Zainabadi Mahal

Zainabadi Mahal (Persian: زين آباد محل‎; died c. 1654; meaning "Lady from Zainabad") also known as Hira Bai, was a young Christian slave-girl in the keeping of Mir Khalil, who had married a sister of Aurangzeb's mother, Mumtaz Mahal. Hirabai first met Aurangzeb in 1653 and became a favourite concubine of his. Her sweet voice and unparalleled beauty charmed Aurangzeb to a very great extent. Hirabai died less than a year after she met Aurangzeb probably in 1654 which ended their short affair.

Zainabadi Mahal
زين آباد محل
Born
Hira Bai
Zainabad, Burhanpur
Diedc. 1654
Aurangabad, India
Burial placeAurangabad

Life with Aurangzeb

During his vice royalty of the Deccan, the Prince paid a visit to his aunt at Burhanpur. Mir Khalil, (successively surnamed Muftakhar Khan, Sipahdar Khan, and Khan-i-Zaman), a son-in-law of Asaf Khan, was sent to the Deccan as Chief of the Artillery in the 23rd year of Shah Jahan, 1649—50. In 1653, he became commandant of Dharur. It was only in Aurangzeb's reign that he became subahdar of Khandesh. Zainabadi, who was beloved by Aurangzeb before his accession, had been, it is said, in the Khan's harem as his concubine. One day the prince went with the ladies of his harem to the garden of Zainabad Burhanpur, named Ahu-khanah [Deer Park] and began to stroll with his chosen beloved ones. Zainabadi, whose musical skill ravished the senses, and who was unique in blandishments, having come in the train of Khan-i-Zaman's wife (the prince's maternal aunt), on seeing a fruit-laden mango-tree, in mirth and amorous play advanced, leaped up and plucked a fruit, without paying due respect to the prince's presence.

This move of hers robbed the prince of his senses and self-control. With shameful importunity he procured her from his aunt's house, and became infatuated and given up to her, in spite of all his severe continence and temperance and pure training in theology. The story goes that one day she offered him a cup of wine and requested him to drink it. All his professions of reluctance and entreaty were disregarded. Then the poor prince was (at last) about to drink it, when that sly enchantress snatched away the cup (from his hand) and said "My purpose was to test your love and not to embitter your mouth with this wicked and unlucky liquor!" This love-affair proceeded to such lengths as to reach Shah Jahan's ears. Dara Shikoh, who loved not Aurangzeb, made capital of this incident to slander his brother to the Emperor, saying, "See the piety and abstinence of this hypocritical knave! He has gone to the dogs for the sake of a wench of his aunt's household." By chance the rose of her life withered in its very spring time, and left the prince seared with the brand of eternal separation. She is buried at Aurangabad close to the big tank. On the day of her death the prince became very unwell; in extreme agitation he rode out to hunt.[1][2]

References
  1. Love-affair with Zainabadi
  2. The last mughal warrior in love. ISBN 9788192982762.
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