Yes. Infact torturing and killing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was the last nail in coffin of Mughal empire. Because it backfired so badly for Mughals that it ended their entire rule in India. Aurangzeb died a lost and wasted man in Deccan. The murder ignited the fire in heart of Marathas and entire Deccan. Infact many Maratha sardars who had defected to Mughals were angry with this and slowly they moved back to Chhatrapati Rajaram.
Now coming to what action Marathas took. The very first action was Maharani yesubai who was Wife of sambhaji Maharaj and queen of Hindavi Swarajya coronated her brother in law and second son of Shivaji Maharaj Prince Rajaram as Chhatrapati of Hindavi Swarajya and ordered them to shift capital to fort of Jinji in Tamil Nadu from Raigad. Then came 2 big actions. Sarsenapati Santaji ghorpade who was present in Sangameshwar during ambush on Sambhaji Maharaj but managed to escape on orders or maharaj himself was burning with fire and he along with his 2000 troops entered right inside the massive Mughal camp and attacked Aurangzeb's personal tent gulal bari. He chopped off the golden pinnacle of Aurangzeb' tent took it with him and presented it to Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj.
Then within few months in October 1689 Marathas Avenged brutual murder of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Sarsenapati Santaji ghorpade was attacking Zulfikar Khan to break the seige of Raigad when he got the news that Sheikh nizam mukkarab who had ambushed and captured Sambhaji Maharaj was camping in kolhapur near fort of Panhala. Santaji decided to finish Mukkarab then and there as he was there when Sambhaji Raje wad ambushed but managed to escape and also his father Sarsenapati malhoji ghorpade died there in Sangameshwar trying to protect Sambhaji Raje.
He arrived on Panhala fort and assembled his troops there with help of Ramchandra pant amatya and shankarji pant. They decided to lure him near foothold of Panhala. According a small maratha contingent attacked Mukkarab and his son iklas and they counter attacked Marathas. Then Marathas tuned their back and Mukkarab and iklas followed them near Panhala and here Santaji and his troops mounted a big attack on Mukkarab from all sides and fierce battle broke out where Santaji ghorpade killed Mukkarab Khan and Inflicted a big defeat on Mughal troops. His son iklas was injured and ran away. Marathas confisticacted their Canons and elephants and returned to Panhala Fort Victorious.
This way Sarsenapati Santaji ghorpade Avenged both Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his father Sarsenapati Malhoji ghorpade.
Images courtesy:-Pinintrest and Google.
