38 Facts About Jahanara Begum

Jahanara Begum was a princess of the Mughal Empire.

Jahanara Begum was the second and the eldest surviving child of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

Jahanara Begum was Shah Jahan's favorite daughter and she wielded major political influence during her father's reign, and has been described as "the most powerful woman in the empire" at the time.

Later, Jahanara reconciled with Aurangzeb who gave her the title 'Empress of Princesses' and replaced her younger sister, Princess Roshanara Begum, as the First Lady.

Jahanara Begum is known for her written works as well, which continues to be a primary way in which her presence in Sufism survives into today.

Jahanara Begum is well known for a biography of Sheikh Mu'in ad'-Din Chishti, 'Munis al arwah' whom she believed to have been the highest of the Sufi saints in India and her spiritual master, despite having lived four centuries before her.

Jahanara Begum served as principal lady-in-waiting to her mother, Mumtaz Mahal.

One of her tasks after the death of her mother was to oversee, with the help of Sati al-Nisa, the betrothal and wedding of her brother, Dara Shikoh to Nadira Banu Jahanara Begum, which was originally planned by Mumtaz Mahal, but postponed by her death.

Jahanara Begum attended councils and discussed important aspects of state and governance from behind her curtained seat.

Jahanara Begum's word became so powerful that it was said that it could change the fortunes of people.

In 1644, when Aurangzeb angered his father, the Badshah, Jahanara Begum interceded on her brother's behalf and convinced Shah Jahan to pardon him and restore his rank.

Jahanara Begum's power was such that, unlike the other imperial princesses, she was allowed to live in her own palace, outside the confines of the Agra Fort.

Some say Jahanara Begum's garments, doused in fragrant perfume oils, caught fire.

Jahanara Begum later visited Ajmer, following the example set by her great-grandfather Akbar.

Jahanara Begum was allotted income from a number of villages and owned several gardens, including, Bagh-i-Jahanara Begum, Bagh-i-Nur and Bagh-i-Safa.

Jahanara Begum owned a number of ships and maintained trade relations with the English and the Dutch.

Jahanara Begum was known for her active participation in looking after the poor and financing the building of mosques.

Jahanara Begum organized almsgiving on important state holidays and religious festivals, supported famine relief and pilgrimages to Mecca.

Jahanara Begum made important financial contributions in the support of learning and arts.

Jahanara Begum supported the publication of a series of works on Islamic mysticism, including commentaries on Rumi's Mathnavi, a very popular mystical work in Mughal India.

Jahanara Begum made such progress on the Sufi path that Mullah Shah would have named her his successor in the Qadiriyya, but the rules of the order did not allow this.

Jahanara Begum stated that she and her brother Dara were the only descendants of Timur to embrace Sufism.

When Dara Shikoh's generals sustained a defeat at Dharmat at the hands of Aurangzeb, Jahanara Begum wrote a letter to Aurangzeb and advised him not to disobey his father and fight with his brother.

Jahanara Begum asked Jahanara to use her diplomacy to convince Murad and Shuja not to throw their weight on the side of Aurangzeb.

Aurangzeb refused Jahanara Begum's proposition on the grounds that Dara Shikoh was an infidel.

Jahanara Begum restored her former titles to her; Padshah Begum, and Begum Sahib, and bestowed upon her a new title, Shahzadi Sahib.

Jahanara Begum never shied from arguing with the Emperor in order to prove her point, especially when it concerned his enforced austerity measures or his practice of religious intolerance.

Jahanara Begum re-entered politics and was influential in various important matters and had certain special privileges which other women did not possess: an independent life with a private palace of her own, the power to issue Hukm or Farman, to attend the council, to receive audiences in her palace, and to mediate between officers, politicians, and foreign kings and the emperor.

Jahanara Begum argued against Aurangzeb's strict regulation of public life in accordance with his conservative religious beliefs, and his decision in 1679 to restore the poll tax on non-Muslims, which she believed would alienate his Hindu subjects.

Jahanara Begum publicly quarreled with him on these issues and criticised him for his policy.

Jahanara Begum cites Aurangzeb's confining of Jahanara in the Agra Fort with the royal prisoner and gossip magnifying a rumor.

Jahanara Begum is buried in a tomb in the Nizamuddin Dargah complex in New Delhi, which is considered "remarkable for its simplicity".

The Mosque was funded entirely by Jahanara Begum, using her personal allowance.

Jahanara Begum founded a madrasa, which was attached to the Jama Masjid, for the promotion of education.

Jahanara Begum funded the making of a garden in Kashmir, she was a benefactor of the people.

Jahanara Begum made a significant impact on the landscape of the capital city of Shahjahanabad.

All of Jahanara Begum's building projects were completed around the year 1650, inside the city walls of Shahjahanabad.

Jahanara Begum constructed an elegant caravanserai on the East side of the street with gardens in the back.