Ak8Ak'5 NINL GLM5

1he Muahal ruler Akbar desplLe hls llllLeracv was a areaL lover of Lhe arLlsLs and
lnLellecLuals Pls passlon for knowledae and lnLeresL ln learnlna from areaL mlnds led hlm Lo
aLLracL men of aenlus Lo hls courL known as Lhe n|ne court|ers of Lmperor
Akbar or Navratnas
1) Abu|Iaz|

Abu| Iaz| (13311602) was Lhe chronlcler of Akbar's rule Pe auLhored Lhe
bloaraphlcal Akbarnama Abul lazl documenLed Lhe hlsLorv meLlculouslv over seven vears
ln Lhree volumes Lhe Lhlrd volume ls known as Lhe AlolAkbotl and a erslan LranslaLlon of
Lhe 8lble
1
Pe was also Lhe broLher of lalzl Lhe poeL laureaLe of emperor Akbar

Abul lazl was a hlsLorlan of Lhe Muahal Lmplre Pls works prlmarllv dealL wlLh Lhe Muahal
emperor Akbar Abul lazl ls credlLed wlLh havlna provlded Lhe mosL comprehenslve accounL
of Lhe Muahal Lmplre ln Lwo of hls celebraLed works Lhe Akbarnama and Lhe AlnlAkbarl
8orn Lo Shelkh Mubarak ln 1331 Abul lazl was a hlsLorlan and one of Lhe navraLna`s (nlne
aems) of Lmperor Akbar`s courL Pe dlsLlnaulshed hlmself as a soldler and a skllled
admlnlsLraLor and was verv close alde of Lhe emperor ln facL lL ls belleved LhaL a larae parL
of Akbar`s llberal ouLlook was lnfluenced bv hls assoclaLlon wlLh Abul lazl
1he relaLlonshlp beLween Akbar a soldler of 1urklsh descenL and Abullazl an lndlan
Musllm brouahL up ln Lhe erslan school of sclence and admlnlsLraLlon eplLomlzes Lhe
sLrenaLhs of Lhe Muahal Lmplre lLself ln hls works Abul lazl provldes a vlvld descrlpLlon of
Lhe admlnlsLraLlve economlc soclal and pollLlcal seLup of Lhe Muahal Lmplre as well as Lhe
explolLs and achlevemenLs of Lhe Lmperor Akbar
1he Akbarnamah whlch Look seven vears Lo be compleLed was commlssloned bv Akbar as a
bloaraphlcal accounL of hls llfe and Llmes lL offers a vlvld and vlLal record of Lhe role of
Akbar ln Lhe esLabllshmenL of Lhe flexlble dlplomaLlc and economlc svsLem whlch was Lo
susLaln Lhe emplre for Lhe nexL cenLurv WrlLLen ln Lwo parLs Lhe flrsL parL of Akbarnamah
deals wlLh Lhe relan of Akbar 1hls can furLher be seen as Lwo volumes Lhe flrsL deallna wlLh
Lhe Llneaae of Lhe areaL Lmperor and Lraclna Lhe uescendanLs of 1lmur rlahL upLll Akbar`s
blrLh 1hls parL also chronlcles hls relan ln Lhe flrsL sevenLeen vears of hls llfe 1he nexL parL
deals wlLh Lhe relan of Akbar rlahL Llll hls forLv slxLh vear lL was aL Lhls polnL LhaL Abul lazl`s
work sLops as he was assasslnaLed on !ahanalr`s orders 1he work on Akbar`s relan Llll hls
deaLh was added bv lnavaL ullah1hls ls known as Lhe 1akmlllAkbarnama
1he second parL of Lhe book enLlLled Lhe AlnlAkbarl ls a compleLe accounL of Lhe
admlnlsLraLlve svsLem LhaL flourlshed under Akbar`s relan lL ls a descrlpLlve llsL of Lhe
pollLlcal and rellalous lnsLlLuLes LhaL were consLlLuLed Lo aovern Lhe emplre ln lL ls found a
sLaLlsLlcal record of Lhe slze of dlfferenL LerrlLorles Lhe markeL Lrends and prevalllna prlces
Lhe men ln power and Lhe sLrenaLh of Lhelr armed forces Lax collecLlon hlsLorv of Lhe
varlous provlnces Lhe responslblllLles and funcLlons of lmporLanL offlce holders of Lhe sLaLe
as well as a whole loL of oLher Lechnlcal deLalls of Lhe funcLlonlna of Lhe Muahal Lmplre 1he
AlnlAkbarl ls noLed for conLalnlna Lhe famous` AccounL of Plndu Sclences` wherebv Plndu
bellefs and LradlLlon are souahL Lo be explalned Lo Lhe Musllm masses wlLh a vlew Lo
lncreaslna Lolerance 1hls ls reflecLlve of Lhe Lmperor`s lnLeresL ln hls Plndu sub[ecLs and hls
llberal ouLlook Lowards rellalon
) Ia|z|
lalzl (13471393) was Abul lazl's broLher Pe was a poeL who composed beauLlful poeLrv
Pls faLher was Mubarak naaorl a scholar ln Lhe phllosophv and llLeraLure of Creece as well
as ln lslamlc Lheoloav Shalkh Abu allalz lbn Mubarak popularlv known bv hls penname
lalzl (24 SepLember 1347 Aara3 CcLober 1393 Lahore) was a poeL of laLe medleval lndla
ln 1388 he became Lhe MallkushShuara (poeL laureaLe) of Akbars CourL Pe was Lhe elder
broLher of Akbars hlsLorlan Abul lazl Akbar hlahlv recoanlzed Lhe aenlus ln hlm and
appolnLed hlm LuLor for hls sons and aave place Lo hlm amona hls decoraLlve nav 8aLnas
lalzl was Lhe flfLh descendanL of Shalkh Musa a Slndhl Shalkh who llved ln 8el near SlwlsLan
(Sehwan) ln Lhe realm of Slndh Pe was Lhe eldesL son of Shalkh Mubarak of naaaur Pe
was born aLAara on 3 Shaban AP 934 (24 SepLember 1347) Pls faLher Shalkh Mubarak
was a scholar ln Lhe phllosophv and llLeraLure of Creece as well as ln lslamlc Lheoloav Pe
was educaLed mosLlv bv hls faLher ln AP 974 (13667) he reached Akbars courL Akbar
successlvelv appolnLed hlm LuLor for hls prlnces Sallm Murad and uanlval ln AP 990
(1381) he was appolnLed sadr of Aara kalpl and kalln[ar ln AP 999 (13912) he was senL Lo
khandesh and Ahmednaaar as Muahal envov ln AP 1003 (1394) a few vears afLer hls reLurn
from ueccan lalzl suffered from AsLhma and dled on 10 Safar AP 1004 (3 CcLober 1393) aL
Lahore lnlLlallv he was burled ln Lhe 8am 8aah aL Aara buL hls bodv was laLer Lransferred Lo
anoLher famllv mausoleum near Slkandara Pe composed slanlflcanL poeLlc works ln erslan
and ls ascrlbed bv 8adaunl and hls oLher conLemporarles Lo have composed over a hundred
poeLlc works buL all Lhe LlLles are noL known Lo us Plsulvan (collecLlon of poems) was
enLlLled 1abashlr alSubh Pls ulvan comprlses qasldas ahazals rubals and eleales ln
pursuance of Lhe llLerarv pracLlce Lhen ln voaue lalzl planned Lo produce a an[ Can[
(llLerallv flve Lreasures) or khamsa ln lmlLaLlon of Lhe erslan poeL nezaml Can[avl AL Lhe
aae of 30 he sLarLed wrlLlna flve works Lhe nal o uaman Lhe Markaz ulAdvar Lhe
Sulalman o 8llqls Lhe PafL klshvar and Lhe Akbarnama Pls Lwo compleLed works Lhe
Markaz ulAdvar and Lhe nal o uaman (compleLed ln 1394) was Lhe [avab (lmlLaLlon) of
nezamls Lhe Makhzan ulAsrarand Lhe Lavla o Ma[nun3 Pls oLher Lhree lncompleLe works
Lhe Sulalman o 8llqls Lhe PafL klshvar and Lhe Akbarnama were Lhe lmlLaLlons of Lhe
khusraw o Shlrln Lhe PafL avkar and Lhe SlkandarnamarespecLlvelv uurlna hls sLav ln
ueccan from 13913 he wroLe a celebraLed serles of reporLs on pollLlcal and culLural
condlLlons of ueccan as well as conLemporarv lran Pe also wroLe a commenLarv on Lhe
Curan
lalzl LranslaLed 8haskaracharvas celebraLed SanskrlL work on maLhemaLlcs LllavaLl ln Lo
erslan Accordlna Lo lLs preface Lhls work was compleLed ln AP 993 (1387)

3) M|yan 1ansen

M|yan 1ansen was a slnaer for klna Akbar born as 1anna Mlshra a Plndu ln 1320 he was a
poeL hlmself Pe learnL muslc from Swaml Parldas and laLer from PazraL Muhammad Chaus
Pe was a courL muslclan wlLh Lhe prlnce of Mewar and laLer was recrulLed bv Akbar as hls
courL muslclan 1ansen became a leaendarv name ln lndla and was Lhe composer of manv
classlcal raaas Pe was an exLraordlnarllv alfLed vocallsL known for a larae number of
composlLlons and also an lnsLrumenLallsL who popularlzed and lmproved
Lhe rabab (of CenLral Aslan orlaln) Pe was burled ln Cwallor where a Lomb has been
consLrucLed for hlm lL ls unclear lf 1ansen converLed Lo lslam
Mlvan 1ansen or 8amLanu andev (1493 or 1306 1386 or 1389) ls consldered amona Lhe
areaLesL composermuslclans ln PlndusLanl classlcal muslc Pe was an exLraordlnarllv alfLed
vocallsL known for a larae number of composlLlons and also an lnsLrumenLallsL who
popularlzed and lmproved Lhe rabab (of CenLral Aslan orlaln)
Pe was amona Lhe navaraLnas (nlne [ewels) aL Lhe courL of Lhe Muahal Lmperor Akbar
Akba1ansen as a hlsLorlcal personallLv ls dlfflculL Lo exLracL from Lhe exLenslve leaend LhaL
surrounds hlm lL ls reasonablv cerLaln LhaL he was born lnLo a Plndu Caur 8rahmln famllv
posslblv ln 1306 Lhouah some leaends alve lL as 1493 posslblv ln Lhe vlllaae near SaLna Pls
faLher Makrand andev was a poeL and accompllshed muslclan who for some Llme was a
Lemple prlesL ln varanasl 1ansens name as a chlld was 8amLanu (he mav have had oLher
nlcknames/names llke 1anna and Mukul)
Pe was born aL a Llme when a number of erslan and CenLral Aslan moLlfs were fuslna wlLh
lndlan classlcal muslc hls lnfluence was cenLral Lo creaLlna Lhe PlndusLanl classlcal eLhos as
we know Lodav A number of descendanLs and dlsclples have also conslderablv enrlched Lhe
LradlLlon AlmosL all aharanas of PlndusLanl classlcal muslc clalm some connecLlon wlLh Lhe
1ansen llneaae Accordlna Lo leaend he was noLed for hls lmlLaLlons of anlmal calls and
blrdsona
AL some polnL he was dlsclpled for some Llme Lo Swaml Parldas Lhe leaendarv composer
from vrlndavan and parL of Lhe sLellar Cwallor courL of 8a[a Man Slnah 1omar (14861316
Au) speclallzlna ln Lhe dhrupad sLvle of slnalna Cne leaend has LhaL Parldas was passlna
Lhrouah Lhe foresLs when Lhe flvevear old 8amLanus lmlLaLlon of a Llaer lmpressed Lhe
muslclan salnL AnoLher verslon ls LhaL hls faLher senL hlm Lo Parldas lrom Parldas 1ansen
acqulred noL onlv hls love for dhrupad buL also hls lnLeresL ln composlLlons ln Lhe local
lanauaae 1hls was Lhe Llme when Lhe 8hakLl LradlLlon was fomenLlna a shlfL from SanskrlL
Lo Lhe local ldlom (8ra[bhasa and Plndl) and 1ansens composlLlons also hlahllahL Lhls Lrend
AL some polnL durlna hls apprenLlceshlp 1ansens faLher dled and he reLurned home
where lL ls sald he used Lo slna aL a local Shlva Lemple
ln anv evenL 1ansen wenL Lo Muhammad Chaus who evenLuallv became hls splrlLual
menLor Pe also marrled Pusselnl (llL beootlfol ooe)
Powever bevond a reference of 1ansens name ln a llsL of hls dlsclples Mlvan 1ansens
name ls noL found amona Lhe names of Lhe Mureeds (lans) of Lhe ShuLLarl 1arlqaL a Sufl
splrlLual llneaae founded bv Shavkh Muhammad Chaus of Cwallor
1he burlal of 1ansen ln hls shavkhs mausoleum ls LhouahL Lo lndlcaLe proof of hls
converslon Lo Lhe falLh of hls splrlLual aulde lslam usuallv Lhe mosL promlnenL dlsclples of
a salnL are burled near Lhe masLers mausoleum noL much hlsLorlcal deLall ls known abouL
Lhelr acLual encounLer
1he lnLeracLlon wlLh Chaus ln Lhe Sufl LradlLlon and Lhe earller Lralnlna wlLh Swaml Parldas
ln Lhe 8hakLl LradlLlon led Lo a fuslon of Lhese sLreams ln Lhe work of 1ansen As lL ls Lhe
mvsLlc sLreams of Suflsm and 8hakLl had conslderable phllosophlcal and sLvllsLlc overlap
Chaus ln hls LexL obtolnovot (Ccean of Llfe) devoLes several chapLers Lo ?oaa pracLlces ln
1ansens muslc we flnd he conLlnues Lo compose ln 8ra[bhasha lnvoklna LradlLlonal moLlfs
such as krlshna or Shlva
1ansen was also lnfluenced bv oLher slnaers ln Lhe Cwallor courL and also Lhe muslcallv
proflclenL queen Mrlaanavanl (llL JoeeveJ) whose romance wlLh Lhe klna had been foraed
on her slnalna she remalned a frlend even afLer Lhe deaLh of Lhe klna CLher muslclans aL
Cwallor mav have lncluded 8al[u 8awra
LvenLuallv he [olned Lhe courL of klna 8amachandra 8aahela of 8ewa lndla where he
remalned from 13331362 lL appears LhaL Lhe Muahal emperor Akbar heard of hls prowess
and senL hls emlssarv !alaluddln Curchl Lo 8amachandra who had llLLle cholce buL Lo
acqulesce and 1ansen wenL Lo Akbars courL ln 1362
AnoLher leaend ls LhaL Akbars dauahLer Meherunnlssa was enamoured bv 1ansen and had a
role ln hls comlna Lo Akbars courL 1ansen converLed Lo lslam from Plndulsm apparenLlv on
Lhe eve of hls marrlaae wlLh Akbars dauahLer
1ansen [olned Akbars courL evenLuallv becomlna one of Lhe Lreasured navaraLnas (llL
oovonlne totoo[ewel) of hls courL lL was Akbar who aave hlm Lhe honorlflc LlLle Mlvoo
and he ls usuallv referred Lo Lodav as Mlvan 1ansen Leaend has lL LhaL ln hls flrsL
performance he was alfLed one lakh (100000) aold colns
1he presence of muslclans llke 1ansen ln Akbars courL has been relaLed bv hlsLorlans Lo Lhe
LheoreLlcal poslLlon of maklna Lhe emplres audlble presence felL amona Lhe populaLlon a
mechanlsm relaLed Lo Noobot or rlLual performance
1he forL aL laLehpur Slkrl ls sLronalv assoclaLed wlLh 1ansens Lenure aL Akbars courL near
Lhe emperors chambers a pond was bullL wlLh a small lsland ln Lhe mlddle where muslcal
performances were alven 1odav Lhls Lank called Aoop 1oloo can be seen near Lhe publlc
audlence hall ulwoolAom a cenLral plaLform reachable vla four fooLbrldaes lL ls sald LhaL
1ansen would perform dlfferenL raaas aL dlfferenL Llmes of dav and Lhe emperor and hls
selecL audlence would honour hlm wlLh colns
1ansens alleaed resldence ls also nearbv
1he leaendarv muslcal prowess of 1ansen surpasses all oLher leaends ln lndlan muslc ln
Lerms of lnfluence he can be compared onlv Lo Lhe prollflc sufl composer Amlr khusro
(12331323) or Lo bhakLl LradlLlon composers such as Parldas
Several of hls raaa composlLlons have become malnsLavs of Lhe PlndusLanl LradlLlon and
Lhese are ofLen prefaced wlLh Mlvoo kl (of Lhe Mlvan) ea Mlvan kl 1odl Mlvan kl Malhar
Mlvan kl Mand Mlvan ka Sarana ln addlLlon he ls Lhe creaLor of ma[or raaas llke uarbarl
kanada uarbarl 1odl and 8aaeshwarl
1ansen also auLhored 5oooeeto 5oto and kojmolo whlch consLlLuLe lmporLanL documenLs on
muslc
AlmosL everv aharana (school) Lrles Lo Lrace lLs orlaln Lo hlm Lhouah some Lrv Lo ao furLher
back Lo Amlr khusro As for Lhe uhrupad sLvle of slnalna Lhls was formallzed essenLlallv
Lhrouah Lhe pracLlce bv composers llke 1ansen and Parldas as well as oLhers llke 8al[u
8awra who mav have been a conLemporarv
AfLer 1ansen some of Lhe ldeas from Lhe rabab were fused wlLh Lhe LradlLlonal lndlan
sLrlnaed lnsLrumenL veena one of Lhe resulLs of Lhls fuslon ls Lhe lnsLrumenL sarod whlch
does noL have freLs and ls popular Lodav because of lLs percelved closeness Lo Lhe vocal
sLvle

) ka[a 8|rba|
ka[a 8|rba| (13281383) was a poor Plndu 8rahmln who was appolnLed Lo Lhe courL of
Akbar for hls lnLelllaence and became Lhe courL [esLer 8orn bv Lhe name MobesbJos he
was conferred Lhe name 8a[a 8lrbal bv Lhe Lmperor 8lrbals duLles ln Akbars courL were
mosLlv mlllLarv and admlnlsLraLlve buL he was also a verv close frlend of Lhe emperor who
llked 8lrbal mosL for hls wlL and humor 1here are manv wlLLv sLorles of exchanaes and
lnLeracLlons beLween Lhe monarch and hls mlnlsLer LhaL are popular Lodav 8lrbal was also a
poeL and hls collecLlons under Lhe pen name 8rahma" are preserved ln8haraLpur Museum
8a[a 8lrbal dled ln baLLle aLLempLlna Lo quell unresL amonasL Afahanl Lrlbes ln norLhwesL
lndla
ka[a 8|rba| (13281386) (real name Mahesh Das or Maheshdas 8hat) was Lhe Crand vlzler
(Wazlre Azam) of Lhe Muahal courL ln Lhe admlnlsLraLlon of Lhe Muahal emperor Akbar Pe
one of hls mosL LrusLed members alona wlLh belna a parL of Akbars lnner councll of nlne
advlsors known as Lhe oovototoo a SanskrlL word meanlna nlne [ewels 8lrbal was Lhe onlv
person oLher Lhan Akbar who was a ulnlllahl bellever Pe ls consldered one of Lhe worlds
mosL lnLelllaenL and clever admlnlsLraLor durlna Lhe medleval perlod
8lrbals duLles ln Akbars courL were mosLlv mlllLarv and admlnlsLraLlve buL he was also a
verv close frlend of Lhe emperor who appreclaLed 8lrbal for hls wlL and wlsdom ofLen
lnvolvlna humorous exchanaes 1hese and oLher sLorles have become parL of a rlch LradlLlon
of folklore and leaend
8orn Mahesh uas ln 1328 ln Lhe vlllaae Choahara Sldhl dlsLrlcL of Madhva radesh A
8rahmln bv blrLh he arew up ln a moderaLe household and was educaLed ln Lhe realonal
and erslan lanauaaes 8lrbal was a poeL and auLhor whose wlL and wlsdom led Lhe
Lmperor Akbar Lo lnvlLe hlm Lo be a parL of Lhe roval courL and Lo besLow upon hlm a new
name 8lrbal (8lr means 8raln 8al means SLrona) Akbar also conferred on hlm Lhe LlLle of
kojo
Accordlna Lo Clanl Clan Slnah Lhe auLhor of Lhe 8ook 1warlkh Curu khalsa ln 1626 8a[a
8lrbal meL Curu Amar uas Lhe Lhlrd auru of Slkhlsm Pe and hls armv had Lhelr meals ln Lhe
Lanaar when some unscrupulous lndlvldual Lold hlm LhaL Curu Amar uas had a preclous
8asavana (a re[uvenaLlna olnLmenL LhaL promlsed eLernal vouLh accordlna Lo Avurvedas
8asavana vldva) Pe demanded Lhls 8asavana from Curu Amar uas 8uL Curu Amar uas
replled CoJs oome ls tbe ttoe tosovooo ooJ tbls kosovooo ls oolv olfteJ to tbe ptevloos
Cotos 8lrbal dld noL belleve hlm and lnsLead aoL anarv Pe sald LhaL he would Lake Lhe
8asavana Lhe nexL dav buL aL nlahL Powever he had orders Lo reach Malandrl (Muhlm) Lhe
nexL dav Abandonlna hls plans for Lhe 8asavana he [ourneved onward
1he ?ousafzal and khaLLak Lrlbes of Lhe Afahans ln Lhe norLh WesL had sLarLed low level
sklrmlshes and looLlna ralds aaalnsL Lhe Muahal Lmplres ouLposLs and Lradlna rouLes alona
Lhe LasL 8ank of Lhe 8lver lndus ALLock and Lhe Malandarl pass ALLempLlna Lo crush Lhe
unresL Akbar senL Lroops for Lhe baLLle Powever Lhe Lroops faced reslllenL reslsLance from
Lhe Afahans and suffered manv losses AL Lhls Llme Lhe Afahan Lashkars (armv) fronL was
concenLraLed on one end ln whaL ls now Lhe kaLlana area of Lund khwar Lo Lhe oLher end
near Lhe Malandarl ass aL Lhe head of Lhe 8arkua SLream abouL 30 mlles n L of PoLl
Mardan
1

AfLer a successlon of defeaLs ln Lhe lebruarv of 1383 Au Akbar senL 8lrbal hls Crand vlzler
(Wazlre Azam) closesL advlsorv and chlef amona Lhe navaraLnas Lo help Zaln khan ln Lhe
baLLle 8lrbal Look command of Lhe Lroops and around mld lebruarv marched lnLo a
concenLraLed formaLlon of Lhe Afahans ln Lhe kaLlana area of Lund khwar Cn Lhe 16Lh of
lebruarv 1383 Au durlna a ma[or sklrmlsh and whlle ln Lhe Lhlck of Lhe baLLle 8lrbal alona
wlLh hls personal Lroops advanced lnLo a narrow pass ln kaLlana aL nlahL 1he ?ousafzal and
Lhe khaLLak Afahans were well prepared and were readv on Lhe hllls Manv men on 8lrbal's
slde losL Lhelr wav or were kllled ln Lhe holes and Lhe caverns and lL was a Lerrlble defeaL ln
whlch 8lrbal fouahL wlLh braverv buL dled on 16 leb 1383 Au 8lrbal's deaLh was sald Lo be
caused bv Lreacherv noL mlllLarv defeaL Akbar was verv shocked bv Lhe deaLh of 8lrbal and
he dldn'L aLLend courL for Lwo full davs and dldn'L eaL or drlnk anvLhlna and mourned for a
lona Llme
8lrbals lasL wlsh was LhaL upon hls deaLh hls ashes be lmmersed ln Lhe 8lver Canaa aL
Parldwar Akbar dld noL aranL Lhls wlsh lnsLead burvlna Lhe ashes aL a well he had dua near
Lhe rlver
) ka[a 1odar Ma|
ka[a 1odar Ma| was a Plndu khaLrl and was Akbar's flnance mlnlsLer who from 1360
onwards overhauled Lhe revenue svsLem ln Lhe klnadom Pe lnLroduced sLandard welahLs
and measuremenLs revenue dlsLrlcLs and offlcers Pls svsLemaLlc approach Lo revenue
collecLlon became a model for Lhe fuLure Muahals as well as Lhe 8rlLlsh 8a[a 1odar Mal was
also a warrlor who asslsLed Akbar ln conLrolllna Lhe Afahan rebels ln 8enaal 1odar Mal had
developed hls experLlse ln Sher Shahs emplovmenL ln 1382 Akbar besLowed on Lhe ra[a
Lhe LlLle ulwanlAshraf
8a[a 1odar Mal was born ln Laharpur SlLapur uLLer radesh and rose Lo become Lhe
llnance MlnlsLer ln Akbars uarbar of Lhe Muahal emplre Pe was made ln charae of Aara
and seLLled ln Cu[araL LaLer he was made ln charae of Cu[araL as well Pe also manaaed
Akbars MlnL aL 8enaal as well as served ln un[ab 8a[a 1odamal bullL a forLresscum palace
aL Laharpur SlLapur uLLar radesh 1here ls a larae concenLraLlon of khaLrls aL Laharpur
belleved Lo have been arranaed bv 8a[a 1odar Mal

8everldae records LhaL 8a[a 1odar Mal had aoL leave from Akbar and was on hls wav Lo
Parldwar buL he recelved a leLLer from Akbar ln whlch Lhe laLLer ls sald Lo have sald LhaL lL
was beLLer Lo ao on worklna and dolna aood Lo Lhe world Lhan Lo ao on a plllarlmaae
When 1odar Mal dled on 8 november 1389 ln Lahore Pls bodv was burnL and 8a[a
8haawan uas hls colleaaue ln Lhe charae of Lahore was presenL aL Lhe ceremonv Cf hls
Lwo sons uharl was kllled ln a baLLle ln Slndh AnoLher kalvan uas was senL bv 1odar Mal Lo
brlna ln Lhe kumaon 8a[a Pe rose Lo become Lhe llnance MlnlsLer ln Akbars uarbar 1odar
Mal overhauled Lhe revenue svsLem of Akbars Muahal emplre
1odar Mal succeeded khwa[a Mallk lLlmad khan ln 1360 8a[a 1odar Mal lnLroduced
sLandard welahLs and measures a land survev and seLLlemenL svsLem revenue dlsLrlcLs and
offlcers Pe can be LhouahL of as one of flrsL sLaLlsLlclans ln lndla and perhaps ln Lhe world
Manv of Lhe fundamenLal daLa collecLlon schemes as pracLlced over Lhe cenLurles ln Lhe
lndlan subconLlnenL and nelahborlna counLrles can be aLLrlbuLed Lo hlm
8a[a 1odar Mal flnance mlnlsLer of Akbar lnLroduced a new svsLem of revenue known as
zabL Pe Look a careful survev of crop vlelds and prlces culLlvaLed for a 10 vear perlod 1370
1380 Cn Lhls basls Lax was flxed on each crop ln cash Lach provlnce was dlvlded lnLo
revenue clrcles wlLh lLs own raLes of revenue and schedule on lndlvldual crops 1hls svsLem
was prevalenL where Lhe Muahal admlnlsLraLlon could survev Lhe land and keep careful
accounLs 1hls svsLem was noL appllcable ln Lhe provlnces llke Cu[araL and 8enaal 1odar Mal
dled ln Lahore on 8 november 1389
3

1he kashl vlshwanaLh 1emple was rebullL ln 1383 bv 1odar Mal

) ka[a Man 5|ngh
ka[a Man 5|ngh was Lhe kacchwaha 8a[ah of Amber a sLaLe laLer known as !alpur Pe was a
LrusLed aeneral ln Akbars armv and was Lhe arandson of Akbar's faLherlnlaw Pls famllv
had been lnducLed lnLo Muahal hlerarchv as amlrs (nobles) 8a[a Man Slnah was Lhe
foremosL ablesL amona Akbars mlllLarv commanders and asslsLed Akbar ln manv fronLs
lncludlna holdlna off advanclna Paklm (Akbar's halfbroLher a aovernor of kabul) ln Lahore
Pe was also Lhe Muahal vlcerov of AfahanlsLan led campalans ln 8lhar Crlssa ueccan and
was also Lhe vlcerov of 8enaal
8a[a Shrl Man Slnah !l Saheb (Man Slnah l) (uecember 21 1330 !ulv 6 1614) was Lhe
kacchwaha klna of Amber a sLaLe laLer known as !alpur Pe was a LrusLed aeneral of Lhe
Muahal emperor Akbar who lncluded hlm amona Lhe navaraLnas or Lhe nlne aems of Lhe
roval courL
Larlv llfe of Man Slnah lPe was Lhe son of 8anl Sa 8haaawaLl !l Sahlba aL Amber hls faLher
was 8a[a 8haawanL uas of Amber Pe was born on Sundav uecember 21 1330 Pe was
abouL elahL vears vounaer Lhan Muahal Lmperor Akbar who was born on november 23
1342 and abouL Len vears vounaer Lhan 8ana raLap who was born on Mav 9 1340 1hese
Lhree areaL personallLles of Lhe same aeneraLlon had a areaL lmpacL on slxLeenLh cenLurv
lndlas pollLv socleLv and hlsLorv 1hev are remembered wlLh reverence ln lndla alLhouah
8ana raLap fouahL unrelenLlna wars wlLh boLh of Lhem 8a[a 8harmal Lhe flrsL 8a[puL ruler
Lo marrv hls dauahLer Lo a Muahal was Man Slnah ls arandfaLher

lnlLlallv known as kunwar (prlnce) Man Slnah recelved Lhe LlLle of Mlrza 8a[a and Lhe
mansab (rank) of 3000 afLer Lhe deaLh of hls faLher on uecember 10 1389 from Akbar Cn
AuausL 26 1603 Man Slnah became a mansabdar of 7000 le a commander of 7000
cavalrv ln Lhe Muahal forces whlch was Lhe maxlmum command for anvone oLher Lhan a
son of Lhe Muahal emperor and Lhe auardlan of khusrau Lhe eldesL son of !ahanalr Akbar
called hlm larzand (son) Pe fouahL manv lmporLanL campalans for Akbar kunwar Man
Slnah led Lhe Muahal Armv ln Lhe wellknown baLLle of PaldlahaLl fouahL ln 1376 beLween
Lhe Muahal Lmplre and Maha 8ana raLap

Man Slnah was senL bv Akbar Lo persuade Maha 8ana raLap Lo make a LreaLv wlLh Akbar
and accepL Muahal soverelanLv 8uL Maha 8ana raLap as a arandson of 8ana Sanaa
consldered Lhe Muahals lnvaders and lnLruders on lndlan LerrlLorv he decllned Lo accepL
Akbars soverelanLv 1he areaLarandfaLher of Man Slnah Mahara[a rlLhvlra[ Chauhan was
marrled Lo 8ana Sanaas nlece (8ana 8almals dauahLer) 1hls makes Maha 8ana raLap and
Man Slnah relaLlve
Cn Lhe dav of Lhelr meeLlna Maha 8ana raLap lnvlLed Man Slnah for dlnner Maha 8ana
raLap dellberaLelv avolded aLLendlna Lhe dlnner ln person and senL hls son kunwar Amar
Slnah Lo dlne wlLh kunwar Man Slnah (as a cusLom 8a[puL men are called kunwar ln Lhe
llfeLlme of Lhelr faLher) 1he aLLlLude of oLher 8a[puL nobles was also dlscouraalna 1hev
were secreLlv maklna mockerv of Man Slnah as hls aunL !odhabal was marrled Lo Akbar
Man Slnah Look Lhls as an lnsulL Lo Akbar and hlmself Pe knew Maha 8ana raLap was
maklna an excuse Lo avold hlm Pe refused Lo dlne wlLh Amar Slnah Pe remarked l wlll
come aaaln and Lhen wlll have a dlnner undersLandlna Lhe hldden meanlna a noble of
raLap remarked well donL foraeL Lo brlna vour uncle Akbar 1hls lald Lhe foundaLlon of
war beLween Lhe Muahals and 8ana raLap who alreadv had manv decades of rlvalrv and
enmlLv

AppolnLed bv Akbar Lo lead Lhe Muahal Armv aaalnsL 8ana raLap kunwar Man Slnah
sLarLed from A[mer on 3 Aprll 1376 A aruesome baLLle was fouahL on !une 18 1376 aL Paldl
ChaLl 8ana raLap personallv aLLacked Man Slnah who defended hlmself bv ducklna Man
Slnahs MahouL (Lhe drlver of hls elephanL) was kllled 8ana raLaps famous warhorse
CheLak was morLallv wounded 8ana raLap hlmself amazlnalv survlved Lhls baLLle A
nobleman !hala Man Slnah who preLended Lo be 8ana raLap was kllled bv Lhe Muahal
forces !hala Man Slnah puL Lhe helmeL of 8ana raLap on hls head Lhouah he knew he
would be kllled soon bv dolna Lhls ulLlmaLelv Lhe Muahal armv won Lhe baLLle 1he nexL
dav Man Slnah advanced and capLured Coaunda Lhe seaL of raLaps coronaLlon buL Lhe
aeoaraphlcal slLuaLlon of Mewar was such LhaL 8ana raLap could hlde beLween hllls Pe
explolLed Lhls and beaan auerrllla warfare ulLlmaLelv raLap was able Lo llberaLe all of
Mewar excepL Lhe forL of ChlLLor uesplLe hls success Akbar was noL happv wlLh Man Slnah
and sLopped converslna wlLh hlm for some Llme erhaps he LhouahL Man Slnah was
responslble for raLaps escape from Lhe baLLlefleld ConsplraLors also fed Lhls Lo hls ears
buL Akbars doubLs cleared when he vlslLed A[mers shrlne of khwa[a Molnuddln ChlshLl Lhe
followlna vear

ln Lhe 8aLLle of PaldlahaLl desplLe exaaaeraLed flaures lL ls esLlmaLed LhaL 8ana raLap had
3000 horsemen some elephanLs and Lhe same number of 8hll warrlors under 8ao oon[a
A small arLlllerv unlL was also wlLh hlm under Paklm khan Sur 1he force was dlvlded lnLo
flve wlnas Advance wlna was under Paklm khan Sur 8hlm Slnah uahlva and 8amdas
8aLhore 1he rlahL wlna was under 8hamashah and 8amshah 1anwar 1he lefL wlna was
under !hala Man Slnah 8ana raLap was ln Lhe cenLre 8ehlnd hlm was 8ao oon[a wlLh hls
8hll warrlors

1he Muahal armv had 10000 horsemen some elephanLs and lnfanLrv Amona Lhe
horsemen 4000 were kachwaha 8a[puL warrlors Cne Lhousand oLher Plndu warrlors and
resL were uzbeks 1urklcs kazakhs Savvlds and oLher Musllms 1hls force dlvlded lnLo flve
wlnas 1here were Lwo advance wlnas 1he flrsL was under Savvld Pashlm 8arah son of
Savved Mahmud khan 8arah !aaaanaLh kachwaha and Asaf All khan 1he second advance
Lroop was under Madho Slnah kachwaha 8ehlnd Lhls was Man Slnah 1o hls rlahL was Mulla
kazlkhan 8adkhsl and Lo lefL were Savveds of 8arah AL flrsL 8ana raLap aLLacked and
scaLLered Lhe advance and lefL wlnas of Lhe Muahal armv !aannaLh kachwaha kllled
8amshah 1anwar and 8a[puL warrlors of boLh sldes enaaaed ln flerce baLLle 1he Muahal
armv could noL dlsLlnaulsh beLween frlend and foe and kllled 8a[puLs of boLh sldes 1he
Muahal armv surrounded 8ana raLap so Lo save hls llfe !hala Man puL Lhe 8anas helmeL
on hls head and dled ln hls place 1hls provlded Maha 8ana raLap a chance Lo escape AfLer
Lhls 8anas armv dlspersed 1he Muahal Armv expecLlna anoLher aLLack remalned vlallanL
all nlahL Cnlv ln Lhe mornlna Lhev were able Lo [udae Lhelr success AlmosL half of 8anas
armv was flnlshed 1he baLLle was won buL Lhe Maha 8ana had survlved

LxpedlLlon Lo kabulln 1380 CL some promlnenL Musllm offlcers of Akbar dlspleased wlLh
hls llberal rellalous pollcles sLarLed Lo consplre aaalnsL hlm Cazl Muhammad ?azdl declared
lL Lhe duLv of everv Musllm Lo rebel aaalnsL Akbar ln 8lhar and 8enaal Lhev declared Mlrza
Paklm Akbars sLepbroLher and Covernor of kabul Lo be Lhe emperor Akbar senL armles Lo
8lhar and 8enaal Lo crush Lhls rebelllon whlle he hlmself sLarLed Lowards kabul Man Slnah
wlLh hlm Cn March 8 1381 Akbar reached Machhlwara and soon arrlved on Lhe banks of
8lver lndus he Lhen senL an advance force led bv Man Slnah Lo kabul AlLhouah Akbars
armv was heslLaLlna Lo cross Lhe swelllna lndus 8lver Man Slnah was able Lo cross lL flrsL
followed bv Lroops Pearlna Lhe news Mlrza Paklm fled Lo Curband lollowlna Lhe armv
Akbar hlmself arrlved aL kabul on AuausL 10 1381 Paklm was pardoned bv Akbar buL hls
slsLer 8akhLunlssa 8eaum was appolnLed Covernor of kabul AfLer Akbar reLurned Lo
laLehpur Slkrl 8akhLunlssa remalned as Lhe nomlnal head of sLaLe whlle Paklm acLed as Lhe
Covernor (Paklm dled ln !ulv 1382) kabul was annexed bv Lhe Muahal Lmplre and Man
Slnah was appolnLed Covernor Pe remalned ln kabul for some vears and bullL a forLress
used bv succeedlna Muahal Covernors Man Slnah brouahL manv LalenLed men wlLh hlm
when he reLurned from kabul Some of Lhelr descendanLs sLlll llve ln !alpur

Aaaln ln 1383 CL some Afahan Lrlbes rose aaalnsL Lhe Muahal emplre 1he ?usufzal and
Mandar Lrlbes were Lhe maln ones amona Lhem Akbar senL an armv under Zaln khan
Paklm Abul laLeh and 8a[a 8lrbal Lo conLrol Lhese revolLlna Lrlbes Powever Lhev falled Lo
conLrol Lhe revolLlna Afahans and 8a[a 8lrbal frlend of Akbar and one of hls navraLnas was
also kllled ln Lhe baLLle wlLh Afahans Akbar Lhen senL 8a[a 1odar Mal Lo crush Lhe revolL and
called 8a[a Man Slnah Lo help 1odar Mal 1odarmal had some success ln conLrolllna Lhe
rebelllous Afahan Lrlbes buL Lhe real source of Lhe revolL was behlnd Lhe khvber ass lL was
hard Lo cross Lhls pass whlch was domlnaLed bv Afahan kaballles Man Slnah was
accompanled bv 8ao Copaldas of nlndar ln Lhls expedlLlon who bravelv made wav for
Muahal armv ln Lhe pass AfLer crosslna Lhe pass Man Slnah declslvelv defeaLed flve ma[or
Lrlbes of Afahans lncludlna ?usufzal and Mandar Lrlbes 1he flaa of Amber was chanaed
from kaLchanar (areen cllmber ln whlLe base) Lo achranaa (flve colored) Lo
commemoraLe Lhls vlcLorv 1hls flaa conLlnued ln use unLll accesslon of !alpur sLaLe ln lndla
1hls permanenLlv crushed Lhe revolL and Lhe area remalned peaceful LhereafLer

ln 1386 CL Akbar senL anoLher armv under 8a[a 8haawanL uas faLher of kunwar Man Slnah
Lo wln kashmlr kashmlr was lncluded ln Lhe Muahal Lmplre and made a Sarkar (dlsLrlcL) of
kabul provlnce Man Slnah and hls faLher 8a[a 8haawanL uas are repuLed Lo have brouahL
Lhe Lechnoloav of cannon producLlon from kabul and Lahore Lo Amber
ln 1388 Man Slnah was appolnLed Covernor of 8lhar ln 1390 CuLlu khan Lohanl an Afahan
ruler of norLh Crlssa declared hlmself lndependenL and assumed Lhe LlLle of CuLlu Shah
8a[a Man Slnah sLarLed an expedlLlon aaalnsL hlm 8efore faclna Man Slnah CuLlu Shah was
kllled bv 8ao Copaldas of nlndar CuLlu khans son naslr khan afLer llLLle reslsLance
accepLed Muahal soverelanLv and pald homaae Lo Man Slnah on 13 AuausL 1390 naslr khan
was Lhen appolnLed Covernor of Crlssa naslr khan remalned falLhful Lo Lhe Muahal emplre
for Lwo vears buL afLer LhaL he vlolaLed Lhe condlLlons of hls LreaLv and selzed Lhe !aaannaLh
1emple of url whlch was Muahal LerrlLorv Man Slnah aaaln aLLacked Crlssa and declslvelv
defeaLed naslr khan on Aprll 9 1392 ln a baLLle near Lhe presenL dav Medlnlpur Lown and
ousLed hlm from Crlssa Crlssa Lhen was annexed Lo Lhe Muahal Lmplre and lncluded ln
8enaal Subah (rovlnce)
Cn 17 March 1394 8a[a Man Slnah was appolnLed Subahdar (Covernor) of 8enaal 8lhar
and Crlssa Pe made hls headquarLers ln 8ohLas ln 8lhar Pe bullL a Pavell (alaLlal Pouse)
ln 8ohLas lorL uurlna hls Lenure as Covernor Man Slnah furLher expanded Lhe Muahal
Lmplre bv defeaLlna and subdulna Lhe old klnadoms of 8enaal 8lhar and Crlssa Pe
defeaLed Mahara[a raLap AdlLva of !essore and brouahL Lhe famous ldol of Shlla uevl Lo
Amber 1he Lemple of Lhls aoddess ls sLlll presenL ln Amber forL uurlna navraLrls lakhs of
people aaLher here 8a[a Man Slnah served Lhree successlve Lerms as Covernor of Lhls area
ln 139498 16011603 16031606
Man Slnah dled a naLural deaLh on !ulv 6 1614 aL Llllchpur lollowlna hls deaLh he was
succeeded bv hls son Mlrza 8a[a 8hau Slnah Pls dlrecL descendanLs became known (Lo Lhls
daLe) as Lhe 8a[awaLs who had Lhe prlvlleae Lo Lhe Lhrone of Amber and subsequenLlv
!alpur

8a[a Man Slnah was a devoLee of Shrl krlshna Pe had a sevensLorled Lemple of krlshna
consLrucLed aL for Srlla 8upa Coswaml dlsclple of Srl CalLanva Mahaprabhu ln vrlndavan
1he cosL of consLrucLlon was one crore rupees aL LhaL Llme Akbar ls also belleved Lo have
donaLed Lhe red sandsLone for Lhls Lemple Auranazeb laLer demollshed Lhree sLorevs of Lhls
Lemple 1he foursLorev Lemple ls sLlll presenL aL vrlndavan Pe also consLrucLed a Lemple of
krlshna aL hls caplLal Amber 1he place ls now known as kanak vrlndavan near Amber
ChaLl of !alpur Pe consLrucLed Lhe Lemple of Shlla uevl aL Amber lorL Pe also consLrucLed
and repalred manv Lemples aL 8enaras Allahabad and varlous oLher places Pe added much
beauLlflcaLlon Lo hls palace aL Amber When Akbar called a meeLlna of hls nobles aL
laLehpur Slkrl ln 1382 Lo dlscuss ulnlllahl 8a[a 8haawanL uas was Lhe onlv man Lo oppose
Lhls rellalon LaLer Man Slnah also refused Lo converL Lo ulnlllahl lL ls belleved hls son
!aaaL Slnah l recelved educaLlon from Coswaml 1ulsldas and Man Slnah hlmself used Lo
aLLend hls rellalous lecLures 1ulsldas was a conLemporarv of Akbar and auLhor of 8amcharlL
Manas known as 1ulsl 8amavana and much oLher famous poeLrv devoLed Lo 8ama and
Panuman Pe used Lo be accompanled bv Charan poeLs

) Abdu| kah|m khanIkhana
Abdu| kah|m khanIkhana was a poeL was Lhe son of Akbar's LrusLed proLecLor and
careLaker when he was a Leenaaer 8alram khan AfLer 8alram khan was murdered
Lreacherouslv hls wlfe became Lhe second wlfe of Akbar Pe ls mosL known for
hls Plndl coupleLs and hls books on AsLroloav 1he vlllaae of khankhana named afLer hlm ls
locaLed ln Lhe nawanshahr dlsLrlcL of Lhe sLaLe of un[ab ln norLhwesL lndla
khanzada Mlrza khan Abdu| kah|m khanekhana (17 uecember 1336 1627) was a
composer ln Lhe Llmes of Muahal emperor Akbar and one of hls maln nlne mlnlsLers
(ulwan) ln hls courL also known as Lhe navaraLnas he ls mosL known for hls Plndl coupleLs
and hls books on AsLroloav 1he vlllaae of khankhana named afLer hlm ls locaLed ln Lhe
nawanshahr dlsLrlcL of Lhe sLaLe of un[ab ln norLhwesL lndla
Mlrza Abdul 8ahlm khanlkhana was Lhe son of Akbar's LrusLed careLaker 8alram khan
who had 1urklc ancesLrv When Pumavun reLurned Lo lndla from hls exlle he ls asked Lhe
nobles ln courL Lo forae maLrlmonlal alllances wlLh varlous zamlndars feudal lords across
Lhe naLlon Whlle Pumavun hlmself marrled Lhe elder dauahLer of !amal khan of MewaL
(presenL MewaL dlsLrlcL of Parvana) he asked 8alram Lo marrv Lhe vounaer dauahLer
Soon afLer 8abars deaLh hls successor Pumavun was ln Au 1340 supplanLed bv Lhe
aLhan Sher Shah Surl who ln Au 1343 was followed bv lslam Shah uurlna Lhe relan of
Lhe laLLer a baLLle was fouahL and losL bv Lhe Lmperors Lroops aL llrozpur ln MewaL on
whlch however lslam Shah dld noL lose hls hold Adll Shah Lhe Lhlrd of Lhe aLhan
lnLerlopers who succeeded ln Au 1332 had Lo conLend for Lhe emplre wlLh Lhe reLurned
Pumavun
2

ln Lhese sLruaales for Lhe resLoraLlon of 8abars dvnasLv khanzadas apparenLlv do noL flaure
aL all Pumavun seems Lo have conclllaLed Lhem bv marrvlna Lhe elder dauahLer of !amal
khan nephew of 8abars opponenL Pasan khan and bv causlna hls areaL mlnlsLer 8alram
khan Lo marrv a vounaer dauahLer of Lhe same MewaLLl
khanzadahs Lhe roval famllv of Musllm !adon (also spelL as !adaun) 8a[puLs accepLed lslam
on Lhelr assoclaLlon wlLh Lhe Sufl salnLs khanzadah Lhe erslan form of Lhe 8a[puLana word
8a[puL ls Lhe LlLle of Lhe areaL represenLaLlves of Lhe anclenL !adubansl roval 8a[puL famllv
descendanLs of krlshna and Lherefore of Lunar uvnasLv 1hev are Lhe MewaLLl Chlefs of Lhe
erslan hlsLorlans who were Lhe represenLaLlves of Lhe anclenL Lords of MewaL
Abdul 8ahlm was born ln Lahore (now ln aklsLan) on 14Lh afar 964
AfLer 8alram khan was murdered ln aLan Cu[araL hls wlfe and vouna 8ahlm were brouahL
safelv Lo Ahmedabad from Lhev brouahL Lo uelhl and presenLed Lo Lhe roval courLs of
Akbar who aave hlm Lhe LlLle of Mlrza khan and subsequenLlv marrled hlm Lo Mah 8anu
slsLer of Mlrza Azlz kokah son of ALaaa khan a noLed Muahal noble
LaLer 8alram khans wlfe became Lhe second wlfe of Akbar whlch made Abdul 8ahlm khan
ekhan hls sLepson and laLer he became one of hls nlne promlnenL mlnlsLers Lhe
navaraLnas or nlne aems
AlLhouah a Musllm bv blrLh 8ahlm was a devoLee of Lord krlshna and wroLe poeLrv
dedlcaLed Lo hlm Pe was also an avld AsLrolaer and Lhe wrlLer lf Lwo lmporLanL works ln
AsLroloav khet kautukam and Dwaw|shd ogava|| are sLlll popular
Pe ls well known for hls sLranae manner of alvlna alms Lo Lhe poor Pe never looked aL Lhe
person he was alvlna alms Lo keeplna hls aaze downwards ln all humlllLv
Pls Lwo sons were kllled bv Akbars son !ehanalr and Lhelr bodles lefL Lo roL aL Lhe khoonl
uarwaza because 8ahlm was noL ln favor of !ehanalrs accesslon Lo Lhe Lhrone aL Akbars
deaLh
Pls Lomb ls slLuaLed ln nlzamuddln on Lhe MaLhura road ahead of Pumavuns 1omb ln new
uelhl lL was bullL bv hlm for hls wlfe ln 1398 and laLer she was herself burled ln lL ln 1627
LaLer ln 17334 marble and sandsLone from Lhls Lomb was used for Lhe maklna of
Safdar[unas 1omb also ln new uelhl

) Iak|r Az|aoD|n
Iak|r Az|aoD|n was a mvsLlc and an advlsor Akbar reaarded hls advlce ln hlah esLeem

9) Mu||ah Do |aza
Mu||ah Do |aza was an advlsor Lo Akbar