Shivaji was a great warrior/patriot who fought against the Mughal rulers and the Bijapur sultanate. He was motivated by a need to rekindle the feeling of pride and freedom in his people, and establish self-rule for the Hindu people of his country. Though his motivation was partly religious, he was no fanatic and treated all his subjects well. His legendary exploits have been retold several times over the centuries, inspiring many generations to fight for freedom from different rulers - Mughals, Sultanates, and the British.