Jijabai was born in Sindkhed village of Maharashtra. His father Lakhuji Jadhav, like other Maratha chieftains, served the Nizamshahi. Once, Lakhuji's daughter-in-law and Shahaji, son of Shiledar Maloji, working under him, were playing together.
Lakhuji said that their couple was looking so good. So Maloji said to Lakhuji, it means that we have become samadhi. Lakhuji got upset at this and said, how can the daughter of a Sardar like me become the daughter-in-law of a Shiledar like you? Then Maloji said, now I will come here only when my level also becomes like yours. Maloji returned to his village with a disturbed mind. One night his family goddess Jagdamba blessed him in his dream. The next day when they were digging in the field they found seven urns filled with gold coins. With this he built many temples, dharamshalas and wells. His fame spread everywhere. Then the Nizam gave him the post of 'Mansabdar' and gave him Shivneri Fort and the surrounding area and he started being called Maloji Rao Bhosale.
On the other hand, Lakhuji's wife decided that her brother-in-law should be married to Maloji's son Shahaji. After the death of Maloji, Shahaji started working under the Nizam. Jijabai was pained that both her father and husband were serving the Nizamshahi. When she became pregnant, she decided that she would impart such values to her son that he could change this situation. Shahaji was often busy in war, so he sent Jijabai to Shivneri fort. There she used to listen to the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. This imparted values of bravery to the unborn child. Shivaji was born on 19 February, 1630. Then Jijabai, with the help of Guru Samarth Ramdas, raised child Shiva like a soldier. She used to tell stories of the glory and bravery of the country to Shivaji since childhood, due to which the feeling of patriotism and bravery was deeply inculcated in him. He sowed the seeds of dedication towards nation and religion and molded Shivaji into an ideal ruler. Later, Shivaji defeated the Mughal monarchy and established the Hindu monarchy in India on June 6, 1674. It seemed as if Rajmata Jijabai was alive for this day. June 17, the 12th day after Chhatrapati Shivaji ascended the throne. He closed his eyes in 1674
