Rajmata Jijau (also known as Jijabai) was the mother of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. She was born in 1598 in the Deccan Plateau region of India and was the daughter of Lakhujirao Jadhav, the chief of Sindkhed. Jijabai was known for her intelligence, wisdom, and strong personality, and is said to have played a major role in shaping her son Shivaji's character and political views. She was an advocate of education and is credited with instilling in Shivaji the values of courage, justice, and compassion. She was also a patron of arts and culture, and is said to have been an accomplished poet and musician.
Jijau's role in shaping Shivaji's childhood and upbringing is widely known and considered instrumental in Shivaji's success as a ruler. Her name is also remembered as a symbol of mother's role in a child's upbringing, education and moral development, in Maharashtra.