The year 1607 was a momentous year for
Prince Khurram, the eldest son of Emperor Jahangir and his father's
favourite. He was a young handsome prince accustomed to luxury and
refinement. As he made his way to the Meena bazaar, the private market
attached to the harem, he was surrounded by a string of fawning companions,
all eager to catch his eye. Even at 15, young Khurram cut a dashing figure
with his father's aristocratic nose, high forehead and large languid eyes.
Every maid at the bazaar carried a torch for him.
The Flame is Lit
Arjumand Banu sat with her silks and glass beads at her shop. She was the
daughter of Asaf Khan, the brother of the emperor Jahangir's consort,
Noorjahan. Exquisitely pretty, Khurram was drawn to her. He saw a piece of
glass at her stall and asked its worth. When she saucily replied that it was
diamond and not glass he gave her ten thousand rupees (a sum she boldly said
he could not afford), picked up the piece of glass and left carryimg with
him her image in his mind.
Flamming
Passions
The next day Khurram boldly presented his case before the Emperor seeking
Arjumand's hand in marriage. The Emperor raised his hand in assent, perhaps
recalling his own love for Noorjahan. However, five years were to pass
before Khurram was to marry his beloved. Meanwhile, he was married to
Quandari Begum, a Persian princess, for political reasons.
A Royal Marriage
The astrologers chose 1612 as auspicious for Khurranb's union with
Arjumand. By now he was 20, and she, 19. It was a grand wedding, as befits
an Emperor's son. Jahangir and Khurram went in procession, surrounded by
nobles, musicians and dancers, acrobats, rare animals in cages, slaves and
priests. Jahangir himself adorned Khurram with the wedding wreath of pearls.
On the bride, he bestowed great honours.
A Perfect match
Deeply influenced by her aunt, Noorjahan, Arjumand Banu was, unlike her
aunt, compassionate, generous and demure. Court poets woud celebrate her
beauty saying the moon hid in shame before her. She was inseparable from
Khurram and often accompanied him with an entourage when he went to fight
wars. In her 19 years of marriage, she bore him 14 children, 7 of whom died
in infancy.
Mumtaz Mahal
After
Jahangir's death, Khurram became Shah Jahan and Arjumand Banu, Mumtaz Mahal.
He built sumptuous palaces for her, for instance, the Khas Mahal in Agra
fort. She daily rose in his confidence eventually giving her the royal seal,
Muhr Uzah. She continually interceded on behalf of petitioners and gave
allowances to widows and orphans. Like many royal ladies, she also had
nerves of steel. She is said to have enjoyed the spectacle of men in combat
with animals. Shah Jahan is believed to have persecuted the Portuguese at
Hooghly at her behest.
Death of a Dream
Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth in 1630 ib the Deccan where she had gone
accompanying Shah Jahan as he went to war with Khan Jahanb Lodi. As she lay
on her deathbed, it is said that she whispered to him to build for her a
monument that would symbolize the beauty of their love. For a week Shah
Jahan remained behind closed doors. When he emerged his hair had turned
white, his back was bent, his face worn with despair. The entire kingdom was
ordered into mourning for two years.
Tribute to Beauty
As a tribute to a beautiful woman and as a monument to enduring love, the
Taj reveals its subtleties at leisure. The rectangular base of Taj is in
itself symbolic of the different sides from which to view a beautiful woman.
The main gate is like a veil to a woman's face which should be lifted
delicately, gently and without haste on the wedding night. Shah Jahan surely
had his chaste and exquisite bride in mind when he planned the Taj Mahal.
