Posted on: 16 November 2011

The Chishty order, the oldest Sufi brotherhood in India, founded in the early thirteenth century. In the allegorical painting on the left, from about 1615, the emperor Jahangir visits with the head of the Chisty order, Shaikh Husain Ajmeri, while the Ottoman sultan, King James I of England, and the painter Bichitr wait their turn. A Persian inscription in the painting’s border relates that, although kings stand waiting before him, the emperor turns to religious men for guidance. From 1613–16, Jahangir lived in Ajmer, where he commissioned marble buildings at the Sufi shrine in gratitude to the Chishty Sufis as his father, the emperor Akbar, had done. Ajmer is still the site of the principal Chishty shrine.

In the image on the right, from about 1635, the emperor Shahjahan’s eldest son, Dara-Shikouh (in orange), sits with Sufi master Mian Mir (in white), about whom the prince wrote a biography. In black is Mulla Shah, spiritual adviser to the prince, whose mother is buried in the Taj Mahal.

(left) Detail, Emperor Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings from the St. Petersburg Album; Bichitr; borders by Muhammad Sadiq; India, Mughal dynasty, 1615–18; opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper; purchase, F1942.15a

(right) Detail, Dara-Shikouh with Mian Mir and Mulla Shah (d. 1661); India, Mughal period, ca. 1635; opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper; purchase—Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, S1986.432

Source : Smithsonona Museum


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This miniature on the right interests me a lot. So many details to be studied in one single composition. A allegorical painting by Bichitr. He has included himself at the bottom. The aging Jahangir is seated on a throne inspired by english hour glass. Winged cupids turn away in despair as jahangir spurns wordly monarchs for the company of the sufi mystic. Here jahangir is shown to be preferring a sufi to the Ottoman emperor and King James 1. The carpet in the painting is also interesting. It doesn't have a Indian design. This scene displays tremendous compositional talent.

well said Shubha,,

Shubha Banerji : You meant 'the miniature on the LEFT'... : )

yes u r RIGHT ...I meant LEFT :) a mistake on my part.

The 'hour-glass throne' is indeed very fascinating. An Emperor would need great wisdom and maturity to accept the fact that he would not live forever or that he would not be an Emperor forever...and then to commission such a painting.

Incidentally, Mian Mir (in righ painting) was invited by Guru Arjan Dev to lay the foundation stone of Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The representation of hour glass throne is indeed extraordinary. But the representation may have indicated the potrayal of unusual presents given by the foriegn dignitaries to the emperor. Moreover the large halo around Jahangir's head and the hour glass are two paradoxical elements in this composition.

~ A justly famous illustration ~ for it really is quite remarkable... Interesting to note that the Smithsonian identifies the caucasian fellow on the bottom left as James I ... I have many times seen this figure described as being Sir Thomas Roe (the first English ambassador to the Mughal court etc and so on)... but if, as is suggested above, the painting is allegorical , then James I certainly makes a lot more sense.

Julian is right. The Englishman shown in the picture at the left is Sir Thomas Roe, the Ambassador to the 'Mogol Court' from Britain, who had an audience with Jahangir in Ajmer. It is definitely not the King of England. Mian Mir, the saint whose disciple Prince Dara Shikoh was, also placed the foundation stone of the famous Golden Temple at Amritsar on land that had been granted previously by Emperor Akbar. The book written by Dara about the saint Mian Mir is entitled "Sakeenat-ul Auliya". It is no great reading but a good attempt by a Prince. Aurangzeb blamed Dara (ridiculously) for being an athiest - a kafir! Religion and State don't mix.

Asad Sir are u completly sure that it is Sir Thomas Roe or is it a probability ? This will mean that Smithsonian has wrongly documented this painting.

mr. Asad .. pls dont equate an emissary in the mughal court wd the contempory royals..u will hurt their ego... and of course no royal painter will dare do the job.

The Smithsonian is right in identifying King James I of England in the painting of Jahangir. Here's why : This is Sir Thomas Roe : http://www.npgprints.com/image/16431/michiel-jansz-van-miereveldt-sir-thomas-roe and this is King James I : http://www2.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/Kingjamesbible.html ...in fact it is this very picture that has been incorporated in the Jahangir painting ! The oldest cut & paste job I have come across.

This picture of Sir Thomas Roe is (unmistakebly) identical to another picture of him that appeared in a narrative of his travels in the Mughal Empire.

Ah then mr. Asad. Al hv their own interpretations. Each is welcome to their own!

I have given a fact - not an interpretation.

Yunus Emrys