Empire of Babur. The Great Mughals: From Central Asia to the Indian “Peacock Throne”

The coming of age and the oath of the Grand Dukes The coming of age of the remaining children in the royal family came when they turned 20 years old. Formally, from this moment on, the growing great princes lost their “children’s status.” The male teachers were replaced by a trustee,

BABUR, Zahir ad-Din Muhammad Babur (1483–1530), founder of the Mughal dynasty, Central Asian statesman and commander, conqueror of India and founder of the Mughal dynasty. Born on February 14, 1483 in Andijan, the eldest son of the ruler of Fergana Omar Sheikh Mirza. On his father's side he descended from Timur, on his mother's side from Genghis Khan. Prince Zahir ad-Din was taught in his father's palace by court scholars and advisers. After his father's death in 1494, he endured a bitter struggle for power with his relatives and representatives of groups of nobility. The young ruler’s attempts to create a large centralized state on the territory of Maverannahr (between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers) were unsuccessful. As a result, Fergana was divided between Zahir ad-Din, nicknamed Babur (Tiger) in Mongolian, and his brother Dhahangir Mirza. During a series of campaigns, Babur managed to annex Kashgar, Kunduz and Kandahar and establish his capital in Samarkand.

In 1504, taking advantage of civil strife and wars between rival Timurid rulers, the leader of the nomadic Uzbek tribes, Muhammad Sheybani Khan, captured Samarkand and Andijan, and then Tashkent, forcing Babur to retreat to Kabul. In 1508, Shaybani recaptured Herat from the ruler of Khorasan (Sultan Hussein Mirza).

Having strengthened himself in Kabul, Babur tried in 1505–1515 to return his Central Asian possessions, but was defeated each time. In 1508, he went to Kandahar to come to the aid of its ruler, but soon fell out with him, captured this city and transferred its control to his brother Nayr Mirza. In the same year, Babur made his first trip to India and, stopping at the Badi Pich pass, ordered the history of his journey to be carved into stone.

From 1519, the ruler of Kabul began the systematic conquest of India. In 1525, responding to the calls of the vassals of the last Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim (Ibrahim) Lodi, Babur crossed the Indus River and in 1526 defeated the Sultan’s army at the Battle of Panipat, north of Delhi. “The Great Lord,” the conqueror recalled, “made this difficult task easy for us: he razed such a large army to the ground in half a day. Near Ibrahim, in one place alone, 5 or 6 thousand people were killed; We approximately estimated the number of those killed in other places at 15–16 thousand. Then... from the stories of the inhabitants of Hindustan it became known that 40-50 thousand people were killed in this battle.” Having occupied Delhi, Agra and almost the entire Ganges valley up to Bengal, Babur declared himself emperor (padishah). The possessions of his empire, with its capital at Agra, extended to northern India and part of modern Afghanistan.

Babur is known as an enlightened ruler, patron of the arts, science and culture. Around his court in Agra he gathered many eminent writers, poets, artists, musicians and scientists. He himself was a scientist, a talented writer and poet. Babur’s daughter, Gulbadan-begim, recalled that her father built a horse polo ground in the city of Sikri with a special room where he used to write books. Babur is the author of lyrical poems (rubais and ghazals), treatises on Muslim jurisprudence ( Mubayin), poetics ( Aruz risolasi), music, military affairs, creator of a special alphabet Khatt-i Baburi. But his unique autobiographical book brought him the greatest fame. Babur-name (Notes of Babur), reflecting information about the history and life of peoples, economics, nature and geography of Central Asia, Afghanistan and India in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Having taken possession of India, Babur promoted the development of cities and trade, encouraged the planting of trees and gardens, the construction of libraries and caravanserais. He died on December 26, 1530 in Agra; the throne was inherited by his son Humayun. The remains of the founder of the empire were, according to his will, transferred to Kabul and buried in the country garden of Bagh-i Babur (Garden of Babur). Babur's descendants, the Great Mughals, ruled in India until the mid-19th century.

Great Mughals- a dynasty of rulers in India, descendants of the Samarkand ruler Timur (1336-1405). They ruled / ruled India from 1526 to 1858. The most famous Great Mughals, whose names history repeats again and again are Babur, Akbar And Shah Jahan.

Family tree of the Great Mughals - descendants of Timur

Rulers of the Mughal dynasty in India:

• Babur (reigned 1526-1530),
• Humayun (1530-1539, 1555-1556),
• Akbar (1542-1605),
• Jahangir (1605-1627),
• Shah Jahan (1627-1658),
• Aurangzeb (1658-1707),
• Bahadur Shah (1707-1712),
• Jahandar Shah (1712-1713),
• Farruq Siyar (1713-1719),
• Muhammad Shah (1719-1748),
• Ahmed Shah (1748-1754),
• Alamgir II (1754-1759),
• Shah Alam II (1759-1806),
• Akbar II (1806-1837),
• Bahadur Shah II (1837-1858).

II. Babur - gardener

The founder of the Great Mughal dynasty, Babur, was a commander, poet and writer, rightfully considered the most brilliant successor of Timur. And the most brilliant successor of Babur was his grandson Akbar the Great, to whom the next chapter is dedicated. Babur was the great-grandson of Sultan Muhammad (grandson of Timur), whose father, Miranshah, was the third son of Timur.

The founder of the dynasty, Babur (1483-1530), was born in Andijan, in the Fergana Valley (modern Uzbekistan). On his father's side he was a descendant of Timur, and on his mother's side he was a descendant of Genghis Khan. At the first shaving of his head, Babur’s grandfather, the stern ruler of Tashkent Yunus Khan, who arrived from Tashkent to the Fergana Valley, awarded him this nickname, after several unsuccessful attempts to pronounce the name given to the child - Zahireddin (translated from Arabic - “Keeper of the Faith”) Muhammad. The old Mongol exclaimed that the boy reminded him of a tiger cub. The future conqueror retained the nickname Babur the Tiger for the rest of his life (Babur means “Tiger”).

After the death of his father, 12-year-old Babur was declared the sovereign of Fergana. In subsequent years, he persistently sought to create a large centralized state in the territory between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, but his plans were unsuccessful. After being expelled from Central Asia by Uzbek nomads in 1504, Babur settled in Kabul.

In 1526, he breaks up the Delhi Sultanate and establishes a new ruling dynasty in Northern India, which is called "Mughals", which means "Mongols" in Persian in memory of the fact that they originated from Central Asia (Mogolistan), which was part of the Mongol state of Chagatai Ulus is the possession of Chagatai (1186-1242), the second son of Genghis Khan, who owned the very heart of Central Asia. Chagatai was appointed by his father as the great custodian of the Yasa, a collection of generally accepted Mongol legal institutions and generalized wisdom formulated by Genghis Khan. European travelers of the 17th century called this dynasty the Great Mughals.

Babur left his mark not only in world history, but also in world literature, as a connoisseur of art, literature and science, a poet and the author of “Babur-name” (“Notes of Babur”) - a rare and talented biographical work in which tells about all the significant events of the era of his reign, and also describes in detail the political situation that prevailed in Central Asia and Northern India at the turn of the 15th-16th centuries. “Babur-name” was compiled on the basis of Babur’s subtle observations of the world around him.

Confirmation of Babur’s merits as a historian, geographer, ethnographer, prose writer and poet are new translations into French“Babur-name”, published under the auspices of UNESCO in Paris in 1980 and 1985. The legacy of Babur is studied in almost all major oriental centers of the world.

Babur was one of the few rulers who had the courage to speak openly about their failures and defeats; he knew how to treat his own behavior with humor. The impressions of Babur about India, its natural features and the peoples who inhabited this country contained in “Babur-nama” are very interesting. With the arrival of Babur, India learned that Timur's descendants were distinguished by a love of gardens, music and poetry. He introduced India to the Persian gardens, which from ancient times personified the idea of ​​​​Paradise, which passed into the Bible and the Koran. Babur managed to build a new Samarkand in India, although this happened after his death. The largest Persian garden in India is the Taj Mahal garden in Agra, built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century.

Babur's daughter Gulbadan-Begim was the only female historian in medieval India. A descendant of Babur was the Indian poetess Zebuniso (daughter of Aurangzeb, the last strong Mughal emperor). Zebuniso wrote in Persian (Farsi), also spoke Arabic and Urdu, studied philosophy, literature, astronomy, and was famous not only for calligraphy, but also for her beauty.

A talented commander, a wise ruler, a passionate gardener, he was a loving father and voluntarily died for the sake of his son’s recovery (when his son was dying, he begged Allah for his son’s life in exchange for his own). Some time after Babur's death, his remains were transferred by his wife Bibi Mubarika Yousafzai from Agra to Kabul (his first capital), as he bequeathed, to a suburban garden, which is now known as Babur's Garden (Bagh-i Babur). Babur very carefully chose the place of his burial. Remaining an incorrigible romantic and naturalist at heart, he asked that nothing be covered with his grave so that rain and the rays of the Sun could fall on it.

Near his grave in 1646, the builder of the Taj Mahal, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, built a marble mosque. The grave itself consisted of a simple marble slab on a small elevation and on it were inscribed the following words: « Only this mosque of beauty, only this church of nobility, built for the prayers of the saints and the appearance of the cherubs, is worthy to stand in such a respected refuge as this road of the archangels, these heavenly distances, this bright garden of God's chosen angel-king, who rests in this divine garden, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur the Conqueror»

Babur possessed eight important qualities: sober judgment, noble ambitions, the art of victory, the art of government, the art of achieving the welfare of his people, the talent of gentle rule, the ability to win the hearts of his soldiers, the love of justice. They were inherited and increased by his grandson, Akbar the Twice Great.

III. Akbar Twice Great

Indian Emperor Akbar the Great (1542-1605) was the grandson of Babur and the builder of the Mughal Empire (Timurid Empire in India) - the largest power in India. Akbar the Great is often called twice great, but not only because, translated from Arabic, Akbar means Great. He is rightfully considered one of greatest rulers not only India, but the whole world. Akbar the Great was a contemporary of the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible and the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Akbar the Great, like his ancestors Timur and Genghis Khan, owned the Chintamani Stone sent to him by Shambhala - a gift from Orion, responsible for spiritual evolution on Earth. His military genius was comparable to his mission of education.

His humanistic views and love for peaceful life were harmoniously combined with military talent. Like his glorious ancestor Timur, Akbar did not lose a single battle. He collected lands and fought not out of personal gluttony, but creating a new page in great history. Akbar managed to unite Muslims and Hindus, giving the country long-awaited political stability, and implemented a policy aimed primarily at establishing human dignity, the spiritual and physical health of the nation. The expression of Thomas Carlyle fully applies to Akbar: “The history of the world is, in essence, the history of inspirational heroes, educators and leaders of peoples.”

Carlyle, in his work “Heroes, Hero Worship and the Heroic in History,” gave the following classification of various types of heroes: deity, poet, prophet, spiritual shepherd, reformer, where a special place is given to the hero-ruler, since he organically combines best qualities all other types. If we briefly summarize the main, according to Carlyle, qualities that distinguish such a hero from ordinary people, we get the following list:

- deep sincerity and insight;

- the ability to penetrate through external appearances into the true essence of things;

— dedication to activities that transform the world;

— spiritual mentoring of one’s people;

- loneliness among the crowd.

Akbar fully possessed such qualities, the years of whose reign (1562-1605) historians of the world unanimously call the “age of Akbar.” Even today, Akbar the Great remains a symbol of mercy, justice and nobility for Indians. Thanks to Akbar's wise policies, peace was maintained for a long time in multinational India.

Akbar put forward 3 principles of public policy:

1. Preservation of the nation state.

2. Tolerance, i.e. reconciliation of Muslims with Hindus.

3. Unification of India.

Akbar is often compared to the Biblical Solomon, finding their similarities:

- both became famous for their wisdom and justice;

- both thought about the single beginning of existence;

- both cared about strengthening their states;

- both performed a fair trial;

- both felt power as a heavy burden;

— death caught everyone in the midst of creation.

Akbar's nature was incredibly active; he was in a hurry to live and worked for the good of his people. Akbar, as an enlightened ruler, thought deeply, broadly and sharply about the state, about the world and the place of man in it. Akbar was not only a philosopher, but also a practitioner: it is difficult to name a craft or art that he did not know.

At the age of 13, after the death of his father, Akbar’s childhood ended and the difficult years of rapid growing up and construction began. great empire. At the age of 13, Akbar, whose childhood was spent among military campaigns, was a very strong and strong young man. He was well versed in military affairs, had a sharp mind, excellent intuition, resourcefulness, observation and a strong sense of justice.

Conventionally, the following periods of Akbar’s activity can be distinguished:

• 1562 – 1574 – expansion of the state’s borders;
• 1574 – 1580 – economic reforms;
• 1580 – 1602 – conquest of new territories;
• 1582 – 1605 – implementation of a unique religious reform.

For Akbar, campaigns of conquest were not an end in themselves, but rather a strict necessity, a means of creating a monolithic and powerful state. During his campaigns, Akbar showed a minimum of violence and a maximum of mercy. Jawarharlal Nehru, assessing Akbar’s policies, emphasized that he “ gave preference to victories won by love over victories won by the sword, knowing well that the former are more durable».

Akbar united many different ethnic groups with established traditions, customs, and religions into one people with a national idea. He carried out a unique cultural synthesis of Hinduism and Islam, which allowed the empire founded by Akbar to exist for more than a century and a half.

One of the main principles of Akbar's policy was principle of religious tolerance. Akbar wrote to Shah Abbas of Iran: “From the very beginning we were determined not to take into account differences in religious doctrines, but consider all nations to be servants of God. It should be noted that All religions are marked by the grace of the Lord, and every possible effort must be made to achieve ever-blooming gardens of peace for all.”

At Akbar's court there were many outstanding personalities who possessed extraordinary talents. Construction and architecture enjoyed his special attention and patronage. Akbar perfectly understood the importance of literature; his library collected 24,000 manuscripts. Several thousand poets were in the service of the ruler.

Akbar's policy was peace for everyone, he preferred peaceful pursuits and did not like wars. Akbar attracted the hearts of many people. A particularly important role in his circle was played by the “9 Treasures” - the most talented and spiritually close people to Akbar.

The far-sighted and wise ruler paid great attention to the education of his subjects. In villages and towns, schools were established for ordinary people, where they taught reading, writing and arithmetic. The number of higher educational institutions for Muslims and Hindus, into whose curriculum Akbar introduced new subjects: medicine, history, arithmetic, geometry, as well as the science of morality and behavior in society.

Akbar actively pursued a policy of mitigating religious differences. In 1582 he proclaims Din-i illahi– “Divine Faith”, which creatively synthesized the best achievements of various religions. One of the meanings of the word “din” in Arabic is “power – submission”, which is very close to the ancient concept of “power – sacrifice”, when reasonable and caring government, the selfless work of the ruler for the benefit of his subjects were combined with the subordination of his entire nature to the Higher Will . The main postulate of Din-i illahi was that Reason must be the basis of all actions. In all religions, Akbar valued only the feeling of the divine and did not attach importance to the doctrine itself and its rituals.

While the fires of the Inquisition were burning in Europe, Akbar created Fatehpur Sikri in his capital the world's first parliament of religions, where, in the spirit of freedom and respect, religious and scientific debates were held between representatives of the main faiths of the Indian subcontinent (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Judaism, etc.).

The reforms carried out by Akbar show that he implemented a policy aimed primarily at establishing human dignity, the spiritual and physical health of the nation, which was extremely far-sighted. During the years of his reign, he abolished many taxes, prohibited the sale of prisoners of war into slavery, declared self-immolation illegal, prohibited child marriage, that is, the marriage of girls under 14 years of age and boys under 16 years of age, because they “give weak offspring, and spouses, having reached maturity, they will hate each other.”

Akbar boldly rejects blind adherence to the dead letter of the law, mechanical copying of ancient traditions, offering in return the spirit of research and free-thinking. “The superiority of man depends on the treasures of reason... Many people think that following the external signs and letter of Islam makes sense without inner conviction... It is now clear that not a single step can be taken without the torch of evidence, and only that faith is true which is approved by reason,” asserted ruler of a great empire.

The 16th century itself, in which Akbar lived and worked, is a special time for all humanity. This is the time of the Renaissance in Europe, the era of the Mahdi movement in Islam, the time of revival in China ruled by the Ming Dynasty, the time of Sufism and Bhakti in India. New life pulsed in every civilized country, new energetic dynasties entered the arena: in England - the Tudors, in France - the Bourbons, in Spain and Austria - the Habsburgs, in Prussia - the Hohenzollerns, in Egypt - the Mamluks, in Persia - the Safavids, in Central Asia – The Shaibanids, in China – the Ming, in India – the Timurids, in Rus' – the Rurikovichs strengthened the centralized power of Moscow. All this happened at the same time and we can talk about the determinism (non-randomness) of these events. It can be said that the greatness of each ruler expressed the general innovative spirit of the era: Henry VIII and Elizabeth in England, Henry IV in France, Frederick in Prussia, Sigismund in Austria, Philip II in Spain, Suleiman the Magnificent in Turkey, Shah Ismail in Persia, Shaybani Khan in Central Asia, Babur and Akbar in India, Ivan III and his grandson Ivan the Terrible in Rus'.

The book The Lords and Their Abodes by Mark and Elizabeth Prophet states that Akbar was the incarnation of Mahatma El Morya, who was first reported to the world in the 1880s. Helena Blavatsky. Another incarnation of El Morya was the Sumerian, no less famous than Akbar, the common forefather of three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam).

Jalandhar

Shah Jahan's biological mother (and Jahangir's wife) was the Rajput princess Jodha, born in the northern latitude city of Jodhpur. It is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. It is located in the middle of the desert. Until the mid-20th century it served as the capital of the Rajas of Mar. His maternal grandmother was also named Jodha and was a Rajput princess whom Akbar married for political reasons. She bore him his eldest son and heir, Jahangir. The epic film “Jodha and Akbar” was made about this story, where the role of Jodha was played by Miss World.

From Punjab the Mughal power began to spread throughout India.

IV. Mughal architecture

The next famous ruler from the Mughal dynasty is Akbar's grandson Emperor Shah Jahan(1592-1666) during whose reign majestic structures were built - Taj Mahal in Agra, the Red Fort and the Cathedral Mosque in Delhi, which belong to the best monuments of Mughal architecture. Under Sha Jahan, the Mughal Empire reached the peak of its power. Shah Jahan had the same throne name (title) as his ancestor (Conqueror of the World).

Various sources indicate that Akbar was an incarnation and his grandson Shah Jahan was an incarnation of Kuthumi.

One day, Shah Jahan ordered the name he chose for himself to be carved on the famous “Ruby of Tamerlane” - “Second Lord of the Auspicious Planets.” Before this, only Timur (Tamerlane) was called the Lord of favorable planets in the Muslim world. He received the ruby ​​during the capture of Delhi in 1398. Timur liked the stone so much that he took it with him to.

How this stone influenced the fate of Shah Jahan can only be guessed at. In 1658, the builder of the Taj Mahal, owner of countless treasures, was imprisoned in the tower of the Red Fort in Agra by his own son Aurangzeb, whom he called “The Ornament of the Throne.” From this tower (see photo), until his death, Shah Jahan saw the Taj Mahal, amazing in beauty and perfect in its architectural merits - the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

At that time there were cruel morals. For example, Shah Jahan began his own reign (1627) by killing his own brothers and relatives in order to get rid of unnecessary legitimate contenders for the throne. However, the name of Shah Jahan became forever associated with the history and pride of India - one of the wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal mausoleum.

Samarkand mausoleum Gur-Emir, in which the legendary commander and conqueror is buried Timur (Tamerlane), became the predecessor and model for the mausoleums of his descendants - the ruling dynasty of North India Great Mughals, in particular Humayun's mausoleum in Delhi and the famous Taj Mahal in Agra.

The architect of the Humayun Mausoleum, the first mausoleum in the Timurid style in Mughal India, was invited from, where he designed various kinds of structures. Therefore, the influence of Timurid funerary architecture on this and subsequent mausoleums is not surprising.

Emperors from the Mughal dynasty were very proud of their belonging to the family of Timur, who had the title Ruler of the World, and when ascending to the throne they took the corresponding throne names (titles):

• Akbar (1542 – 1605) – King of Kings (like the Biblical Solomon);
• Jahangir (1569 – 1627) – Conqueror of the World;
• Shah Jahan (1592 – 1666) – Ruler of the World;
• Aurengzeb (1618 – 1707) – Ruler of the Universe.

So, Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal, took the name that Timur bore - the Lord of the World. The Taj Mahal, built under him, became the most striking and famous expression of Persian architecture, widely represented in Central Asia, including in Samarkand, where Timur brought the best architects, builders and artists from Persia (now Iran) he conquered. Thus, the Taj Mahal harmoniously intertwines the architectural styles of Iran (Persia), Central Asia and India itself.

The mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daullah is considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal in India. It is often called the little Taj Mahal or the original model from which the Taj Mahal grew. In addition to external ones, they also have a deep historical connection. The mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daullah was built by Empress Nur Jahan, who was the aunt of Mumtaz Mahal, in whose honor Shah Jahan would later build the majestic monument of love, the Taj Mahal. Nur Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal had very strong influence over their husbands, often replacing them in government affairs.

The mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daullah is located in the center of the Persian Chahar Bagha Park (a park with a square layout). The choice of the Persian garden emphasized that Nur Jahan's father, for whom she built this mausoleum, was from Persia. He held the title "Pillar of the State" or Itmad-ud-Daullah, having had a successful career at the court of Emperor Akbar (Nur Jahan's father-in-law) and continued to faithfully serve his son, Emperor Jahangir, Nur Jahan's husband.

The small mausoleum remarkably reflects the taste and intelligence of the gifted Empress Nur Jahan. Openwork marble panels and rich mosaics of gems are feminine and delicate.

At the time of the construction of Itmad-Ud-Daullah, Mumtaz Mahal was still Arjumand Banu Begam - the daughter of the chief minister Jahangir, whose son and successor - Shah Jahan, later, in 1612, would take her as his wife. Despite the fact that Shah Jahan already had a first wife - a Persian princess, Arjumand received a higher status and the love of her father-in-law and soon after the wedding she received a new name - Mumtaz Mahal(“Exalted Lady of the Palace” or “Crown of the Palace”).

Taking into account the high position of Mumtaz Mahal's father and grandfather at the Mughal court, as well as her status as a beloved wife and first assistant to her husband Shah Jahan, some researchers do not exclude the possibility that she was a member of the secret order of Sufis, being a conductor of his ideas. While the beautiful and wise Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu) was alive, the emperor was famous for his successes in the arts, sciences, politics and military affairs. With her death, his affairs went from bad to worse and, as a result, he was placed under house arrest by his youngest son Aurengzeb, who killed his brothers, who were or could become possible contenders for the throne, to seize power. Being exhausted and depressed, Shah Jahan, in the same way at one time, having seized the throne (by killing his own brothers), was unable to stop either the fratricide among his own sons, or prevent his removal and further arrest, under which he spent 9 years, until his very death.

Aurengzeb did not allow his father to build the second Taj Mahal (if this is not a legend), but after his death he buried his ashes in the Taj Mahal itself, next to his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, in whose memory Shah Jahan built this masterpiece of world architecture. By order of Aurangzeb, the ashes of Emperor Shah Jahan were transferred at night to the Taj Mahal and buried without honors. Since then, the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal, like her sarcophagus in the crypt, is located exactly in the center under the dome of the Taj Mahal (according to the plan and traditions), and the cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located nearby and, as it were, in the shadow, which creates some asymmetry, but may reflect their roles in life (see above).

Regarding the strong influence of Mumtaz Mahal's aunt, Empress Nur Jahan, on her husband Emperor Jahangir, there are several opinions. According to one of them, his addiction to opium and alcohol made it easier for her to influence state affairs. For many years she actually ruled the empire. She tried to strengthen her position through her brother Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan, who was the imperial vizier or chief minister. She arranged the marriage of his daughter (her niece) Arjumand Banu Begam on the son of Jahangir - Prince Khurram, later became emperor Shah Jahan.

As mentioned above, in the struggle for power, Shah Jahan rebelled against the throne and began a fratricidal war. Due to Shah Jahan's harshness, Nur Jahan stopped supporting him and relied on his younger brother Prince Shahrar, organizing his wedding to his daughter from his first marriage, Ladli Begum.

Emperor Jahangir was captured by the rebels in 1626 while on his way to Kashmir. Nur Jahan intervened to free her husband. He was released in 1627, but died soon after. After Jahangir's death, Asaf Khan sided with his brother-in-law against his sister. Nur Jahan was confined to a small house for the rest of her life. She died in 1645 and was buried at Shadara in Lahore, where her husband Jahangir was.

The fate of the Itmad-ud-Daullah and Taj Mahal mausoleums, as well as the connection between Persia and India through them, is shown in the diagram below, which presents the genealogy of the “culprits” for the construction of both mausoleums - Nur Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

V. Taj Mahal - the image of Heaven on Earth

The Taj Mahal on the river is the pearl and hallmark of India. This is the most extravagant monument to human love created Shah Jahan in honor of his dear wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to his 14th child. It is noteworthy that the number itself often reflects special symbolism in history.

The mausoleum was built from marble brought from Rajasthan 300 kilometers away. The surface of the Taj Mahal was inlaid with thousands of precious and semi-precious stones. The width of the building is equal to its total height, m, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half the total height.

Every detail of the building is unique and one of a kind: these are classical gardens that invite reflection, complex bas-reliefs of semi-precious stones decorating white marble. The Taj Mahal is so valuable to India and its people that more than 200 factories in the area were closed because they polluted the atmosphere, causing the white marble to darken.

The Taj Mahal is covered on all sides with various decorations such as exquisite gilded designs, calligraphy and elaborate relief carvings. The four sides of the monument are decorated with a net design consisting of floral and geometric patterns, which are a real miracle. The Great Mughals were admirers of nature and believed that flowers are a symbol of the divine environment. The Taj Mahal itself was conceived as a material manifestation on Earth.

Taj Mahal Garden built in the style of Charbakh (quaternary garden), originating in the Koran, where it is said about 4 rivers. Its entire area is divided by water channels and fountains into 4 squares with a pool in the center. Each square has flower beds, so there are 64 flower beds in the garden, the same number of squares on a chessboard.

An invariable attribute of Mughal architecture are Persian gardens. India is the easternmost point of their distribution. The westernmost is in Spain. Descendants of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, the Persians attached great importance to the cultivation of gardens, known in this region as early as 4000 BC. In the Quran, the words Paradise and Garden are synonymous, and the Avestan (Old Persian) word means an enclosed land (garden).

In addition, the Biblical Noah, whose ark, after the Great Flood, landed on the mountain from which it descended into the Ararat Valley in the region Nakhchivan, which translated from Armenian means “ the place where Noah went down". Later he planted the first vine there and began cultivating grapes.

Interestingly, the legend of Noah has parallels in more ancient Indian texts, which say that the guardian god Vishnu, who turned into the goldfish Matsya, saved only a hermit from the Flood, who after this flood left his ark in valley Kullu(in North India, in the Himalayas). Here Manu founded the city Manali(now a tourism center), becoming the forefather of humanity, setting out the first legislation for people (the Laws of Manu). The Kullu Valley is considered one of the most beautiful places in India and is called the Valley of the Gods. The heroes of the Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers, visited the valley three times; the Roerich family lived here for 20 years. In ancient times, the Kullu Valley was called the end of the inhabited world.

Persian gardens are distinguished by their strict geometric lines. As a rule, this is a large garden, divided into 4 squares by water channels, symbolizing 4 rivers that originated in the Garden of Eden (Eden). In the center there is a fountain that feeds water to the canals, emphasizing the connection with the Garden of Eden. This form of garden is also called Chahar-Bakh or 4 gardens (based on the number of squares separated by water channels or paths). Typical features of a garden in the form of Chahar Bagh are: an enclosing wall, rectangular pools, a system of connected water channels, garden pavilions and abundant vegetation. The shady fruit trees in it not only fill it with aromas, but also symbolize eternal life, the Tree of Life, which grew in Eden.

Persian gardens became the basis of the Mughal gardens in India and Pakistan, most famously the Taj Mahal garden in Agra, the largest Persian garden in the world. The Mughals placed great importance on gardens from the very beginning. The founder of the dynasty, Babur the Tiger, being a great lover of gardens and a refined connoisseur of beauty, began to lay in India the first geometric Persian gardens similar to the Garden of Eden. Moreover, the Great Mughals in India traditionally maintained kinship, military and cultural ties with Persia. The Persian garden, in which the first Mughal mausoleum is located, belonging to Emperor Humayun (son of Babur), is divided into 36 squares by water channels and paths, which is embedded in the Iranian tradition of mausoleums in Sultaniya and Samarkand.

In modern Iran, such gardens can be found in the cities of Yazd - the famous center of Zoroastrianism (the pre-Islamic religion of the Persians) and in Isfahan, famous throughout the world for its complex, with the Persian garden (or what remains of it) in the center.

Returning to the Taj Mahal, we can recall the legend according to which Shah Jahan dreamed of building a mausoleum for himself, an exact copy of the Taj Mahal, but only from black marble, on the other bank of the Jamna River (), opposite the white marble Taj Mahal (see photo) . These two mausoleums would be connected by the black and white openwork Bridge of Sighs - a symbol of eternal, imperishable, timeless love. However, such expenses were not included in the plans of his son Aurangzeb, who replaced him on the throne. It took approximately 20,000 workers and years to build the Taj Mahal alone, plus hundreds of kilograms of gold, precious and semi-precious stones. The Taj Mahal incorporates the best achievements of Islamic (Persian) and Hindu architecture.

Domes play a special role in Islamic architecture. For example, the dome of the Taj Mahal symbolizes the mountain or throne of Allah (the One God). Being near the Taj Mahal, a person understands that before him is Allah himself, merciful and merciless at the same time, who created the world and dissolved in it, Allah visible and invisible. Allah is incomprehensible.

The Taj Mahal is designed in such a way that a loudly spoken word will first be reflected with a powerful echo from the walls of the mausoleum; then, when the echo has almost disappeared, the cry will be repeated in turn by each arch of the lower gallery, after which the upper ceilings will answer in chorus, and finally the whole will be crowned by the unbearable roar of the last echo reflected from the vault. It is believed that this word can only be “Allah”, for the wonderful echo was a pre-calculated part of the artists’ plan, who gave the Taj Mahal a voice and ordered it to repeat forever this name of the One God for all.

The basic principle of Islam is the uniqueness of the Almighty God, one of whose names is “Allah,” and the need to worship Him alone, and not any image (for example, an icon) or another entity (for example, some pagan idol or statue).

However, the human mind is imperfect and has a tendency to better perceive something visible, material. Taking into account such features of the human imagination, science arose - sacred geometry. This is the science of the art of creating a certain limited space where everything would remind a person of the greatness of the Almighty God.

Sacred geometry forms the basis of Islamic architecture. Entire spiritual concepts are represented in the amazing geometric patterns of Muslim buildings. The images include a geometric pattern of elements of the human body, plant forms, and geological structures, which is why there is an expression “the Almighty is manifested in geometry.”

The era of the ancestor of the Great Mughals - Timur and his descendants (Timurids) became one of the most important periods in the development of Islamic art. A special feature of almost all structures built under the Timurids is the symmetry of the building plan.

In Islamic architecture, the designs are so complex and the designs so geometric that they seem to stretch into infinity, inviting your mind to follow them. The task of Muslim architects is to embody a certain intangible concept in a real physical object that affects human consciousness. And the task of sacred geometry is to create a certain surrounding space of perfect physical harmony, reflecting the concept of divine harmony, as a manifestation of the Grace of the Almighty to his creatures. A person in such an environment cannot help but feel its influence; at the same time, he himself shows a desire to be a more harmonious person.

A more modest copy of the Taj Mahal was the mausoleum built by Emperor Aurangzeb 850 km away. southwest of Agra.

VI. Lalla Rook

The 19th-century Irish writer and poet Moore wrote the popular poem "", which tells the story of the love travails of the fictional daughter of Aurangzeb of the Mughal dynasty. Moore was one of the main representatives of the Irish. In Russia, he is known primarily for his poem “Evening Bells,” translated by Ivan Kozlov and which became a famous Russian song. Moore also wrote other works with a Sky flavor.

Aurangzeb (Persian: “Conqueror of the Universe”) became the last real ruler of the Mughal dynasty. Under him, and on the work of his ancestors, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent and power, practically uniting the whole of Hindustan. He sent ambassadors to the Khanate several times and allocated funds from his own treasury for restoration Gur-Emira- the mausoleum of his ancestor Timur.

He was the third son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Aurangzeb received an excellent education. Despite his status, he observed the modesty befitting a Muslim in clothing and in everyday life. Before ascending to the throne, in the middle of the 17th century, he ruled.

Aurangzeb's path to power was within the framework of that time. He led the succession to the throne internecine war with my older brother. Having exterminated his rival brothers and their offspring, Aurangzeb overthrew his own father Shah Jahan and imprisoned him in the fort.

Having become emperor, he zealously pursued the policy of introducing Islam in India, causing just anger and rebellion among his subjects. Aurangzeb's power was especially fragile in western and southern India, in. This is a historical plateau bounded on the north by the river Narmada, from the south by the river ri.

To fight the independent Deccan Sultanates, Aurangzeb moved his capital to Aurangabad in 1681, from where he ruled until his death in 1707. Aurangzeb's tomb is located in the suburbs of Aurangabad, where the Valley of Saints (a Sufi cemetery) is also located.

In the past, the Rulers of Hyderabad were the richest people on the planet. The funeral procession of the last of them (Asaf x VII) in 1967 was one of the largest in Indian history. Hyderabad was named after the wife of ruler Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. He planned Hyderabad on the example of the legendary city. The architectural heritage of Hyderabad is quite comparable to, and.

Hyderabad is well known in the world as the City. It is the largest pearl processing and trading center in India, and one of the largest in the world. Trade in pearls, gold, and diamonds became the basis of the wealth and prosperity of Hyderabad.

Charminar, Hyderabad

Today Aurangabad is part of the Indian state of Telan gan and whose capital is Hyderabad. Within the boundaries of this city is located the ancient Golconda, famous for the diamonds that were mined and processed in the area. The most famous diamonds were found here, including the "Mountain of Light", which now adorns the crown of Queen Elizabeth of England, kept in.

In the vicinity of Golconda/Hyderabad are the world famous cave temple complexes of Ajanta, Ellora and. Here are the remains of Daulatabad, one of the capitals of the dynasty. He transferred his administrative functions to Aurangabad back in the 17th century. 250 km. from Aurangabad is where the famous Bollywood is located. However, it is in Hyderabad that the world's largest film studio complex (Ramoji) is located. This is the largest film set on the planet, listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Its huge areas house 500 film sets and 50 closed pavilions.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a Spanish mosque was built in Hyderabad in the Moorish style of architecture, following the example of the Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba in. It is built on the model of Agra, but is inferior in size and pomp.

Their eldest child was Shahzadi, the poetess Zeb un- (“Adornment of Women”). She was distinguished by her beauty. Owned Arabic and Urdu, Turkic. She studied philosophy, literature, astronomy, and was famous for her calligraphy. He is the author of a commentary on the Koran “Zebi Tafasir” (“The Beauty of Interpretations”). Having been imprisoned by her own father, she left this life five years before his death. She was buried at the gate in. When the railway was built in India, her grave was transported to Sikandra, to her ancestor.