Battle of Rakshasbhuvan

The Battle of Rakshasbhuvan was fought on 10 August 1763. After the defeat of the Marathas at the Battle of Panipat, their rivals started seizing the opportunity to recover their losses in the past at the hands of Marathas. Particularly, the Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to recover territory he had lost at the battle of Udgir where all of his dukes and earls were killed. He decided to launch a war on the Marathas.

Battle
To boost the morale of his army, on the advice of his Diwan (who was once considered one of wise men in Peshwa reign) Vithal Sundar Pratapwant, the son of Sundar Narayan, who had built the Kala Ram temple at Nasik (Historian Ninad Bedekar mentions Vithal Sundars surname as "Parshurami") he declared Inams and Jagirs to many warriors who had deserted the Marathas and had joined with him to replace his warriors who were killed at Udgir. The main warrior amongst them was Vinayak Dasrao, nephew of Vithal Sundar himself, the other lieutenants being Narsinhrao Dixit Kaygaonkar whose father was killed in one of battle in Bundelkhand fighting for Peshwas, Shankarrao Joshi and Krishnarao Kanitkar.

The latter 3 were given Jagirs of Kaygaon Toke, Badnapur and Limbaganesh whilst Vinayak Dasrao was given Inam of Neurgaon. Vithal Sundar was given Jagir of the most fertile area of Pimpri in Aurangabad District. Amongst these, Krishnaji Kanitkar had given refuge to Sardar Vyankatrao Ghorpade of Ichalkaranji, Sardar Kolhatkar of Pen (Brother-in-law of Bhausaheb Sadashivrao Peshwa) and Sardar Hariba Patwardhan of Sangli during their flight from Scindia's forces during the mutiny of the pretender of Bhausaheb Peshwa. This refuge was given at the request of Sardar Tukoji Holkar.

Over and above the army of 25,000 of these Jagirdars from the Marathi area and loyal forces of Ismail Khan Panni, Raghoji Jadhavrao IV and Nanasaheb Nimbalkar Khardekar, Nizam was also assisted by General Bussey's French troops. However, the Marathas were being led by young Peshwa Madhavrao (until the skirmish of Chambhar Gonda, Sardar Janoji Bhosle and Shrimant Raghunathrao, uncle of Peshwa were also in the camp), who was assisted by Visaji Tryambak, Sardar Naro Shankar Dani Raje Bahadur, Babu Naik (Chief of Raghuji Bhosle's Nagpur Army who, prior to battle a few months before, had made a friendship treaty with Nizam),Sardar Yashwantrao Wable (Kopergaon) and Sardar Malojiraje III Ghorpade of Mudhol trounced the Nizam's forces at Rakshasbhuvan after the battle was fought for five to six months. Many of Nizam's trusted dukes like Shambhulal, Hamid Ulla Khan, Laxmanrao Khandagale, Rukn Ud Doula, Ramchandra Jadhavrao of Bhalki, Mir Mogal Ali Khan alias Nasir Ul Mulk left Nizam after the throne was encroached by Nizam Ali, brother of dethroned Nizam Salabat Jang and joined Marathas. Ironically Govindrao Ghorpade, who fought on behalf of the Nizam, was killed at the hands of his father, Malojirao Ghorpade, who was with Peshwa. The Nizam's closest aide, Vithal Sundar, was killed.

Truce
A truce was reached and a treaty was signed at Aurangabad, whereby the Nizam lost 50 lacs territory including Bhalki and except Telangana and the eastern part of the Godavari river in Maharashtra. They gained the Bidar and Naldurg forts in exchange for Bhalki.

As a part of the settlement, Neurgaon and Limbaganesh became part of the Maratha empire. After the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II in 1818, the British returned this territory to Nizam IV and these two Jagirs got merged into Nizam State. Unfortunately their descendants did not take care of health, drinking water, irrigation or road facilities in the territories. Even during famine or drought, when Nizam lifted all the taxes on agricultural yields which were very poor, these four Jahigrdars continued to recover their share from peasants. This led to Salar Jung II advising Nizam V to terminate their Jagirs.

As a result the Jagirs of Neurgaon, Badnapur and Kaygaon got merged with the Jagir of Takli/Lad Sawangi. Troops of Limbaganesh got merged with 5000 Mansab of Aamir Nawaz Khan, Talukdar of Naldurg and Collector of Bhir in 1843 which were restored by Sir Sikandar Khan's father during his reign in 1888.

This decisive victory made Madhavrao Peshwa stronger. This was his first battle, fought in 1764. Surprisingly Vithal Sundar's vacant post of Diwan was given to Mir Musa Khan Rukn Ud Daula, a Peshwa lobbyist in Nizam's durbar.