Shivaji’s grand coronation was held on June 6, 1674 AD, at the Raigad Fort, which he designated as his capital. The ceremony was meticulously organized to project him as a legitimate, sovereign ruler of high Kshatriya status, complete with Vedic rites performed by Gagabhatta. The event transformed the Maratha kingdom from a regional revolt into a recognized state, giving it the necessary constitutional legitimacy to deal with the Mughals and other powers on equal terms.