According to legend, Waghya became famous in history for giving his life to follow his master into the next life.
It is said Waghya was the beloved dog of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire in India. When Shivaji died in 1680 his body was cremated, and when Waghya saw his master's body burning in the funeral pyre the distraught dog jumped into the flames to be with him.
In 1936 a statue of Waghya, who had become the symbol of purity and loyalty in India, was erected beside Shivaji's tomb at Raigad Fort in Maharashtra. In 2012 the statue was removed by alleged members of the Sambhaji Brigade as a protest but was later reinstalled.