Aurangzeb’s first love happened at a young age in Aurangabad The second love happened when he had already sat on the throne of DelhiWhy did the Hindu courtesan keep rebuking him again and again?
What should we say about the fact that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb fell in love twice. Such that he lost his sleep and peace at night. Both times, the women he fell in love with were courtesans. He met one when he was young. He had not become an emperor but was fighting to keep himself alive. He had started loving the second courtesan with all his heart but she spurned him not once but repeatedly. That means he did not get her either.
Aurangzeb was a very dry-tempered and religious fanatic ruler. In reality, Aurangzeb fell in love many times. The stories of two of his loves are a bit strange. This love happened with two courtesans who were beautiful, charming and intoxicated with their songs and music. The first story is from the time when he was very young. The second story is from the time when he ascended the throne of Delhi.
That first love of Aurangzeb
What we are going to discuss here is his first love, whom Aurangzeb could never forget in his life. Stories about this are found in many places. The name of his love was Heera Bai. She was a Christian. She was a courtesan living in his uncle’s harem near Aurangabad. Extremely beautiful, a wonderful singer and a charming dancer. The one who could stab hearts with her gestures.
Aurangzeb was young then. His bravery was much talked about but Shah Jahan’s favourite was his elder brother Dara Shikoh. When Emperor Shah Jahan sent Aurangzeb to handle Deccan again, he went reluctantly. He was upset with the political machinations of Delhi and was also angry with his father’s indifference.
Heramb Chaturvedi has written about the first love in Aurangzeb’s life in his book “Do Sultan, Do Badshah Aur Unka Prem Parivesh”. The book says, “Aurangzeb reached Deccan in a strange mood. After this he went to Zainabad, Burhanpur to meet his aunt. His maternal uncle was Mir Khalil. Whom Aurangzeb later made the governor of Khandesh. He had very good relations with these maternal uncle and aunt.
When the courtesan Hirabai would come to the terrace and practice music, Aurangzeb would keep looking at her from below as if mesmerized.
Charming gestures
One day he went out for a stroll. While strolling he reached the deer park of Jainabad-Burhanpur. It was there that he met Jainabadi. Her charming face, magical musical skills and her coquettish manners were very charming. They would attract anyone towards her.
When Aurangzeb reached there, Zainabadi came there with other women of the harem. She plucked mangoes from the mango tree laden with fruits. Then she started singing while showing her style. Her grace, unmatched beauty and casual style along with melodious humming attracted Aurangzeb’s attention towards her.
and his sleep vanished
Aurangzeb suddenly became attracted to her. His condition became such that if he did not see Zainabadi, he could not sleep. He was totally crazy about her. His behavior became strange. Zainabadi was a courtesan of a carefree age. She used to entertain in her uncle’s court. Aurangzeb wanted that slave girl to be left for him.
The wish was fulfilled. She was sent to him. Now if he spent time anywhere in Deccan apart from administration, it was only with Zainabadi. He did everything that Zainabadi told him to do. Once it went too far. One day Zainabadi gave a glass of wine to Aurangzeb. She requested him to drink. The more firmly Aurangzeb refused, the more lovingly she requested him. She would woo him with her charms. She would make him take oaths and would plead with love. Aurangzeb was shaken.
According to the author of ‘Ahkam’, “As soon as Aurangzeb put the wine glass to his lips, Zainabadi snatched it away. She said, my purpose was just to test your love.” The news of Aurangzeb’s love reached the emperor Shah Jahan in Delhi. Aurangzeb was drowning in her love. He spent every evening and free time with her. Then one day she died of illness. Just understand that the Mughal emperor somehow managed himself.
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Aurangzeb’s second love was one-sided; he definitely dreamt about it but he didn’t get it.
And the other courtesan was a Hindu
Now let us know about the second courtesan whom Aurangzeb wanted to make his queen. That courtesan was of Hindu religion. Knowledgeable about Sanskrit and religion. Sharp and logical. Fanatic about religion. Firm in thoughts and character. She used to organize dance and music parties in Shah Jahan’s court. People used to go crazy. Her name was Rana Gul.
She had become the wife of her elder brother Dara Shikoh
Shah Jahan’s eldest son and Aurangzeb’s eldest brother Dara Shikoh was crazy about her. Slowly both of them fell in love with each other. This love became a thorn in Shah Jahan’s eyes. He tried to get rid of the love between the two by any means. Every attempt failed. In which Dara was sent away from Delhi. But when things did not work out, Shah Jahan had to forcefully get them married.
kept rebuking again and again
When Aurangzeb got his brother Dara Shikoh killed, he wanted his elder brother’s widow to marry him. He sent love proposals in many ways. He expressed them with all his heart. Rana did not relent. She clearly told Aurangzeb that even in his dreams he should not think that she would be his. She would prefer to die.
Actually, when Dara Shikoh was killed, he had two sub-wives. One was Rana Gul and the other was Udaipuri Mahal. The second one immediately became Aurangzeb’s wife and joined his harem. She lived her whole life in comfort and happiness. The one whom Aurangzeb actually wanted to make a queen, did not even want to see this emperor in her dreams.
Everybody becomes his fan
Rana Gul was such a courtesan who was educated, studied, worked and had the ability to take decisions. There was something special about her. Whoever came close to her became her admirer. On one hand Aurangzeb started pining for her, while Rana refused again and again. Every refusal increased Aurangzeb’s restlessness. This was the restlessness of one-sided love. She was obstinate, stubborn, steadfast and fearless.
cut off all the thick hair and sent it
According to Asian tradition, younger brother is considered to have rights over elder brother’s widowed wives and sub-wives. When Aurangzeb talked about this right, Rana flatly refused. Aurangzeb sent a message that he is a fan of his hair. The very next day, in reply to this letter of Aurangzeb, he cut all his long, thick black hair and sent it to Aurangzeb. Along with the letter he wrote- You like these hair of mine very much, hence dedicate it to you. I hope you will be satisfied.
In this way, Rana made it clear to Aurangzeb that he should forget about her. According to him, the new Mughal emperor could get only this much from a widow like her, nothing more. Everyone was stunned to see Rana’s bald head. When Aurangzeb got Rana’s hair and the letter, he was stunned.
This time he found a knife stained with blood
Even then Aurangzeb did not give up. He again praised her beauty in his love proposal. The reply given by Rana frightened even Aurangzeb who had reached the pinnacle of power through a bloody path. He had not even imagined in his dreams that he would get such a harsh and clear reply.
He cut his face with a knife. He sent the knife stained with blood. He wrote that the beauty he praised had now been cut with a knife. This doubt was clear, definite, firm and final. Rana had made it clear that her love was only for Dara and never for him. Now it was clear that if Aurangzeb did too much then she would give up her life.
The Mughal emperor realized that everything cannot be won. Once again his heart was broken but now he could do nothing. It is a different matter that Aurangzeb could not forget Rana till the end of his life.
Tags: love, love story, Mughal Emperor
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 28, 2024, 21:00 IST