This day in 1631 saw the death of Mumtaz Mahal, beloved wife of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. She died of postpartum hemorrhage while giving birth to her 14th child, after a prolonged labor of around 30 hours. She had been accompanying her husband while he was fighting a campaign in the Deccan Plateau. The Taj Mahal in Agra, often cited as one of the Wonders of the World, was commissioned by her husband to act as her tomb.
Mumtaz was remarkable in the field of learning and was a talented and cultured lady. She was well-versed in Arabic and Persian, and could compose poems in the latter. She was reputed to have a combination of modesty and candor, a woman warmly straightforward yet bemusedly self-possessed. Early in adolescence, she attracted the attention of important nobles of the realm. Jahangir must have heard about her, since he readily consented to Shah Jahan’s engagement with her.
Mumtaz Mahal was betrothed to Shah Jahan around 5 April 1607, when she was 14 years old and he was 15. They were, however, married five years after their betrothal on 10 May 1612 or 7 June 1612 in Agra. After their wedding celebrations, Shah Jahan, “finding her in appearance and character elect among all the women of the time”, gave her the title Mumtaz Mahal. ‘the exalted one of the Palace).
Mumtaz had a loving marriage with Shah Jahan. Even during her lifetime, poets would extol her beauty, grace, and compassion. Despite her frequent pregnancies, Mumtaz travelled with Shah Jahan’s entourage throughout his earlier military campaigns and the subsequent rebellion against his father. She was his constant companion and trusted confidant, leading court historians to go to unheard lengths to document the intimate and erotic relationship the couple enjoyed. In their 19 years of marriage, they had 14 children together.
Shah Jahan consulted Mumtaz in both private matters and the affairs of the state, and she served as his close confidant and trusted adviser and because of this, she had enormous political power. Like her predecessor and aunt Nur Jahan, Mumtaz sat next to the emperor in the Hall of Private Audience and Hall of Public Audience. She was hidden behind a curtain; if she did not agree with something, she would place her hand on his back, out of sight. At her intercession, he forgave enemies or commuted death sentences.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jahan to be built as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. It is seen as an embodiment of undying love and marital devotion. English poet Sir Edwin Arnold describes it as “Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.”
BADA BING!
My granddaughter asked me, “Grampa, today I watched someone do 50 pushups – do you think you could do that?” I said, “Of course, sweetheart. Don’t want to brag, but I could probably watch someone do 100 pushups.”
Bacon and eggs walk into a bar together. The bartender says, “Sorry, we don’t serve breakfast here.”
The police have spent hours questioning the egg. I think it’s about to crack.
I expect the people who have guns to defend themselves from a tyrannical government will be keeping the people of Los Angeles safe. Unless they were lying this whole time.
“Sorry I’m late”, I said as I got home from work. “Some guy lost a $50 dollar bill at the grocery store.” “Were you helping him look for it?”, asked my wife. “No, I was standing on it”.
The wheels came off their bromance so fast you’d think it was a Cybertruck.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching America’s two worst human beings finally turn on each other.
Never leave home without a kiss, a hug, and an “I love you.” Then remove the pet hair from your mouth as you walk to the car.
Welcome to your senior years – Where life is a delicate balance between trying to stay awake and trying to fall asleep.
It sickens me to hear Spanish being spoken on the streets of Los Angeles, San Diego, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Santa Ana, San Jose, Santa Barbera, San Bernadino, El Cerrito, La Miranda, and San Luis Obispo.
Leftover Fathers’ Day stuff…
Today is the birthday, in 1952, of Austin, Texas-based drummer Mike Buck who was a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds who had two hit songs in the 1980s, ‘Tuff Enuff’ and ‘Wrap It Up.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXT1clXc04
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