From Satarah, the Star City of the great Mahratta Kings, to
Dowlutabâd, the Abode of Fortune, and Aurungabâd, the Golden City
of the Mohgul Emperors.--Tombs of Boorhan Ood Deen and
Aurungzebe.--Mausoleum of Rhabea Duranee.--Sketch of the Mohgul
invasion of India.--Manners, Customs, and Religious Ceremonies of
the Mohammedans of Hindostan.
Of all the places in the East, there is none more celebrated in Oriental
romance and song than the province which occupies the centre of the
great table-land of the Deccan, called the Nizam's Dominion. Here the
Mahrattas, Rajpoots, Mohguls, French, and English have struggled for
mastery. Here are the ancient Golkunda and Hyderabâd, the Abode of the
Lion. In the reign of Mahmood Shah, so great was the renown of the
Bahmani[69] court that the celebrated Persian poet Hafiz determined to
visit it. "He embarked at Ormuzd, but the vessel encountering a tempest,
the Iranian Horace at once abandoned the voyage and despatched instead
an ode to Mahmood as his apology." From that time the songs of Hafiz
became the favorite melodies at the Bahmani court.
In 1401, Firuz Shah, who had succeeded Mahmood in 1397, sent from his
kingdom an embassy with magnificent presents to the great conqueror
Timoor Lâng (Tamerlane), who conferred on him, in addition to the vast
provinces he ruled over, the sovereignty of the kingdoms of Guzerat and
Malwah; which proved, however, troublesome acquisitions. It was he who
caused that famous observatory (the ruins of which may still be seen on
the Dowlutabâd Pass) to be built for his Brahman astronomer. The close
of his reign is said to have been disastrous. His armies, bent on
conquest, were defeated in a battle with Dèo-Rai-Vijya-Nâggur, and Firuz
Shah was not only deposed, but strangled, by his own brother in 1422.
The ruthless murderer and brother of Firuz Shah was both a warlike and
able monarch. He is known in Indian story as Ahmad Shah Bahmani. In 1432
he built the famous fort of Ahmedabâd at Bidhar, still called after him;
and not only restored but beautified that ancient city, which more than
two thousand years before had been famed in Sanskrit drama as the
capital of the Rajah Bhima Selm, the loves of whose exquisitely chaste
and beautiful daughter Damayanti and of Nala, the rajah of Malwah, are
sung and acted to this day throughout Hindostan.[70]
This province has been the most celebrated for the beauty and rare
accomplishments of its Bahyadiers. They formed a large part of its
population; so much was the profession favored that many of these public
dancers have become queens, and sons born to them have become kings and
learned men. A beautiful and romantic story is still sung here of a
Bahyadier named Aminah. Having attracted the attention of Burhan Nizam
Shah, she sent him word that she loved him, and, in spite of her
profession, was worthy to be his wife. Doubting the sincerity of her
assertion, Burhan Nizam Shah subjected her secretly, through a friend,
to the most painful trials, in every one of which she gave evidence of
an innate nobleness of character. Thus, having proved the sincerity of
her attachment, he married Aminah, who continued to be his favorite
queen and counsellor even after he had espoused (from motives of policy)
the princess of Bijapoor.
The appearance of the country of the Nizam's Dominion, however, is not
as full of interest as its history. Without forests of any extent, and
with but few lakes, it is intersected by innumerable small streams or
nullahs[71] and reservoirs, with occasional hills that rise in curious
detached blocks, as if accidentally dropped here and there by some
Titans at play.
After many days of a painful journey through wide fields of desolation
and gigantic cities now crumbling away, we encamped at a
dhurrum-sala[72] in the ancient city of Bidhar, once a place of great
renown and the capital of the Mahratta kings, who seem to have shifted
their capitals as the Bedouin does his tent. Attached to the
dhurrum-sala were long sheds, places of shelter for the cattle, side by
side with that of the human cattle. These had grass and fodder provided
for them gratuitously by the Brahmans in the vicinity.
This old Mahratta town contains some very curious stone buildings carved
with the figures of Hindoo gods and goddesses. Its chief attraction,
however, is the beautiful Bidharee ware. We bought a little box and the
bowl of a hookhah, which were very gracefully ornamented with
silver-work. The metal of which these articles were manufactured is a
jet-black compound of copper and tin which is capable of a high polish.
The natives here seem happy and independent. We saw some very handsome
Hindoo women in the bazaars, but the Mohammedan women were those of the
lowest castes.
The difficulties of the road very much increased after leaving Bidhar.
We were bumped and battered over a stony road, nor was there anything to
be seen but a great wilderness for many miles. When we inquired the
distance to the next halting-place our guide, who was very musical,
stopped his song and replied, "_Chulla joa oodhur hai_" ("Go along! it
is there"). But where we could not make out. Finally, we were obliged to
spend the night under a tree in our wagons not far from a great nullah
which was thought unsafe to cross after sunset. On the opposite side of
us was a large party of men and women, gossains and priests,
fellow-travellers, with four wagon-loads of dancing-girls, some of whom
were very interesting seen in the dusk. They were a troup of actors and
actresses returning from some village theatre to their head-quarters at
Oude Gera, a city in this vicinity.
A little after dawn next morning we crossed the nullah, which was by no
means as dangerous as represented by our guide. Along the road we saw
some beautiful wild flowers and trailing vines, among them a little
hardy blossom like the anemone, and of a lovely rose-color. In the
afternoon of the next day we crossed the Godaveri, the famous Tyndis of
the ancients, rising in the Thull Ghauts and flowing through the length
and breadth of the great high plain of the Deccan to pour itself into
the Bay of Bengal. We found no difficulty in fording the river at this
season, when the rains were over. In some places its banks were high and
steep, and here and there were striking views of the country. We met
hosts of carts and natives on horses crossing the river at this point.
After another long day's journey we took refuge at last at the
dhurrum-sala at Aurungabâd. From the verandah of the dhurrum-sala at
this truly picturesque Mohammedan city is a most enchanting view--the
Dhuna River winding away through the plain; the leafy woods, not very
dense, but full of trees noble and stately; the lime-groves in full
blossom sweetly scenting the air, while with pertinacious grace the
full-blown leaves of many creeping vines droop over the verandah to fan
us gently in the evening breeze; in the distance the domes, the tall,
graceful minarets, the shining roofs of mosques and palaces of the
once-famous city of Aurungabâd amid eternally verdant gardens. Gradually
the sun sets on the charming scene, but we still linger and gaze; few
lights are seen, but now and then a rushlight or the glimmer of a fire
prepared for the evening meal.
Twilight is deepening into darkness as we start for a walk, accompanied
by pundit. We see in the distance a tall square tower, dark in color and
crowned with half-ruined battlements, and behind it, far away, the
mighty Dowlutabâd, grim, silent and watchful, against the dusky sky.
Some strangely weird-looking figures of priests and fakeers are
returning from a mosque adjoining, and here and there a bright star
shines softly upon the tombs of the dead Mohammedans buried on the
summit of the far-off Piphlaghaut.
Dowlutabâd, "the abode of fortune," with the fickleness of the goddess
after whom it was named, fluctuated between the Mohgul conquerors of the
Deccan, the Rajpoots and Mahratta kings, for several centuries, till
finally it passed into the possession of the East India Company. We
obtained permission from the governor of the fort to visit this
remarkable fortress, which is built on a rocky hill, an isolated,
prodigious block of stone, with a perpendicular scarp of nearly a
hundred and fifty feet all round it. The summit is pointed like a cone,
and capped with a curious old tower, on which is mounted a heavy brass
gun. The only means of ascending the fort of Dowlutabâd is through a
narrow passage hewn out of the rock and leading to a large subterranean
chamber, whence a gallery, also excavated out of the heart of the hill,
leads to the top. After traversing this gallery the road passes by the
khilladar's (or governor's) house, a handsome building with an arched
verandah. The fortress is protected by a fosse and a circular wall
winding round the hill to the very summit; the lowest part of the wall
is made to enclose the little native town lying at its base, now
deserted and fast crumbling away. The view from the summit is very
inspiring; we could see the country around, far and near, though there
was a slight haze on the distant horizon.
The revenues of the Soubah, or district of Dowlutabâd, including that of
Ahmed Nuggur, is said to have yielded the emperor Aurungzebe the sum of
two hundred and fifty-nine laks of rupees. In 1758 this fortress fell
for a short time into the hands of the French, but by the recall of M.
Bussy it was once more captured by the Mohgul rulers of the Deccan. The
Nizam's flag, that once floated so proudly over its summit, is now
supplanted by that ever-aggressive standard, the union jack.
Aurungabâd, on the left bank of the Dhuna River, is one of the most
disappointing of the old Mohgul cities, and is fast crumbling to decay.
It was once the centre of Mohgul power in the Deccan. Aurungzebe removed
his capital from Dehli to this spot, whence its name the "Golden Seat,"
owing to his chair of state being made of pure gold. The town is
approached through a gateway which looks, like the rest of the place,
old and dilapidated; the streets, however, are broad, and some well
paved. The gardens and reservoirs are numerous, but the whole atmosphere
of the town is strangely depressing. The groups of grave-looking
Mohammedans pirs, or holy men, naked, filthy fakeers, and porters, who
parade the streets, make it seem odd and grotesque, but do very little
toward enlivening the town itself. It is surrounded by a wall flanked
with towers at regular distances. The minarets, mosques, and some of the
dwellings are still possessed of much architectual beauty. Among its
most famous manufactures are fine kinkaubs, or gold- and silver-wrought
silks, and dried fruits, which are sent to Bombay and other parts of
India for sale.
The palace of Aurungzebe stands on the south of the Dhuna River, and is
only remarkable for its extent. It is full of dark chambers, narrow
passages, stained ceilings and floors, that might once have been
beautiful, but which now have an unwholsome look of mould and decay.
Having devoted an entire day to Aurungabâd, we rode out on the following
morning to Rowzah, "the city or garden of tombs," but most celebrated as
the last resting-place of Aurungzebe. The town of Rowzah itself is a
charming spot. It stands on the brow of a gentle hill, and the views
from every part of it are very fine. There was an air of bustle and
activity too among the people, and elaborate culture was everywhere
manifest throughout its immediate neighborhood. Temples, mosques, holy
places, groves, and gardens for the dead abound here, and the shops
seemed well stocked. We had a beefsteak[73] for lunch, cooked in a
Mohammedan "khanadhar," or restaurant. The houses are well built and
extremely picturesque with their low projecting balconies. Many of the
buildings are furnished with open courtyards in front. Sometimes a high
wall encloses, as at Aurungabâd, a group of buildings, the dwelling of
some wealthy Mohammedan merchant with his hareem. Groups of well-dressed
Musulmans, with here and there a Mahratta or a Hindoo, were passing to
and fro exchanging graceful salutations; water-carriers, porters, and
venders of fruit and cloth jostled one another in the streets; and from
the balconies there peeped out at us now and then coquettish-looking
young girls brilliantly attired, with here and there a face that
displayed great beauty.
Finally, we came to the famous Mohammedan cemetery. Here we paused a
while at the tomb of the great Aurungzebe, which lies near that of a
saint called Bhooran Ood Deen. The mausoleum of the latter is more
costly, and is held in even greater veneration, than that of the Mohgul
emperor. It was covered with a handsome green velvet mantle, lamps were
burning within, musicians were beating their drums outside, and pirs, or
holy men, were standing around the tomb and reciting prayers for the
dead and prostrating themselves at certain intervals.
Outside the walls of the city of Aurungabâd is the object best worth
seeing, the tomb of the loving and faithful Rahbea Dhoorane, the
favorite wife of Aurungzebe, though, at best, it is a poor copy of the
famous Taj-Mahal at Agra. Arriving at the farthest edge of a wide path,
the spires of the mausoleum rise before one amid a wide area of rich
dark foliage. It stands alone and immediately behind the wall that
separates it from the old palace of Aurungzebe. The approach is through
a gateway. In front is a canal with a number of fountains at play. At
the end of the avenue is the mausoleum itself. The windows are of very
exquisite workmanship, reminding one of Rahbea herself. The tomb is
quite low and unpretending, lying in the centre of the building, and one
has to descend a number of steps to look upon it. It is enclosed by a
light and elegant marble screen, fancifully chiselled, looking like
lacework. On the tomb itself is laid a covering of scarlet velvet. The
minarets at each of the corners are also full of beauty. To the left we
pass through a fine Gothic arch gracefully carved, and enter a noble
hall supported by fluted pillars and with handsome etchings along the
walls and ceilings. It is now used for the assemblies of Mohammedan
priests and bishops, who meet here from different parts of the country
twice every year to discuss matters bearing chiefly on the religious
disputes that arise among themselves.
[Illustration: TOMB OF RAHBEA DHOORANE, AT AURUNGABAD.]
Above even the last resting-place of the dead queen, and far beyond all
the other features of interest in this mausoleum, is a little unique
chamber that stands apart, surrounded with fragrant orange and sweet
lime trees and clustering blossoms of rare tropical flowers. It is the
loveliest retreat that the heart of man could have devised, and is still
touched with the lingering romance of Rahbea's love for and power over
the proud Aurungzebe; for here he often sought the beautiful queen for
purposes of quiet meditation or relaxation from the cares of state, and
here, if we may believe all the reports, Rahbea often knelt for hours
before her husband pleading for the lives of men and women whom he had
doomed to death. Amid all the cruelty, avarice, and bloodshed that
stained the life of Aurungzebe, the tender picture which this little
chamber conjures up is pure and refreshing.
Mohammedan priests and pirs, or saints, are in constant attendance upon
this tomb. Morning services are held here every Monday. Fahtiahs, or
prayers, are offered for the dead queen and all other dead souls,
portions of the Koran are read or chanted, and lamps are kept burning on
especial festal nights. As we were leaving the place a number of
Mohammedans entered the tomb to pray, and one of the pirs informed me
that certain cures and miracles are yearly effected by the prayers
offered up to the dead queen.
We went to see the Friday "prayer-meeting" in the finest mosque of this
once-princely Mohammedan city. The Jummah Musjid, as the great mosque is
called, is a quiet, unpretending structure. From a distance it is
imposing, rather from the insignificance of the buildings in its
vicinity than from any architectural claims of its own. But the interior
is both simple and grand: the roof is exquisitely arched, and upheld by
pillars of elegant design and workmanship. At the extreme end there is a
raised platform whence the _moolah_[74] prays with his face turned
toward Mecca, and behind this pulpit were hung heavy kinkaub curtains of
native manufacture. The mosque was well filled, and the sight was both
solemn and inspiring. More than a thousand men (with a few women sitting
veiled and apart), all clad in flowing white robes, brilliant
_cumberbunds_, and variegated turbans, rose, knelt, folded their hands
and prostrated themselves simultaneously. The earnest voice of the
_moolah_, the deep responses of the assembled congregation, their
expressions of devotion and self-abasement, were sufficient to bring
Christian and pagan into sympathy.
We rode next morning to the gardens and tomb of Shah Safid, "the pure
saint." The rose, the jessamine, and the _mohgre_[75] bloomed here in
great profusion; we noticed some beautiful birds hovering among the
cypress and other trees, and we passed two splendid reservoirs full of
fish, and enjoyed the quiet of this resting-place of the great friend
and spiritual adviser of Aurungzebe. The mausoleum itself is a simple
structure, without any architectural adornments. We did not see any of
the descendants of this famous Mohammedan saint, but some holy men who
did the honors of the gardens showed us all that was worth seeing, and
the cemetery was a very bright, cheerful place in the morning sun.
There are four great eras in the history of India--the early dominion of
the Brahmans, the Turk and Moslem invasion, then that of the Mohguls,
and finally the rise of British sovereignty in Hindostan. Before
introducing the reader to the peculiar rites and ceremonies of the
Mohammedans of Hindostan, I have thought that the most important events
of Mohgul invasion and occupation of India would not be out of place
here.
It was about the beginning of the seventh century A. D. that first the
Turks, and then the Afghans, obtained by means of their superior
military discipline easy conquests over the Rajpoot chieftains. India
was at this time in a most prosperous and happy condition, governed
chiefly by the Brahmanic system of village communities. Each village was
in itself a little republic, providing for and administering its own
affairs through officers who were in all respects independent citizens,
subject to none but the jurisdiction of the village itself, save in the
case of war, when they volunteered to aid the Rajpoots in quelling such
disturbances as arose. The Rajpoots, on the other hand, comprised the
nobility and soldier-like chivalry of India. Romantic in their
attachments, tenacious of their honor, devoted in their attentions to
the softer sex,[76] they were ready to engage in deeds of daring and
adventure. But, unhappily, they were divided into clans, each under its
own chief, as among the Scotch Highlanders, which not infrequently were
disturbed by internal feuds. They were easily subdued, one clan after
another being dispersed or destroyed, until the greater part of
Hindostan fell into the hands of the Moslem conquerors.
The expedition of Sultan Mahmood, undertaken in 1024 A. D., is the one
most famed in Indian story. In the fair park-like province of Guzerat
stood a wonderful Hindoo temple, none other than the famous temple of
Swayan Nath, or "the Self-Existent," as the god was called. This god was
worshipped here under the shape of a gigantic man formed of black stone.
For his ablutions water was brought from the Ganjas, a thousand miles
distant. The priests, devotees, and ascetics of this temple were
numbered by hundreds; one thousand elephants belonged to it and were
maintained for the service of the god. Stationed about the temple in
superb trappings, they added an imposing feature to this shrine on
festal occasions; banners of cloth of gold, standards of
peacock-feathers gemmed with rare jewels, musical instruments of every
kind and shape, with hundreds of hired musicians, formed part of the
daily service here. Nor were these all: the dancing-girls attached to
the temple were composed of the most beautiful women that India could
furnish, and so great was the prestige of this shrine that kings
dedicated their most beautiful daughters to enrich its coffers, in
addition to the revenues of two thousand villages that were ceded to it
by the combined princes of Hindostan.
Sultan Mahmood, who had seated himself on the throne of Delhi, heard
one of the boasts uttered by the priests of this temple, and there and
then vowed its destruction, placed himself at the head of his troops,
and, marching four hundred miles overland through a barren and almost
impassable country, advanced upon the environs of the temple, which were
strongly fortified and garrisoned by Rajpoot soldiers. Twice the priests
and soldiers of Swayan Nath beat back the Moslems, but in the third
onslaught the latter bore down everything before them. In vain the
Brahman priests implored them to spare the idol, offering the conqueror
large sums of money for its ransom. Mahmood, regardless of their prayers
and offers, gave the signal for its destruction. In an instant the huge
god of stone was battered to pieces, and out of its hollow sides there
rolled an immense treasure, jewels of inconceivable value. The spoils of
this temple alone rendered the Mohguls all but invincible in the East.
After sacking the temple they bore off in triumph its wondrous gates of
sandal-wood inlaid with gold, and at the death of Mahmood, in 1030,
these gates adorned the splendid mausoleum erected over his remains.
Eight hundred years after they were captured by the English troops and
restored to the temple of Swayan Nath by the order of Lord Ellenborough,
then governor-general of India.
The Mohammedan capital in India was established at Delhi by Khottub, who
made himself master of that city, of which he had been governor, about
the year 1215. He was succeeded by Altinash, who, like Khottub, rose to
the state of an emperor from the condition of a slave. The capital was
now permanently fixed at Delhi, and it was in the reign of this king
that the beautiful round tower of Khottub Minar, the highest known
column in the world, was built. It is a minaret of fine red granite
inlaid with white marble and crowned with a magnificent dome. This
Altinash was succeeded by his daughter Rhezeah, a woman of great natural
ability, who administered the affairs of the kingdom with remarkable
wisdom. Dressed as a sultan, she gave audience to her nobles and
officers and heard and redressed the wrongs of her people. Nevertheless,
the authority of these Mohammedan kings over the Rajpoot chiefs was very
uncertain, for at every change in the government, which was very
frequent, the Hindoo princes attempted to recover their independence.
Thus when the Gheiyas Tooklak (or Toghlak) possessed himself of the
throne of Delhi, the greater part of India was in a state of revolt.
Ferozee Shah, crowned emperor in 1351, greatly enriched and beautified
the city of Delhi, built the great canal through the province of Delhi
from the river Jumna to that of Caggar, two hundred miles of which have
been reopened by the British government, thus fertilizing a vast tract
of country which had long been a great desert. It was after the death of
this prince that the Mohgul Timoor Lâng (Tamerlane), who had conquered
Persia, captured and destroyed the city of Delhi. Years after Timoor
Lâng's death one of his descendants, named Baber, once more established
the Mohgul monarchy in India, about the year 1498, when the Portuguese
maritime discoveries began to make an important revolution in the
commercial world.
Baber was succeeded by the great emperor Homayoun, whose remains are
marked by a magnificent tomb near Delhi. Akbar, his son, one of the
wisest of the Mohgul rulers, had the prudence to marry a Hindoo
princess, the daughter of Baharmal, the rajah of Jeypoor in the province
of Rajpootana. He conquered the beautiful kingdom of Cashmere, one of
the most enchanting spots in the world. He built the city and famous
palace of Fettihpoor-Shikri in the province of Agra; his palace of
white marble and a magnificent mosque are still to be seen in excellent
preservation. It was in the reign of Akbar that Christian missionaries
first received a hearing at a Mohammedan court. They were sent to Agra
by the bishop of Goa. On Friday evenings it was also the custom of this
prince to assemble all the learned men around him for the purpose of
holding free discussions, where Mohammedans, Christians, Jews, Brahmans,
and Fire-worshippers gave their opinions and discoursed about the most
interesting themes of the day without restraint or fear. He also
instituted free public schools for Mohammedan and Hindoo children.
Akbar died at Agra in 1605, and over his remains there still stands a
splendid mausoleum of vast dimensions. He was succeeded by his son
Selim, better known under the title which he assumed of Jehan Ghir,
"conqueror of the world." The life and history of this king are the most
romantic in the annals of India.
Noor Jehan, "the Dawn of Life," so well known by the name of Noor Mahal,
or "the Light of the Palace," was the daughter of a poor Persian
adventurer, a noble in his own country, reduced by a series of
misfortunes at home, which led him to seek better fortunes in India,
accompanied by his wife and little daughter. The distressed condition of
the poor father and mother and the beauty of the child attracted the
attention of a rich merchant of Candiesh, whose caravan these Persians
had been following in order to keep themselves from starving. It was
through this merchant's influence that the father of the little Noor
Jehan obtained the subordinate position of gatekeeper at the court of
Akbar. Noor Jehan, who was in the habit of playing round the
palace-gate, attracted the attention of Akbar. Struck with her beauty,
he at once introduced the little maiden to his Rajpootanee wife, with
whom she became a great favorite, and thus the little Noor Jehan became
the playmate and companion of the young prince Selim. A deep attachment
sprang up between the children. But at length, when Noor Jehan attained
the age of womanhood, her father suddenly withdrew her from the court
and consummated a marriage for her with Shere Afkhan, a rich nobleman of
Bengal, and thus removed the beautiful girl from her dangerous royal
lover Selim. Selim was also married about the same time by Akbar to a
foreign princess of Kabool. But the moment his father died, and Selim
had ascended the throne under the name and title of Jehan Ghir, he
determined to obtain the beautiful Noor Jehan for his wife. With this
end in view he wrote to the viceroy of Bengal to seek some pretext to
place Shere Afkhan in confinement that he might the more readily succeed
in his designs. Shere Afkhan, suspecting some treachery on the part of
the viceroy, repaired to his house fully armed, and, as certain hostile
steps confirmed his suspicions, he slew the viceroy as he attempted to
lay hands on him, but the guards in waiting, hearing the cry of their
master, rushed in and despatched Shere Afkhan. That very night the
emissaries of Jehan Ghir carried off Noor Jehan to Delhi.
But Noor Jehan, prisoner as she felt herself at the court of her former
lover, refused to listen to his proposals of marriage until he should
prove himself innocent of her husband's murder. After several years
Jehan Ghir satisfied the beautiful widow that he had never intended
Shere Afkhan's death, but only his temporary imprisonment in order to
obtain her for his queen. Finally, the nuptials of Noor Jehan and Jehan
Ghir were celebrated with splendor. The power and influence exercised by
this beautiful woman at the Mohammedan court was unparalleled in the
history of the Mohguls of India. Her name was associated with that of
Jehan Ghir in the palace, in the council, on the throne, in the
judgment-hall, and even on the coins of the country. Noor Mahal, or "the
Light of the Palace," as she was ever after called, was more or less
influenced by the counsels of her father, who was raised to the office
of grand vizier, and is acknowledged to have been one of the best and
wisest ministers who ever ruled at the court of a Mohammedan king.
Mohabat Khan, a noble in the service of Jehan Ghir, had somehow incurred
the displeasure of Noor Mahal, but being a man of great talents he was
employed to quell a rebellion entered into by Shah Jehan, the eldest son
of Jehan Ghir, to dethrone his father. Having defeated the son and won
him over to his cause, Mohabat Khan took the father prisoner. No sooner
did Noor Mahal hear of the captivity of her husband than she placed
herself at the head of her troops, and, mounted on an elephant,
proceeded to give battle to Mohabat Khan and to rescue her husband. She
was defeated, and fled to the court of Lahore for safety. But Mohabat,
who had resolved to put Noor Mahal to death, extorted from Jehan Ghir a
warrant to that effect, and through letters which he caused Jehan Ghir
to write he induced the unsuspecting and loving wife to join her husband
in captivity. Once in the enemy's camp, she saw that her death was
determined upon. Professing herself willing to submit to her fate, she
pleaded only a last interview with her husband, which Mohabat granted,
but took care to be present himself. On the day appointed for her
execution Noor Mahal quietly entered the presence of her unworthy
husband and her implacable foe. She stood before them in deep silence,
her hands clasped, her veil thrown back, and her beauty shining with an
additional lustre through her flowing tears. Jehan Ghir burst into a
passion of tears, and, throwing himself at the feet of his captor,
pleaded so eloquently for her life that the heart of Mohabat was
subdued. He not only granted her life, but, strange to say, became a
friend to Noor Mahal, and finally restored her and her husband to the
throne of Delhi.
With but few exceptions, however, rebellions, assassinations, treachery,
and misrule marked the reigns of all the Mohammedan emperors of India.
Upon the death of Aurungzebe, the grandson of Jehan Ghir, the empire of
Hindostan was divided by his command between his three sons, which
partition led to a series of most disastrous civil wars, and, happily
for the country, almost terminated the Moslem power in India.
In 1738 the Persian emperor, Nahdir Shah, took Delhi with little effort.
The night of the capture a report was raised that Nahdir Shah had died
suddenly, and the populace rose _en masse_ and massacred over seven
thousand Persian soldiers. On the following day Nahdir Shah gave the
fearful command which almost decimated the population of Delhi, after
which he reinstated the humbled monarch, Mohammed Shah, on the throne,
and returned to Persia, carrying away with him treasure amounting to
seventy million pounds sterling and the celebrated peacock throne of
Shah Jehan. In 1760 the nominal king of Delhi, Alum Shah, became
tributary to the East Indian Company.
The Mohammedans of Hindostan, like those elsewhere, are divided into a
number of sects, all more or less acknowledging the apostleship of
Mohammed, but differing in their estimate of the inspiration of the
Koran and other minor points of doctrine. The Sunnis, for instance, hold
that the traditions of the Prophet are of equal authority with the
Koran; they therefore venerate the successors of Mohammed, Abu Bahkr,
Omar, Usman, and Ali, as divinely-appointed Khalifahs or teachers; the
Arabs, Turks, Afghans, and the Rohillas of India more or less belong to
the Sunni sect. These undertake long pilgrimages to Mekka, and are very
tenacious on points of doctrine, often putting to death the heterodox of
their own religion. The Shiahs, another very powerful sect of
Mohammedans, wholly reject the "Sunnahs," or traditions, and with them
the four successors of the Prophet. They perform pilgrimages, not to
Mecca or Medinah, but to the tomb of Husain at Kaibelah. The Koran is
their only guide. The Shiahs are found in the vicinity of Cabool, Oude,
and parts of Bundelcund.
The "Hanifi," as another sect of Mohammedans is called, are the
disciples of Abu Hanifah, an Arabic theologian of great renown who
flourished about the year 80 of the Hejira. He denied predestination as
unworthy of a divine and merciful Creator, and declared fate to be
nothing more or less than the free will of the individual. He was thrown
into prison for his bold utterances, and died there. Years after, Maluk
Shah Seljuki erected a splendid mausoleum to his memory in Bagdâd, to
which spot his followers in Hindostan make special pilgrimages.
The Shaffids, again, are quite a distinct sect, so called from their
leader Shaffid Abu Abdullah, another celebrated Arabic divine. He was
born in the city of Gaza in Palestine in the year 150 of the Hejira, but
educated in Persia, where he composed most of his works on theology and
jurisprudence. Some of his precepts are still taught in the Shaffid
Mohammedan schools. This sect is scattered over the province of
Najapatam and in the city of Nagpoore.
The Maliki, still another of the Mohammedan denominations, follow the
teachings of one Malik Ibn Aus, a man of some learning, but whose works
are filled with astrology and mysticism. Many of his followers are to be
found among the mendicants and fakeers of Hindostan.
The Hanbhali sect are not very numerous, but are said to be extremely
dogmatic in their own belief. They adhere to the precepts of the priest
after whom they are called, and deny the divine origin of the Koran,
holding only such maxims contained in it as are based on pure morality
and monotheism. These comprise the most advanced and enlightened schools
of Mohammedans to be found in India to-day.
Last, but not least, are the Suffis, a refined, learned, and mystical
sect of Mohammedans. They are divided among themselves on doctrinal
points: some are pure rationalists, others materialists, and yet others
again pantheists; the latter promulgate theories about the soul that are
in form and idea similar to those of the high-caste and educated
Brahmans.
Such are the most important sects to be found among the Mohammedans of
Hindostan. Their intermixture with the Hindoos has produced a number of
minor sects and classes of Musulmans, as well as a very marked change in
their manners and customs. The Hindoos seem to have very greatly
influenced the Mohammedans. The feeling of caste and defilement and
other Hindoo restrictions have gradually assumed more and more
importance in the Moslem mind in India. An Indian Mohammedan is hemmed
about with endless observances reaching down even to preserving the
sanctity of his pots and pans, as with the Brahmans. A Mohammedan will
as religiously guard his "lota," or drinking-vessel, from defilement as
if he were a high-caste Brahman, and superstition attaches to all his
surroundings and habiliments and actions--to his earrings, which are
worn as a charm, his sandals, his _topi_, or turban, his beard, and
even his toe- and finger-nails, which can only be pared on certain days
of the waxing moon. Thus it will be seen that the Mohammedan on Indian
soil differs very greatly in his habits and feelings from the Mohammedan
of Persia and Arabia. As the early Aryan accommodated himself to the
deities and superstitions of the aboriginals, so the Mohammedan has
greatly conformed to customs, manners, and superstitions indigenous
almost to the soil of India.
This social fusion is especially perceptible in the condition of the
women of Hindostan. The Hindoo woman has gradually borrowed the
seclusion of the zenana from her aristocratic Mohammedan sister (the
hareem and the zenana are but different names for one and the same
thing), while the latter in her turn has adopted many of the rules and
endless ceremonies of the Hindoos. Thus, for instance, marriage among
the Mohammedans must be contracted very early, and solemnized when the
youth is eighteen and the maiden thirteen. The courtship is always
carried on by some elderly females, who are instructed to find out and
report the charms of such young people among whose parents matrimonial
connections are deemed desirable. This done, the astrologer, who is very
often a Brahman, is consulted; he examines the horoscope of the young
couple and decides whether the marriage will be auspicious and when it
shall take place, etc. After this comes the betrothal, consisting of no
less than six different ceremonies: First, a present of betel-leaves to
the relatives of the young girl is given by the future bridegroom; these
leaves are often folded in fine gold tissue-paper and stuck with cloves;
each clove must be perfect, with the little blossom attached to the end
of it. The second is called "sweet solicitations." The young man
repairs to the young girl's house with attendants carrying presents, and
in returning to his own bears back with him large presents of
sweetmeats. This is followed by an important ceremony called "treading
the threshold." At dawn the young man stands before the door of the
young girl's home, repeats a prayer, and boldly crosses the threshold;
here the mother embraces him, ties a colored handkerchief around his
neck, puts a gold ring provided for the occasion on his finger, and
fills his palms with money--signs of her cordial acceptance of him as a
future son. This is followed by a three days' visit to the future
bride's home; on each day he partakes of a meal every dish of which is
some kind of sweetmeat; on the fourth day he joins the family at their
ordinary meal, where the ceremony of sharing the salt takes place. The
young woman, closely veiled, is seated by her lover; at the opening of
the meal he takes some salt on his platter and transfers a part of it to
her plate, and she does the same; this little act renders the marriage
contract sacred. The day previous to the wedding is spent in
purification, bathing, and anointing of the bride and bridegroom at
their respective homes. The ceremonies are much like those of the
Brahmans. The person of the young girl is rubbed over with a compound of
grain, flour, turmeric, ashes of rose-leaves, and fragrant gums mixed
into a paste with sweet oil. This preparation is laid on the person of
the young woman, and left to dry for an hour or two, after which she is
bathed with seven waters, four hot and three cold. This done, her
fingers, toes, tips of her ears, and all the joints of her body are
anointed with a mixture of sandal-wood powder, ashes of burnt rose-buds,
and sweet oil, after which she is sprinkled with rose-water, and
conveyed, all closely veiled, to the mosque, where she repeats seven
Kalimahs for herself and her future husband. On this day a procession
in order to exchange wedding-garments from one to the other takes place.
The marriage ceremony is always performed in the evening. I was present
at the marriage of the daughter of a moolah (or Mohammedan bishop) named
Allih Bashka Deen, and the ceremony derived its chief attraction from
the gentle loveliness of the bride and the beauty of her dress. She wore
a purple silk petticoat embossed with a rich border of scattered bunches
of flowers, each flower formed of various gems, while the leaves and
stems were of embroidered gold and silk threads. Her boddice was of the
same material as the petticoat; the entire vest was marked with circular
rows of pearls and rubies. Her hair was parted in Greek style and
confined at the back in a graceful knot bound by a fillet of gold; on
her brow rested a beautiful flashing star of diamonds. On her ears,
neck, arms, breast, and waist were a profusion of ornaments. Her
slippers, adorned with gold and seed pearls, were open at the heels,
showing her henna-tinted feet, and curved up in front toward the instep,
while from her head flowed a delicate kinkaub scarf woven from gold
threads of the finest texture and of a transparent, dazzling,
sunbeam-like appearance. This was folded gracefully about her person and
veiled her eyes and nose, leaving only her mouth and chin visible.
While the guests, relatives, and friends of the bride were all assembled
at the bishop's house the bridegroom had started off to perform what is
called the "shaba ghash," or nocturnal visit. Gayly dressed, handsomely
mounted, the young Akbar Khanibni Ahbad, attended by his nearest
relatives and friends and accompanied by a host of musicians, rode to
the mosque at Kirki, where he offered up three distinct prayers--one for
the future wife, one for himself, and one for the happiness and success
of all his undertakings, especially the one he was about to consummate.
This done, he and his friends mounted and approached the house of the
bride. The moment the cavalcade of the bridegroom appeared in sight a
number of well-dressed young Mohammedans rushed to the gate of the
courtyard, and with loud shouts most violently opposed his entrance,
whereupon he scattered money in handfuls among them, which was the
signal for them to give way. Here the youth dismounted, but was not
permitted to walk into the house, for a stalwart-looking man took him up
in his arms and attempted to rush in with him; here again he was once
more resisted by another party of friends and relatives, till he again
scattered a handful of gold coins among them, thus carrying out the
Oriental saying: "He lined the path to his love with golden flowers."
After this no further opposition was made. The bride and bridegroom,
both veiled, the latter with two coverings over his face, took their
places in the centre of the room, and every one stood up. The khazi, or
judge, then stepped forward, and, having removed the double veil from
the bridegroom's face, began the ceremony. The young man repeated after
him certain prayers--one deprecating his own merits and attractions in
comparison with those of the bride--after which came long repetitions
from the Koran treating of fervor, love, and devotion, followed by
repetitions of the Mohammedan creed and a general thanksgiving. At this
point all the assembly prostrated themselves, the khazi joined the hands
of the bride and bridegroom, the latter repeated word for word the
marriage-vows, and the whole was concluded with a benediction, after
which the bride, still veiled, was carried to the bridegroom's house,
and he followed in her train, accompanied with music, beating of drums,
and loud shouts of joy from his attendants and followers.
On the birth of a child, if it happens to be a male, all the female
attendants utter loud shouts of joy. The mother is kept on very simple
diet, and obliged to drink water made hot by a heated horseshoe being
plunged into it; this has the power of guarding against internal devils,
who are supposed to be very active on such occasions, lying in wait for
mother and child. The moolah is then ushered into the chamber: he takes
the child in his arms and repeats in his right ear the Mohammedan
summons to prayer, and in his left the creed. A fakeer is then
introduced: he dips his finger in some honey and puts it into the
child's mouth before it has tasted any of its mother's milk, which is to
ensure it all the luxuries of life. After these have retired an
astrologer casts the horoscope of the child, and there and then predicts
its future, which, good or bad, is accepted as fate and without a
murmur. Meanwhile, the nearest relatives assemble around the father and
dress his hair with blades of grass--a Hindoo observance, grass
typifying the fragility of human life and affections--and he in turn
makes them presents according to his circumstances.
The naming of the child takes place on the eighth day after birth. If a
son, it is named after the father's clan or tribe; if a daughter, after
the mother's side of the family. The choice of the child's name depends
on the day of its birth and the appearance of the planet under whose
influence it is supposed to be born, as much as on the parentage. The
mother remains apart from the household till the fortieth day after
childbirth; then she is bathed, fumigated, and purified, and so prepared
to enter the mosque, where she offers up thanks for her safe deliverance
from the perils of childbirth, and either reads or has portions of the
Koran read to her, offering a sacrifice of two goats for a son and one
for a daughter.
On the same day, in the afternoon, another ceremony is held--that of
shaving the hair of the child. A priest and a barber attend to this
rite; prayers are offered, water is sprinkled over the head of the
child, and the hair shaved off is carried in procession to the water's
edge, and then launched on a little raft to float down the river. By
this ceremony all evil is guarded from the infancy and childhood of
Mohammedan children. Very often sacred locks are left on the top of the
heads of Mohammedan children, like those of the Brahmans, and these
locks are consecrated to some saint or noble ancestor.
The other ceremony worthy of notice here is that attending the death and
burial of the Mohammedans in India. When a Mohammedan is thought to be
dying a priest is sent for, who prays before the family, then repairs to
the sick chamber, where he exhorts the dying man to attend to the
welfare of his soul, and proceeds to read the chapter on future life,
rewards, and punishments, and the two most important creeds--faith in
God and in Mohammed as his prophet. After death the body is placed on a
bier and conveyed with great pomp, beating of drums, wailing of women
and near relatives, to the Musulman cemetery, where there are always
tanks and utensils for bathing the dead before interment. Here the body
is carefully washed seven times, and then perfumed with powdered
sandal-wood, camphor, and myrrh. The forehead, hands, knees, and feet of
the dead man are especially rubbed; these parts, having touched the
earth at moments of prayer, are held more sacred than the rest of the
body. The two great toes are then tied together; a shroud or
winding-sheet, prepared by the dead man himself, on which he has caused
to be written from time to time the most beautiful passages from the
Koran, is folded around him very firmly and around each arm. After this
the body is replaced on the bier, every one salutes it, and the bearers
carry it to the grave. Here all the friends and relatives stand in three
rows, and at the head of every row is a priest, who solemnly begins the
chant, consisting chiefly of prayers and confessions for the dead. The
body is at length lowered into the grave with its face toward Mecca, and
each relative, taking a little earth in his hand, repeats the solemn
utterance of their Prophet, made in the name of God and his archangel
Gabriel: "We created you, O man, out of earth, and we return you to the
earth, and we shall raise you up again on the last day," and throws the
earth softly on the bier. The grave is then closed, and fatiahs, or
prayers for the dead, are offered on the spot at stated seasons
throughout the first year.
FOOTNOTES:
[69] So-called from Allahu Deen Hasain Shah Gangu Bahmani, who was the
first Mohammedan king of Deccan, 1347 A. D. He was a native of Delhi and
servant of one of the most learned Brahman astrologers, who was highly
favored by the fierce conqueror Mohammed Tooghlak. Hasain greatly
distinguished himself in battle with the imperial troops in storming
Dowlutabâd. Finally, the emperor Naisirud Deen resigned to him the crown
of Deccan. He very greatly extended his dominions under the advice of
his early master the Brahman astrologer, Ganzu Bood, whom he appointed
as his prime minister.
[70] It was translated from the Sanskrit into Persian verse by the poet
Faizi of Iran, and acted, with all the Indian appendages of dress and
character, at the court of the great Akbar.
[71] Creeks or water-courses, found full to overflowing in many places
during the rainy season, but which often dry up in the hot months.
[72] A free rest-house for travellers.
[73] Beef is never exposed for sale in a Hindoo city.
[74] Mohammedan bishop.
[75] A white rose, scented like a jessamine.
[76] The practice of female infanticide among the Rajpoots may be traced
to the conquest of India by the Turks and Afghans. Too haughty to give
his daughter in marriage to a conqueror and enemy, and unwilling that
she should marry an inferior without a large dowry, the Rajpoot father
got rid of the difficulties of his position by destroying his female
children at the moment of birth.