Shivaji Maharaj came out as the savior of Hindu dharma, sheltering it against Mughal aggression through unmistakable military, political and cultural intervention. He went head on against the religious bigotry of Aurangzebism such as the destruction of temples and the discriminatory jizya tax on the non-Muslims. His formation of Swaraj was a free Hindu kingdom that fought back the Mughals.
To destroy bigger Mughal forces, Shivaji used better guerrilla tactics (Ganimi Kava). Such victories as Pratapgad and attack on Shaista Khan stopped the progress of the Mughals and their religious persecution in his land. His success in the battlefields dispelled the idea of Mughal indomitability.
In Swarajya, Shivaji had a government that was based on Hindu ideology (Nyaya Dharma). He did away with exploitative taxation on the Hindus and made local justice systems. His regime (Ashtapradhan) was very effective in defending Hindu religion and culture against intrusion by the Mughals.
Shivaji was actively a patron of Hindu religious institutions. He made huge contributions to temples, funded Vedic scholars and revived the Hindu festivals. This patronage was done with intent to counter the Mughal attempts to erode its culture and bolstered Hindu religious life.
Shivaji provided active asylum to the Hindus fleeing the Mughal persecution. His kingdom started doubling as a haven, it preserved temples and promoted the free execution of rituals by the Hindu religion. He was a role model of the Hindu religion of a Kshatriya Dharma, that protects its religion with undying determination.
Conclusion:
Shivaji Maharaj preserved Hindu dharma by engaging in continuous military struggle against the Mughal rule, the creation of an independent Hindu state (Swarajya), active mode of supporting religious places and protecting them, giving direct harbor. By doing this, he formed an effective barrier against Mughal religious oppression that preserved Hinduism faith as well as Hindu culture at a critical time.
