Other Important Facts-
- Introduction of life of Mughal emperor Akbar
- What was the noorjahan faction
- What is jain philosophy
- Shah Jahan’s empire expansion and war of succession
Dara shikoh was born in 1615 AD. Was born to Shah Jahan’s beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Dara Shikoh was very influenced by the Sadiyas’ Kadiri tradition. The famous Sultan Mullashah of Kadiri Sasi was his spiritual teacher. Lanepaul called Dara a small Akbar. This is the eldest son of Shah Jahan and the elder brother of Aurangzeb.
Shah Jahan honored Dara with the title of Shahbullah Iqbal.
Dara was made the crown prince in 1633 and he was given high mansab. Allahabad in 1645, Lahore in 1647 and in 1649 he became the ruler of Gujarat.
The defeat in Kandahar in 1653 damaged its reputation. Yet Shah Jahan used to see him as his successor, which was not acceptable to other brothers of Dara.
On falling ill of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and Murad made a slogan of Dara being an infidel. Dara twice, first in Samugarh near Agra (June 1658), then defeated in Devarai (March, 1659) near Ajmer. Finally, on September 10, 1659, Aurangzeb murdered him in Delhi.
Dara’s elder son Aurangzeb became cruelty and the younger son was imprisoned in Gwalior.
Sufism and Tauhid’s curious Dara always kept contact with all Hindu and Muslim saints. There are many such pictures available in which Dara is shown in connection with Hindu Sannyasis and Muslim Saints. He was also a talented writer. Safinin Al Auliya and Sakinit Al Auliya are books written on the biographies of Sufi saints. The philosophical explanation of Sufism in Risala e Hakmanuma (1646) and “Tarikat A Reality” is there. His poem collection, “Axir-e-Azam“, is an understanding of its pantheistic tendency. There is a discussion of religion and fame in Dara . Translation of 52 Upanishads He has done ‘Sir-e-Akbar’ (the biggest secret).
Compositions of Dara shikoh-
Dara shikoh himself translated the Sanskrit texts – Bhagwat Geeta and Yogavashishtha into Persian under his own supervision.
The most important work of Dara – compilation of the Vedas is that he considered the Vedas to be God’s creation.
Dara shikoh composed a fundamental book Majm-ul-Bahrain (the confluence of two seas). In which the Hindu and Islam religion have been described as two ways of achieving the same God.
With the help of Dara himself and Kashi’s some Sanskrit scholars, the translation of the Baavan Upanishad was translated into Persian by Sir-e-Akbar.
Dara shikoh’s book related to Sufism
- Safeenat-ul-Auliya- (life story of Sufis of various traditions)
- Sankat-ul-Auliya- (life story of Sufis of Kadiri tradition of India)
- Hassan-ul-Auliya- (compilation of the words of various saints)
- Method-ul-Reality- (various stages of spiritual path
- Risalee – Haq – Numa- (Description of Sufi practices)
Political circumstances led to intolerance towards atheism, it certainly can not be said. From childhood he had an attachment to spirituality. Though some hardcore Muslims considered him a fanatic, Dara did not leave the mainland of Islam. The main reason for his being an apostate was the tendency of his all-religion-combination to fear the emptiness of Islam’s position.
Delhi’s ‘Dalhousie Road’ has been changed to Dara Shikoh Marg in 2017.
Reference : https://www.indiaolddays.com/
