chhatrapati shivaji maharaj was the founder of the maratha empire. shivaji bhonsale was born in the shivneri fort in maharashtra on 19 february 1630 to mother jijabai and father shahaji bhosale. it is said that mother jijabai prayed to lord shiva in shivneri fort for a brave son and kept her son name as shivaji after the hindu god shiva.