Mumtaz Mahal Arjumand Banu a shopkeeper was sitting
at her shop in Meena Bazar, the private market attached to the harem, when Prince
Khurram saw her for the first time.
He saw a piece of glass at her shop
and asked for it's worth she replied that it is a diamond and not glass.
The prince picked up the piece of glass and gave her rupees ten thousand (an amount
she boldly said that he could not afford).
Next day the prince went
to emperor Shah Jahan to seek his permission to marry Arjumaand Banu. Emperor
Jahangir gave the permission at once but it took five years for him to marry his
beloved. Meanwhile he was married to a Persian Princess Quandari Begum due to
some political reasons.
On an auspicious day, 1612 they tied the knot.
It was a grand wedding. It was a perfect match; she was inseparable from Khurram
and even accompanied her when he went to fight wars.
Emperor Jahangir
entitled Prince Khurram as 'Shah Jahan' And when he became emperor he entitled
his wife as Mumtaz Mahal 'the chosen one of the palace'.
Mumtaz was very
compassionate, generous and demure. She was also involved in administrative work.
She continually interacted on behalf of petitioners and gave allowances to widows.
She is said to have enjoyed the spectacle of man in combat with animals.
In 1630 Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth. Before dieing she extracted a promise
from Shah Jahan that after her death he would build the most beautiful building
of the world as a tribute to their love.
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MORE ABOUT MUMTAZ MAHAL
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Taj Mahal Agra
—› Taj Mahal Location —›
Taj Mahal Story —›
History of Taj Mahal —›
Taj Mahal Architecture —›
Garden of Taj Mahal —›
Mumtaz Mahal —›
Building of Taj Mahal —›
Actual Tomb of Taj Mahal —›
Excursions of Taj Mahal —›
How to Reach Taj Mahal —›
Mosque of Taj Mahal —›
Inside The Taj Mahal —›
Pictures of Taj Mahal
