A born leader, a fearless warrior, and a shrewd military strategist, Shivaji resorted to guerilla warfare techniques to outmaneuver his formidable adversaries - the Mughal masters of the North and the Bahmani sultans of the South. His exploits hastened the decline of Mughal power and gave rise to a new power in India - the Marathas. His love for freedom has made him a national icon in India.