Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan

Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan: The Tragic Love Story Behind the Taj Mahal

yas! | By Anna Butler | May 19, 2022

This article was originally published on progolfnow.com and has been republished here with permission.

There is no doubt that the Taj Mahal deserves its ranking as one of the seven wonders of the world. Architecturally, it is stunning. And interestingly, the inspiration behind it is a very touching love story. In The Opposite of Indifference: A Collection of Commentaries, Aysha Taryam wrote, “The world believes it was built by love, but reading Shah Jahan’s own words on the Taj, one could say it was grief that built the Taj Mahal, and it was sorrow that saw it through sixteen years till completion."

Shah Jahan,  aka Prince Khurrum, built the Taj Mahal to house the tomb of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Although she held the third position in the household, Mahal was his soul mate, confidant, and the love of his life. But at what cost? Not many people know that the Taj Mahal cost 42 million rupees, on the backs of 22,000 slaves to build. And this money was collected by taxing local shopkeepers and workers, all the while banning others from building similar structures nearby. Join us as we explore a marriage that became one of the greatest love stories of all time.

A Shop Girl and a Prince

Born in Agra, India, in 1593, Mumtaz Mahal was a Princess born to Persian nobility. Even so, she worked as a shop girl, selling glass beads and silks in the Meena Bazar, which was attached to the Emperor’s harem. While this was an ideal location to meet the Emperor’s son, Shah Jahan, by chance, it was one y powerful woman that brought the two together.

Shah Jahan came from a long line of powerful ancestors. His mother’s side of the family were descendants of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, while his father’s family descended from Tamerlane, the Turkish barbarian. Oddly enough, the powerful person responsible for bringing these two together was related by blood to Mumtaz Mahal and only related by marriage to Shah Jahan.

The Puppet Master

Nur Jahan was the aunt of Mumtaz Mahal and the stepmother of Shah Jahan. Although she was the 20th wife of the Emperor, Jahangir, she was his favorite and quickly became the true power behind the throne. Like a puppet master, Nur Jahan used her power and influence to convince the Emperor to grant her family members high ranking positions. 

After arranging the marriage between her daughter from her first marriage to Jahangir’s fourth son, Nur Jahan offered her niece, Mumtaz Mahal, a position in the court. This wasn’t only done because of Mahal’s qualifications. Nur Jahan made this move intending to arrange her niece’s marriage to Shah Jahan.

Mahal Was a Catch

That’s not to say that Mumtaz Mahal wasn’t deserving of her position in the court. As a highly educated woman, she was fluent in Persian and Arabic, conversed using modesty and candor, and exuded talent and compassion. In other words, she was a complete package. It wasn’t hard for Nur Jahan to convince Jahangir to appoint her niece to a position in the court. By the time Mumtaz Mahal was an adolescent, she was already greatly admired by the nobles of the realm.

Once established in the court, Mumtaz Mahal proved herself worthy of great responsibility. And so, she was entrusted with the keeping of the royal seal of the land, the Mehr Uzaz, the highest honor the court could bestow. Her qualities not only helped her achieve this tremendous honor but also paved the way for her to become an Empress.

Love at First Sight

Nur Jahan’s meddling worked. With Mahal’s presence in the court, Shah Jahan quickly noticed her striking beauty and told his father it was love at first sight. The couple became betrothed when Mumtaz was 14, and Shah Jahan was 15, although they had to wait for outside sources to determine their wedding date. Choosing the marriage ceremony date was critical business within the realm. Court astrologers carefully reviewed their charts to select the time that would ensure a happy marriage.

After careful calculation, the couple was wed on May 10, 1612, five years after their betrothal. Mumtaz Mahal was now the third wife of Shah Jahan. Despite her ranking, it didn’t take long for his third wife to become his favorite. Even though she was born Arjumand Banu Begum, Shah Jahan gave her the name Mumtaz Mahal meaning “Chosen one of the Palace” or “Jewel of the Palace."

Stiff Competition

When Jahangir passed away, Shah Jahan was not automatically deemed his successor. In the Mughal Empire, being the firstborn held no clout regarding the throne. In addition to this ruling, the Emperor typically had multiple wives meaning numerous sons were vying for the position. Nur Jahan didn't help matters either. Hoping to keep her control over the throne, she manipulated the court to put her son-in-law in power.

Shah Jahan did not sit idly by. Instead, he enlisted his Uncle to wage a revolt. Once they successfully subdued Shahryar Mirza, Shah Jahan ascended the throne. In his first order of business, he made Mumtaz his chief Empress with several titles, including Padshah Begum '(Lady Emperor),' 'Malika-i-Jahan' ("Queen of the World"), 'Malika-uz-Zamani' ("Queen of the Age") and 'Malika-i-Hindustan ("Queen of the Hindustan").

Refusing His Polygamous Rights

Shah Jahan wasn’t kidding when he said it was love at first sight. He rarely exercised his polygamous rights once he took Mumtaz Mahal as his third wife. He only had sexual relations with his first and second wives to sire a child with each. The Emperor’s historian, Inayat Khan, revealed, “His whole delight was centered on this illustrious lady [Mumtaz], to such an extent that he did not feel towards the others [i.e., his other wives] one-thousandth part of the affection that he did for her.”

Mumtaz Mahal had the same unwavering affection for her husband as well. As their love grew, the couple became inseparable. Even with Mahal’s numerous pregnancies, she traveled by her husband’s side as his constant companion, confidant, advisor, and lover. 

A Tragic Death

As mentioned earlier, Mumtaz Mahal endured numerous pregnancies. In total, she gave birth to 14 children, although only seven of them survived. The labor and delivery of her 14th child, Princess Gauhara Begum, proved to be disastrous. The labor itself was so difficult that the couple’s 17-year-old daughter, Princess Jahanara, began gifting gems to the poor, hoping that the Gods would have mercy on her mother.

Tragically, there was no divine intervention. After 30 hours of labor, Mumtaz Mahal died of a postpartum hemorrhage on June 17, 1631, at the age of 37. Because she was accompanying her husband on a military campaign, her body was temporarily laid to rest in a walled pleasure garden in Burhanpur. 

Her Dying Requests

Even on her deathbed, Mumtaz Mahal was looking out for the best interest of her husband. In her final moments, she asked Shah Jahan to make her four promises. The first request was that he build a beautiful monument dedicated to their undying love. The second request was that he take another wife. For her third request, she asked that he be kind to their children. Lastly, for her final request, she asked that he visit her tomb every year on the anniversary of her death.

Shah Jahan delivered on the first promise as the Taj Mahal is a spectacular monument that captures his undying love for Mumtaz Mahal. As for her second promise request, her husband did take on two additional wives after Mumtaz's death; however, he never again found a love like hers. And his children? Shah Jahan's relationships with them became very complicated, as you will soon find out.

Their Daughter Stepped Up

As you can imagine, Shah Jahan was inconsolable after the untimely death of his beloved wife. Grief-stricken and in shock, the Emperor went into secluded mourning, only to emerge a year later with a full head of white hair, an aged face, and a bent back. The couple’s eldest daughter, Jahanara Begum, dedicated herself to aiding her father in his grief while also taking her mother’s place in the court.

Mumtaz Mahal left behind a personal fortune of nearly 10 million rupees. Half of her wealth was given to Jahanara, along with the responsibility of keeping the royal seal. The remainder of the fortune was divided between the rest of the children. This may seem like an unfair split, but Jahanara stepped into Mumtaz Mahal’s role as mother, member of the court, and her father’s caretaker.

Let the Planning Begin

As discussed, Mumtaz Mahal was temporarily buried in a pleasure garden called Zainbad, located in Burhanpur. Although it was a beautiful setting, Shah Jahan had something more spectacular in mind for her final resting place. Six months after her first burial, he had his wife’s body exhumed and returned to Agra, where her remains were interred in a small building along the Yamuna River. 

When Shah Jahan went into his secluded mourning, he began planning his wife’s final resting place, what we now know as the Taj Mahal. He enlisted artisans from all over the Muslim world to add their talent to his creation. Although the planning began shortly after Mumtaz’s body was moved to Agra, the structure wasn’t finished until 22 years later.  

Like Mother, Like Daughter

While Shah Jahan was obsessed with building the perfect tribute to his late wife, his eldest daughter, Jahanara, honored her mother by taking on her responsibilities. At just 17 years old, she was raising her brothers and sisters, helping her father through his grief, and restoring the court in order.

Ordinarily, this would be too much responsibility for such a young woman. But Jahanara was no ordinary young woman. Like her mother, she was well educated and became well respected for her knowledge of the Qur’an and Persian literature. In her spare time, she played hours of chess with her father, often outsmarting him with her maneuvers and winning the match. Jahanara was also fiercely independent and a true feminist, qualities rarely seen in women during that era.

Finding Her Spiritual Path

Despite her overwhelming responsibilities, Jahanara also dedicated herself to finding her spiritual path. Alongside her brother Dara Shikoh, she became a disciple of Mullah Shah Badakshi, who welcomed the two siblings into the Qadiriyya Sufi order in 1641. The Islamic belief known as Sufism encourages its followers to seek divine love and knowledge through their connection to God. Jahanara embraced the teachings of Mullah. Her dedication inspired Mullah Shah to make her his successor in the Qadiriyya; however, the laws of the order did not allow it.

This did not deter Jahanara from her spiritual path. Instead, she wrote two biographies, one of Moinuddin Chishti and one of her mentor Mullah Shah. Both of her literary works were highly regarded.

Divine Intervention

Three years after Jahanara’s initiation into Sufism, the Princess was severely burned when her clothes caught fire on her 30th birthday. Although the Empire enlisted every physician within the court to attend to her burns, no doctor was able to heal her. Then Jahanara met a beggar named Hanum, who was able to help. To her, this was a sign. Modern medicine wasn’t the answer; she had to follow her spiritual path.

Though Hanum had helped remedy her wounds, Jahanara was still suffering. So, she set out on a pilgrimage to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s shrine in Ajmer. Within a year, she had healed completely. The Princess was so convinced that the pilgrimage and her faith had put a stop to her pain that she had a marble pavilion erected at the shrine and proceeded to write Chishti’s biography.  

A Battle Between Brothers

Remember when we said that within the Mughal Empire, the throne was up for grabs should an Emperor become unable to rule? Well, that is exactly what happened in 1657 when Shah Jahan became gravely ill. Assuming their father would not recover, four of Shah Jahan's sons went to battle over the right to the throne. 

The Battle of Samugarh was fought between Shah Jahan's eldest son, Dara Shikoh, and his third son Aurangzeb Bakhsh. These brothers had conflicting ideas as to how to rule the Empire. While Dara was a modern thinker, hoping for change, Aurangzeb was desperate to maintain his ancestors' old, traditional values. Historians now believe that the conflict between these two brothers was a pivotal turning point in India's history.

Behold the Elephant

And so, the brothers went to war. Though Dara was a more modern thinker, he wasn’t well versed in military strategy. After a back and forth of ferocious cannon fire that took out Dara’s key men, the young Prince decided to ride his elephant into battle, hoping the surge would convince Aurangzeb to retreat.

This was when he made a serious error. At the most crucial moment in the battle, Dara naively dismounted his trusted elephant. With the chaos and cannon fire surrounding them, the elephant followed his instincts and ran for safety instead of remaining by his owner’s side. When Dara’s troops saw their leader’s elephant running in the opposite direction, they assumed he had been killed and surrendered. This one misunderstanding changed the course of history in India. 

A Tragic Betrayal

Aurangzeb declared victory over his brother Dara and immediately proclaimed himself Emperor. The problem was his father was still alive. Not only was Shah Jahan still breathing, but he had also made a full recovery and was ready to reclaim the throne. Drunk with power, Aurangzeb declared his father unfit to rule.

Fearing Shah Jahan would initiate a revolt, Aurangzeb had him shackled and sent to the citadel of Agra as a prisoner. As if that weren’t bad enough, he ordered his sister Jahanara to also be imprisoned so she could tend to her father as he rotted away in his cell. Shah Jahan spent the final eight years of his life in a stone chamber with only a small window that faced the Taj Mahal. He was never able to visit his wife’s tomb as she had requested.

A Divided Family 

With Shah Jahan and Jahanara tucked safely away in the citadel prison, Aurangzeb ascended the throne with the help of Mumtaz Mahal's second daughter Roshanara Begum. It was Roshanara who warned Aurangzeb of their brother and father's plot to have him killed or imprisoned so he would no longer be a threat to the Empire. To reward his sister's loyalty, Roshanara was given a prestigious position in the court. 

Roshanara was taking a gamble by choosing Aurangzeb's side. Had Dara been victorious, she would have most likely been imprisoned for treason. However, fate sided in her favor, and she soon became the most powerful woman in the Empire. Roshanara never regretted her decision but she lived in fear that Dara would seek revenge.

Masterminding an Execution

Roshanara’s fear regarding her brother Dara soon became paranoia. Whether it was her guilt or intuition, she knew the betrayal she caused by siding with Aurangzeb was reason enough for Dara to seek his revenge. Instead of attempting to reconcile with her brother, Roshanara came up with a more sinister solution.

Knowing that Aurangzeb was also concerned about a revolt, Roshanara approached her Emperor brother and suggested they execute Dara to alleviate the threat. Aurangzeb thought this was a swell idea. To kill two birds with one stone, Aurangzeb ordered Dara to be decapitated and then sent his severed head to the citadel prison as a gift to his father. 

A Promiscuous Princess

Free from the dread of a hostile takeover, Roshanara felt empowered to behave in any way she deemed fit. You should know that in the Mughal Empire, Princesses did not date, nor did they take a lover. They were to remain single until a match was selected. Roshanara didn’t agree with these antiquated traditions. She had not one lover but many, much to the chagrin of her ultra-conservative brother, the Emperor.

In addition, Aurangzeb was fielding complaints from his wives regarding his sister’s management of his harem. Frustrated and embarrassed by Roshanara’s actions, the Emperor stripped her of her power and banished her to the garden palace in Delhi. His decision finally appeased his wives but left Aurangzeb without his number one advisor. As for Roshanara, she was pleased with his decision. She could now retire and have as many lovers as she desired.

Speculation Over Her Death

Unfortunately, Roshanara didn’t get to enjoy her retirement for long; by age 54, she died a gruesome death from poisoning. Now, here is where the speculation lies. Many historians believe that Aurangzeb had her discreetly poisoned after finding Roshanara with yet another lover in the palace in Delhi. Others have argued that the Princess and her lover most likely poisoned themselves in a suicide pact. 

While it may seem like the first theory may be more likely, Aurangzeb was known for his devotion to his sister. He could have had her executed initially for disrespecting the laws of the Empire but chose to banish her instead. The Emperor also had his sister laid to rest in the Roshanara Bergh, a garden she commissioned and loved. If he was callous enough to murder her, why would he be so respectful of her remains? Sadly, the questions remain unanswered.

The Lust for Power

Aside from Jahanara, it would seem that the lust for power ran freely in all of Mumtaz Mahal’s children. Even though Aurangzeb, Dara, and Roshanara were the key players in taking over the throne, the second son, Shuja, also gave his brothers a run for the crown. Shuja was already the Governor of Bengal but he also prematurely tried to crown himself Emperor when Shah Jahan fell ill.

Both his older brother Dara and younger brother Aurangzeb agreed that Shuja’s lust for power and ill attempts to reign supreme had to be stopped. Of course, it was Aurangzeb who took action. Instead of heeding off an attack by Shuja, Aurangzeb sent his captain Mir Jumla as the aggressor. Overpowered, Shuja retreated to Bengal. 

Never Give Up

That wasn’t the end for Shuja; as far as he was concerned, where there is a will, there is a way. He had been defeated by both of his brothers on previous attempts to overtake the throne but he tried one more time in 1659. By then, Aurangzeb was the self-proclaimed Emperor, and Dara was dead.

In a bold move, Shuja marched into the capital and initiated the Battle of Khajwa on January 5. Unbeknownst to Shuja, his army began deserting, leaving him to fight an unfair battle against his brother. Once again, he was defeated and fled to Bengal. Shuja’s lust for power was strong. Even after being defeated by two of his brothers on multiple occasions, he reorganized his army for another coup attempt. After losing yet another battle in 1660, the second son finally gave up.

Broken Promises

We mustn't forget the youngest son of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, as his story could be straight out of Game of Thrones. Murad Bakhsh also felt he should be entitled to his father's throne when Shah Jahan fell ill. However, what should be noted about the youngest son is that he was a bit too trusting and, therefore, naive.

Like Roshanara, Murad aligned himself with Aurangzeb when he went to battle against Dara. Why? Well, his older brother made him a promise that the kingdom would be split once they reigned victorious in the war of succession. Of course, Aurangzeb had no intention of sharing the crown; this false promise was just a way to enlist his brother's help. After Murad led the charge to defeat Dara in the Battle of Samugarh, Aurangzeb got him drunk and had him imprisoned before sentencing him to death in 1661.

The Death of Shah Jahan

After spending eight years in prison, Shah Jahan fell gravely ill in January 1666. He passed away on January 30th after reciting verses from the Qur’an at the age of 74. His daughter Jahanara planned a glorious funeral for her father, complete with a procession of nobles carrying his body and gold coins for the less fortunate.

Aurangzeb refused to honor his father with such ostentation. Instead, he placed his remains in a sandalwood coffin and had him interred next to his mother in the Taj Mahal. While this may seem like a loving gesture, we assure you it wasn’t. First of all, the Taj Mahal was not designed to house two tombs, so the aesthetic was lopsided with the addition of Jahan’s casket. Secondly, Aurangzeb refused to erect a separate monument for his father, opting for the easier solution of using the Taj Mahal.

Insulting His Father’s Creation

Shah Jahan designed the Taj Mahal to be perfectly symmetrical for a reason. During his years of planning, he consulted numerous experts to ensure that his beloved wife’s remains would always be protected. As an example of his forethought, the four spires in each corner of the spectacular structure were designed to lean outwards. Should a natural disaster occur, causing the structure to become unstable, the spires would fall away from Mumtaz Mahal’s tomb.

Shah Jahan had his beloved wife’s tomb placed in the exact center of the crypt to ensure the safety of her remains and to create a perfectly beautiful and symmetrical monument in her honor. So, when Aurangzeb disrespectfully had Shah Jahan interred there, he purposely insulted his father’s creation.

Proud as a Peacock

Even though the Taj Mahal was Shah Jahan’s labor of love, the Emperor also had a passion for design and building. Yes, the Taj Mahal is the most famous of his creations and took the longest to construct, but it wasn’t the most elaborate of his projects. The winner here goes to Shah Jahan’s Peacock Throne, one of the most magnificent and indulgent royal thrones in existence. 

Imagine this. Steps of silver leading up to solid gold feet embossed with rare gems. At the back of the throne are two fans of peacock tails delicately lined with rubies, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and other rare gemstones, completing the colors of a rainbow. With the amount of detail and the precious stones and metals, the Peacock Throne cost twice as much to build as the Taj Mahal.

A Residence Fit for an Emperor

Before constructing the Taj Mahal and the Peacock Throne, Shah Jahan built the Red Fort Complex that included his private residence, the Khan Mahal. Like the Taj Mahal, the complex and home were completely symmetrical and architecturally astounding. The construction was commissioned in 1638 and was finally completed in 1648 for the cost of 50,000 rupees. 

While there were many exquisite pieces of art inside the residence, one important piece from the Mughal Empire was built into the northern end of the sitting room. Here lies a beautiful marble screen carved with a Scale of Justice suspended over a crescent surrounded by clouds and stars. Was this a testament to Shah Jahan’s leadership style? Perhaps, but it also shows his attention to detail and love for beautiful things.

History Repeated Itself

Aurangzeb ruled India for a whopping 49 years. A true traditionalist, he wiped out any practice of Hinduism in the region and instead spread the rule of Islam. Sadly, this was not the intention of the Mughal rulers that preceded him; their goal was to unify and integrate rather than persecute.

Like his father, Aurangzeb never declared an heir, so when he passed, yet another war of succession occurred between his three sons. The eldest, Azam Shah, felt entitled to the throne, so he went to battle with his younger brother Bahadur Shah. This wasn’t the brightest decision as Bahadur had experienced trying to overthrow a ruler before. He attempted to conquer his father on several occasions. The youngest, Kam Bakhsh, had established his empire in Bijapur, so once Azam was defeated, Bahadur became emperor.

Forever Hidden

As for Mumtaz Mahal, she was deeply respected and loved for her compassion, intelligence, and loyalty, all things lacking in most of her children. Despite her impact on India and Shah Jahan, there are no paintings of her in existence. Because of the Muslim "Law of the Veil," women must keep their faces covered while in public, including those considered royalties. Even sitting for an artist would be regarded as showing one's face in public, so no paintings were ever created. All of the paintings of Mumtaz were created post-mortem. 

To further enforce their belief that vanity is a dishonorable attribute, tombs cannot be elaborately decorated. Although her crypt is one of the most ornate architectural structures in the world, Mumtaz Mahal's grave remains relatively plain out of respect for Muslim beliefs.

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