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PLACES
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JAVLI
Javli (Mahabalesvar Peta; 17° 55' E; RS. Wathar 50 m. SE;
p. 213) is a small village situated on a ravine about two miles east
of Pratapgad and about three miles north-west of Malcolmpeth as
the crow flies, but down a tremendously steep descent. The village
is of great interest as giving its name to the large mountainous tract extending probably as far as the Varna river which was one of the earliest Maratha States since Muhammedan times. It was formerly under some chieftains named Shirke of whose family a representative lived in the former Satara district enjoying alienated villages in the south of the district. The Shirkes possessed this tract till towards the end of the fifteenth century, when Chandrarav More was given 12,000 Hindu infantry by the first Bijapur king Yusuf Adil Shah, (1489-1510) to undertake their conquest. In this, Chandrarav was successful, dispossessing the Shirkes and stopping the depredations of their abettors the Gujars, Manulkars, Mahadiks of Tarle in Patan, and Mohites. More was given the title of Chandrarav, and his son Yeshvantrav, distinguishing himself in a battle near Purandhar with the Ahmadnagar forces of Burhan Nizam Shah (1508-1553) by capturing a standard, was confirmed in succession to his father. He retained the title of Chandrarav and for seven generations the family administered the district with kindness and efficiency. In consideration of their unalterable fidelity the Muhammedan government allow-ed them to hold these barren regions at a nominal tribute. This they continued till in 1655 Shivaji attempted to win over the ruling chief, but he was intractable. In fact Yeshvantrav had reasons to be grateful to Shivaji, because according to Shivabharat story
Canto XIII Shloka 43, it was Shivaji who was instrumental in enabling Yeshvantrav to succeed to Jahagir of Javli. But Yeshvantrav defied Shivaji and gave passage to Shamraj,
an emissary of the Bijapur government, sent to seize him who therefore determined to regard him as an enemy. But the hillmen then had the character they have now, and formed as good infantry as Shivaji's own, remained faithful to Yeshvantrav as also his son, brother and minister Hanmantrav. Shivaji then sent army under Sambhaji Kavji and obtained possession of Javli [For details see History Chapter.]. Since then the tract had been in the hands of the descendants of Shivaji and the Peshva government until reduced by the English. Though it was evidently the residence of the Mores, there are no remains to show that it was a place of note.
The village of Javli, situated at three different Gavthans on the bank of the Koyna. river comes under the Sarvodaya Scheme. A cart-road starting from the village to join the main-road i.e. Surur-Mahad road is constructed by the Sarvodaya workers. There is a primary school in the village.
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