I greatly enjoyed an article written by fellow Steemian @lalai recently on the Taj Mahal. I thought this article was special, but not because of the beautiful photos of the Taj Mahal, which is certainly a beautiful masterpiece. But because the article spent some time to reveal something which is normally ignored by articles on the Taj Mahal; the woman it was built to house. It is common to speak of the great ruler who built the Taj Mahal and of all his exploits. But in this article we get to see the woman who inspired such great love, that her husband built a monument to her, which has become on of the 7 wonders of the world.
Arjumand Banu Begum, also called Mumtaz Mahal, “the Chosen One” of the Palace.
Arjumand Banu Begum was born 6th April 1594 and was married to Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan). Their marriage took place in April 1612. The marriage of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal proved to be very successful. Arjumand Banu Begam captivated Shah Jahan’s heart even more than Nur Jahan had done to that of Jahangir. Arjumand Banu Begum shared Shah Jahan’s joys and sorrows in full measure and behaved like a devoted wife during her husband’s flight from the Deccan to Orissa, Bengal and Bihar in the course of his rebellion against his father. She bore 14 out of her husband’s 18 children and remained his friend and inseparable companion till her death.<
The Shah Jahan and favorite wife Arjumand Banu Begum
Arjumand Banu Begum, (Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), is said to have been cherished as the favorite of his three queens. In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to the couple’s 14th child. The grieving Shah Jahan, known for commissioning a number of impressive structures throughout his reign, ordered the building of a magnificent mausoleum across the Yamuna River from his own royal palace at Agra.
References and Photo Credits
The article by @lalai ➡️https://steemit.com/india/@lalai/india-taj-mahal-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-world
