Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture, Monuments and Important Facts

            Learn about Shah Jahan, his reign, Mughal architecture, Taj Mahal, Red Fort, administrative policies, religious measures and important exam-oriented facts for TNPSC and other competitive exams.

Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

• Full Name = Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan
• Original Name = Prince Khurram
• Dynasty = Mughal Dynasty
• Father = Jahangir
• Mother = Jagat Gosain (Manavati Bai)
• Born = 5 January 1592
• Birthplace = Lahore
• Reign = 1628–1658 CE
• Wife = Mumtaz Mahal
• Capital = Agra; later Shahjahanabad (Delhi)
• Death = 22 January 1666
• Burial Place = Taj Mahal, Agra

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Prince Khurram

• Shah Jahan was born as Prince Khurram.
• He was the third son of Emperor Jahangir.
• His mother was Jagat Gosain, daughter of Raja Udai Singh of Marwar.
• Shah Jahan, meaning “King of the World.”
• Prince Khurram ascended the Mughal throne in 1628.
• His coronation took place at Agra in 1628.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Important Military Campaigns of Shahjahan

• Ahmadnagar was annexed by the Mughals in 1636.
• Mughal pressure forced Bijapur and Golconda to accept Mughal suzerainty in 1636.
• Kandahar became a major point of conflict between the Mughals and Safavids of Persia.
• The Mughal campaigns against Kandahar in 1649, 1652 and 1653 were unsuccessful.

The “Golden Age” of Mughal Architecture

• Shah Jahan’s reign is considered a major period of development in Mughal architecture.

Taj Mahal

• Located at Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna.
• Built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631.
• Construction began shortly after her death.
• It is famous for its white marble architecture, dome, minarets and pietra dura decoration.
• The Taj Mahal is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture.
• Designer of the Taj Mahal = Ismail Khan.
• Architects who built the Taj Mahal = Ustad Ahmad Lahori (Ustad Isa), Isa Muhammad Effendi.
• It took 22 years to complete construction.
• It was built using a workforce of approximately 22,000 people.
• Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity.”
• Shah Jahan described the Taj Mahal as “a tear shed from the eyes of the sun and the moon.”
• Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Red Fort, Delhi

• Construction began in 1638.
• Located in Shahjahanabad, the new imperial city founded by Shah Jahan.
• The fort is constructed mainly of red sandstone.
• It contains famous structures such as the Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas.

Jama Masjid, Delhi

• Built during Shah Jahan’s reign.
• Construction began in 1650 and was completed in 1656.
• It is one of the major surviving monuments of Mughal architecture.
• One of India’s largest congregational mosques, built in red sandstone and white marble.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Moti Masjid, Agra Fort

• Built by Shah Jahan inside the Agra Fort.
• Constructed mainly using white marble.

Shalimar Gardens

• 1641–1642
• Location: Lahore
• Classic ‘Charbagh’-style Mughal garden complex.

Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha Pavilion

• Lahore Fort
• Renowned for intricate mirror-work and ‘pietra dura’ embellishments.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Shahjahanabad

• Shah Jahan shifted the imperial capital from Agra to Delhi.
• He founded the new city of Shahjahanabad in 1639.
• The Red Fort became the principal imperial residence.
• The city developed around the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.

Peacock Throne

• The famous Peacock Throne (Takht-i-Taus) was commissioned by Shah Jahan.
• It was renowned for its elaborate decoration with gold and precious stones.
• It symbolized the wealth and grandeur of the Mughal court.
• Nadir Shah carried the Peacock Throne away to Persia after his invasion of Delhi in 1739.

Shah Jahan’s Imprisonment

• Aurangzeb deposed Shah Jahan in 1658.
• Shah Jahan was confined in the Agra Fort.
• He spent his final years there under Aurangzeb’s custody.
• He died on 22 January 1666.
• He was buried beside Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Shah Jahan’s Children

• Shah Jahan’s sons: Dara Shikoh (Crown Prince), Shah Shuja (Governor of Bengal), Aurangzeb (Governor of the Deccan), and Murad Bakhsh (Governor of Malwa).
• Shah Jahan appointed Aurangzeb as the first Governor of the Deccan.
• Dara Shikoh translated the Upanishads into Persian.
• Dara Shikoh was the most learned among the Mughal emperors.
• Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan’s eldest son) is known as “Little Akbar“
• Shah Jahan’s daughter, Jahanara Begum, is known as “Begum Sahiba.”
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Wars of Succession

• Battle of Bahadurpur = February 1658 Dara Shikoh defeated Prince Shuja.
• Battle of Dharmat = April 1658 Aurangzeb defeated Prince Dara Shikoh. King Jaswant Singh fought in support of Dara Shikoh.
• Battle of Samugarh = May 29, 1658 Dara Shikoh was defeated, and Aurangzeb imprisoned Shah Jahan.
• Battle of Deorai = 1659 Dara Shikoh was defeated; both he and his son, Sulaiman Shikoh, were killed.

Foreigners who chronicled Shah Jahan’s reign

• Foreigner who recorded the War of Succession and events at the Mughal court = François Bernier (French physician)
• Foreigner who recorded details about the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond = Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (French gem merchant)
• Foreigner who recorded the catastrophic famine that struck the Deccan and Gujarat regions between 1630 and 1632 = Peter Mundy (English traveler)
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Shah Jahan – General Notes

• The reign that marked the pinnacle of architecture = The reign of Shah Jahan.
• He conquered Ahmednagar in 1633 AD; following this victory, he assumed the title “Shah Jahan.”
• He captured the city of Hooghly from the Portuguese.
• Shah Jahan shifted the capital back from Agra to Delhi.
• He abolished the “Paibos” (prostration/kissing the feet) custom introduced by Balban.
• Shah Jahan introduced a new method of salutation known as “Chahar Taslim.”
• He commissioned the creation of the “Peacock Throne.”
• L. Srivastava described Shah Jahan’s reign as a “golden period” in medieval Indian history, particularly in the field of art and architecture.
• The Mughal ruler under whose reign the art of painting reached its zenith = Jahangir.
• The Mughal ruler under whose reign architecture reached its peak = Shah Jahan.
• The person who presented the “Koh-i-Noor diamond” to Shah Jahan = Mir Jumla.
• The author of the book “Shah Jahan Nama” = Inayat Khan.
• Aurangzeb seized power after killing his brothers.
• Shah Jahan was imprisoned in Agra Fort, where he eventually died; his daughter, Jahanara Begum, cared for him during his final days.
• Foreigners who visited India during Shah Jahan’s reign = Bernier (physician, France), Tavernier (merchant, France), Manucci (Italy), and Peter Mundy.
• The person who described the famine that occurred during Shah Jahan’s reign = The Italian traveler Peter Mundy.
• Shah Jahan reintroduced the “pilgrimage tax” on Hindus, which Akbar had abolished.
• Shah Jahan revoked the “ban on cow slaughter” that Akbar had implemented.
• He discontinued Akbar’s “Ilahi year” calendar and introduced the “Hijri year” calendar.
• Shah Jahan was the second Indian ruler to wage war against the “Central Asia” region.
• Chandragupta Maurya was the first Indian ruler to wage war against the “Central Asia” region.
• The Indian rulers who governed parts of “Central Asia” were Chandragupta Maurya and Kanishka.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts

Shah Jahan – Important One-Liners for TNPSC

• Shah Jahan’s original name – Prince Khurram.
• Father – Jahangir.
• Mother – Jagat Gosain.
• Shah Jahan ruled – 1628–1658 CE.
• Shah Jahan’s wife – Mumtaz Mahal.
• Taj Mahal – built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
• Taj Mahal is located at – Agra.
• New city founded by Shah Jahan – Shahjahanabad.
• Red Fort, Delhi – associated with Shah Jahan.
• Jama Masjid, Delhi – built by Shah Jahan.
• Peacock Throne – commissioned by Shah Jahan.
• Padshahnama – important chronicle of Shah Jahan’s reign.
• Author of Padshahnama – Abdul Hamid Lahori.
• Shah Jahan was deposed by – Aurangzeb.
• Shah Jahan died – 22 January 1666.
• Shah Jahan’s tomb – Taj Mahal, Agra.
• Battle of Samugarh – 1658, important battle in the Mughal succession struggle.
• Ahmadnagar was annexed during Shah Jahan’s reign – 1636.
• Kandahar was lost permanently to the Safavids – 1649.
• Shah Jahan – Reign, Architecture & Important Facts