As ‘Chhaava’, featuring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, comes to the big screen today, an interesting legend ties the film’s heroic protagonist, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, to the Indian culinary staple-sambhar. Did this beloved dish take its name from this courageous Maratha ruler? Let us delve into the tale behind this theory.
All About Sambhar
Sambhar is a South Indian dish garnished with sour lentils and soft vegetables in spicy oleoresins. It is one of the best South Indian delicacies. It speaks of comfort in the simplest of forms, be it with soft idlis or crispy dosas or with hot steamed rice. But what about the fact that this dish could be related to royalty in wars waged by one of India’s greatest warriors?
Story Behind the Sambhar
According to historical records, sambhar was first prepared for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second son of the Maratha Empire. The tale goes on in the 17th century when Sambhaji visited Thanjavur, then ruled by Shahuji Maharaj. Shahuji, the son of Vyankoji, was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s stepbrother; he was not only a resilient warrior but a great poet, an artist, and a cook as well.
During the royal feast, the kitchen was suddenly devoid of kokum, the key souring agent used in traditional Maharashtrian cuisine. Determined to hold on to the customary sour flavor of the dish, the cooks improvised with the available tamarind to keep the tangy essence. This new version was presented right before Sambhaji, and Sambhaji Aahar, ‘the food of Sambhaji,’ was heralded in Sambhaji’s name. This name gradually changed to the more modern ‘sambhar,’ which is what we relish today.
Although historical evidence has stumped us so far, this exciting folklore is an embellishment in all of the Maratha legacy. The story is captivating whether or not one believes in the truth of circumstance linking fearless warriors to a cherished dish.
Chhaava, the eternally told valiant life story of Sambhaji Maharaj, is now running.
