     
Emperor Akbar Temple
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Emperor Akbar Temple
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Life of Akbar the Great (born 1542, ruled from 1556 to 1605)
In 1556, the third Great Moghul, Emperor Akbar, began a wise and enlightened rule, legendary for its tolerance. After an unbroken string of military victories, he built an exquisite new capital, Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra in north-west India.
There, Akbar conferred with representatives of all the major religions of his vast empire. He combined the highest truths of each to form a new religion suitable for all, named the Divine Faith. Alas, this proved to be too great a task for even Akbar the Great, and he died without realizing his fond dream.
But his greatness passed down to his highly cultivated grandson, Shah Jahan, whose love for his wife, Arjomand, inspired the construction of the most ethereally beautiful of all edifices: The Taj Mahal.
Akbar
(1542-1605), third Mughal emperor of India (1556-1605), generally considered
the true founder of the Mughal Empire. The son of Emperor Humayun, he was
born in Umarkot, Sind (now in Pakistan), and succeeded to the throne at
the age of 13. He first ruled under a regent, Bairam Khan, who recaptured
for the young emperor much of the territory usurped at the death of his
father. In 1560, however, Akbar took the government into his own hands.
Realizing that Hindu acceptance and cooperation were essential to the successful
rule of any Indian empire worthy of that name, he won the allegiance of
the Rajputs, the most belligerent Hindus, by a shrewd blend of tolerance,
generosity, and force; he himself married two Rajput princesses. Having
thus secured the Hindus, he further enlarged his realm by conquest until
it extended from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal and from the Himalayas
to the Godavari River. Akbar's supreme achievement, however, was the establishment
of an efficient administrative system that held the empire together and
stimulated trade and economic development. Almost as notable was his promulgation
of a new religion, the Dini-Ilahi (Divine Faith), a blend of Islam, Brahmanism,
Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. Although this attempt failed, Akbar surrounded
himself with learned men of all faiths and, although illiterate himself,
made his court a center of arts and letters.
"Akbar," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Agni Yoga on Akbar (from "On the Eastern Crossroads")
From the Life of Emperor Akbar
THE SILVERY MESSENGER
BENEATH
a tree Akbar beheld a vision. To him suddenly appeared a Silvery Messenger
and said, "For the first time and the last time thou here beholdest Me,
as if I never appeared. Thou shalt build a Kingdom and in it ~ future Temple.
And as a Ruler thou shalt traverse the field of life, bearing within thy
spirit the future Temple. "Verily, long Last thou traveled the path of
God. It is need to end the earthly way. Thou shalt not hear My Voice. Nor
shalt thou see My Light. And thou shalt guard thy readiness to walk the
way of God. "But when shall approach the hour to unbar the next Gates,
thy wife, ordained to thee by God, shall hear My Knock and shall say, 'He
is at the Gates.'
"But thou shalt see Me only on the crossing of the border. And when thy wife shall enter the final way she shall behold thee in My image. And thou, be a king on earth, and thereafter the landlord. And when thou endest thy earthly way encircle the fields of thy garden. Each departing one shall leave no crumbs upon the festal board. Traverse each overgrown path and remember: the nearer, the further. First in storm then in gale, then in silence! " Then the Messenger became illumined with a silvery glow and the leaves upon the trees became translucent as rainbows. And thereafter the air trembled. Then all became as before. Akbar saw nothing ever again. When the hour of liberation arrived, he and his wife rejoiced that another date approached. And the ordained date. For there exists no tomb.
THE HELP OF HEAVEN
THE Ruler was convinced that at each difficult hour the help of heaven would come to him. Time came to declare war against the Princes of Golconda and the Ruler was perplexed over his decision. As the eye of the Ruler wandered over the floor he saw an ant bearing a great load. And the ant endured it long. Finally Akbar exclaimed, "Why should one beset himself with the burden of Golconda!" And he gave his command to cease preparations or the march.
# # #
Another time the Ruler attended a Court and wished to take part in pronouncing verdict. But his attention was drawn to the trembling of a butterfly which beat its wings against the window. And he forgot the word that he had crystallized and thought, "Let the judges fulfil their duty," remarking aloud, "To-day I am only a guest here." And the verdict was justly merciful.
# # #
Enemies made attempts against die life of Akbar. An assassin stood ready behind a tree in the garden where the Ruler was walking alone. A black serpent crawled across the path and the Ruler turned back to summon his servants. Seeking for the serpent they discovered the assassin behind the tree. Then the Ruler said, "The help of heaven crawls over the earth. Let only the eye and ear be open.
THE COMMANDERS
OF the two commanders of Akbar: One commander received most explicit indications; the other only the most fragmentary ones. Finally the latter addressed Akbar, saying, "Why have I not deserved explicit commands when I gathered so many victories?" Akbar replied, "Your understanding restrained the flow of words. Let each moment saved by you be commemorated with the most precious pearl." Therefore, surpassing is the joy of those who can understand, saving the draught of the source. Let us add about the third commander. He asked, "Why are tardiness and prematurity equally condemned?" Akbar replied, "My friend, there are no equal values. Hence, if prematurity comprises resourcefulness, its merit is greater because tardiness is linked only with death. Prematurity is to be adjudged; but tardiness is already condemned." Surrounded and threatened, Akbar addressed his commanders: "The less agitated is the substance, the more clear is the reflection of the sum After inspecting his army, Akbar said: "A fourth part is already achieved. I have seen satisfied people. The rest we shall see after a day of heat, after a day of rain, after a sleepless night."
ENEMIES
AKBAR, called Great, regarded his enemies with care. His beloved councilor kept a list of enemies. Akbar often inquired, "Has not some worthy name found its way to the list? When I see a worthy name I shall send my greeting to a friend in disguise." And Akbar further said, "I rejoice that I could apply the sacred Teaching in life, that I could give to people of plenty, and that I was shaded by great enemies. Thus spoke Akbar, knowing During the assaults of his enemies Akbar was asked why there were so many attacks. Akbar replied, "Allow to the enemies also a moment of occupation."
INVISIBLY VISIBLE
THE Court Historian of Akbar once said to the Ruler, Among potentates I observe an insoluble problem. Certain rulers held themselves unapproachable, aloof from the people. These were deposed because of their futility. Others entered into the daily lives. People became used to them and deposed them for being commonplace." Akbar smiled. "That means that a Ruler must remain unseen, but entering and directing all actions." Thus ordained the wise Ruler, foretelling thereby the future. Invisibly visible!
Portrait of Akbar
Manohar
16th century
Paper, watercolour, gouache
This portrait represents the Mongolian ruler,
Padishah Akbar (reign 1556-1605). Created by Manohar, a renowned
artist of the Mongolian school, the work is remarkable
for its exquisite linear drawing and combination of warm colours.
Akbar with his Hindu wife Jodhbai
