dharmic decisions. His brothers Shreedhar Bhatta and Madhav Bhatta were also profound scholars and writers.

He had three sons, namely Ramakrishna Bhatta, Shankar Bhatta, and Govind Bhatta. Ramakrishna Bhatta was also a profound scholar and had written many books like Jeevatpitrukarma Nirnaya, Jyotishtompadhati, Vibhag Tatva, Masik Shraddha Nirnaya, Tantravartik Teeka, etc.. He died at the age of 52, and his wife, Uma, went to Sati with him.

Shankar Bhatta, the second son of Narayan Bhatta, was also a great thinker, and his books like Dwaitnirnaya, Mimansa Balprakash, Dharmaprakash, Nirnayachandrika, Vratamayukha, Vidhirasayanadushan, etc. are famous. His important achievement in the field of Shastras is to unify the two different philosophical views of Bhatta and Prabhakara. Shankar Bhatta himself has authored 'Gadhivanshanucharitam' which gives information about the Bhatta clan. His disciple Bhattoji Dikshit has authored 'Siddhant Kaumudi' which is a universally accepted book amongst grammarians.

Narayan Bhatta's younger brother, Madhav Bhatta, had three sons, Vishwanath, Raghunath, and Prabhakar, all of whom were great thinkers and writers.

Narayan Bhatta's eldest son, Ramakrishana Bhatta, had three sons named Dinkar or Diwakar Bhatta, Kamalakar Bhatta, and Lakshaman Bhatta. Dinkar Bhatta was a mahapandit (profound scholar) and an ascetic. Kamalakar Bhatta, in his famous book 'Nirnayasindhu', has said this about his elder brother: '(sic) I salute (that) elder brother who rested his body at the feet of Bindumadhava.'. Dinkar Bhatta wrote Bhatta Dinakari, Shantisar, and Bhatta Dinakodyot on Shastradeepika. His Kamalakar Bhatta has contributed immensely to theological literature. He was well versed in all Shastras and has written a total of 22 books, of which his major works are Nirnaysindhu, Shudrakamalakara, Vivadatandava, Kavyaprakashavyakhya, Gotrapravardarpana, etc.. It can be rightly said that his book Nirnaysindhu has regulated the general religious life of India. The third brother, Lakshman Bhatta, studied under Kamalakar Bhatta and wrote books such as Aacharratna, Gotrapravararatna, etc..

Vishweshwar Bhatta alias Gagabhatt

Ramakrishna Bhatta's eldest son, Dinkar or Diwakar Bhatta, was a great ascetic and the father of Gagabhatt. From the above short highlighted information, one can get an overall idea of the authority and power wielded by the Bhatta clan in the context of Dharma and Dharmic life in India. Gagabhatt's given name was Vishweshwar Bhatta. However, his father used to affectionately call him Gaga as a child, and later on, it became popular and proper. Gagabhatt himself gives this information and says in his book Dinakarodyot': 'I was born in the lineage of Narayan Bhatta, the greatest of those famous as captains of the oceans of philosophy. Even though my real name was Vishweshwar, my father, Dinkar Bhatta, fondly named me Gagabhatt, which became the norm. I am completing my father's unfinished work, Dinakarodyot.'.

Gagabhatt himself was a profound scholar who added fame to his race and family and was influential enough to be considered the Brahma of Kaliyug. His books, Mimamsakusumanjali, Bhattachintamani, Rakagam, Dinakarodyot, Nirudhapushubandh prayog, Pindpitru prayog, Kayasthadharmadeep, Sujnan, Durgodaya, Shivarkodaya, and Shlokavartik demonstrate his great erudition and authority on theology. The real reason he was appointed as the chief to officiate such a meritorious ceremony of coronation was his own and his lineage's unmatched merit and authority.

Two questions still remain unanswered, viz.,

• Did Gagabhatt come to the south only after hearing the fame of Shivaji Maharaj and urge him for coronation, or did Shivaji Maharaj and Gagabhatt know each other before the coronation?
• Did Gagabhatt have any direct connection with Maharashtra before the coronation?

The initial contact between Shivaji Maharaj and Gagabhatt had been established much earlier and had come to fruition at the time of the coronation. Both of these gentlemen were aware of each other's work and worth. Gagabhatt was always an admirer of Shivaji Maharaj.

According to V. S. Bendrey, "The writers of Bakhars did not understand Gagabhatt and Shivaji Maharaj's relationship prior to the coronation, so they have stated that the pair first met on the occasion of the coronation.". It appears that Gagabhatt, for monetary gains, consented for the coronation, which is factually incorrect. The family of Gagabhatt originated from the South, and Anantdevbhatta of Paithan was his brother disciple (Gurubandhu); hence, he used to visit Paithan from time to time. Gagabhatt was also earlier associated with being an arbitrator for social disputes in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. His first mention is found in the rulings given on Shende-Golak. After that, Gagabhatt travelled to Konkan in 1663, and at the start of 1664, he presided over the establishment of the Shenvi (Saraswat) caste. At Shivaji Maharaj's request, he called a meeting of several Kashi Brahmins, local Maharashtrian pandits, and Upadhyas from the Rajapur area, and he remained there until Anantdeybhatta and the reference books from Indore arrived. After that, during 1669-1672, he passed a few judgements on matters related to Kayastha Prabhus. Later, he wrote a book called Kayastha Dharma Pradeep in which he elaborated on the rights of Kayastha Prabhus, in which he was aided by Anantdevbhatta, and this was mentioned by Raghunath Panditrao.