In 1674, arrangements were made for the grand coronation ceremony at Raigad Fort, the capital of the Maratha Empire. Scholars, priests, nobles, and people from all over India were invited. The great priest Gaga Bhatt from Varanasi was brought to conduct the rituals and declare Shivaji as a Kshatriya king, thus giving him the right to be crowned. On the day of the coronation, Shivaji was dressed in rich garments, adorned with gold and pearls, and seated on a magnificent throne made of gold. Sacred mantras echoed through the fort. Holy water from seven sacred rivers — Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri — was used for the abhishek (anointing). As the ritual concluded, Gaga Bhatt declared him "Shivaji Chhatrapati" — the sovereign ruler of the Maratha kingdom. A royal drumbeat filled the air, conches blew, and the Maratha flag fluttered high. The dream of Swarajya (self-rule) had finally become reality.