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Birbal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Birbal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Birbal was the Wazr-e Azam or Grand Vizier or the adviser of the Mughal court in the administration of the Mughal emperor Akbar. He was one of his most trusted members along with being a part of Akbar's inner council and most valued of nine advisors, known as the navaratna, a Sanskrit word meaning nine jewels. Birbal was one of only a few persons other than Akbar that were Din-i-Ilahi believers. It is said that Emperor Akbar used to test Birbal's wit regularly. he became too close to the raja, leading to the jealousy of other courtiers. they often tried to oversmart him or get rid of him, but always failed. Birbal's duties in Akbar's court were mostly military and administrative, but he was also a very close friend of the emperor, who appreciated Birbal for his wit and wisdom, often involving humorous exchanges. These and other stories have become part of a rich tradition of folklore and legend.

Birbal

Contents
1 Early years 2 Meeting with Sikh Guru 3 Death 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links
Born 1525 Ghoghara, Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, India 1586 (aged 5758) ashes immersed in the Ganges at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India

Died

Early years

Occupation Grand Vizier (Wazr-e Azam) of the Mughal court

Hindu/Din-i-Ilahi Religion Birbal's real name was Maheshdas Bhatt, Born Mahesh Das in 1528 in a Chaurasia Brahmin family in Ghoghara, Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, India. He grew up in a moderate household and was educated in the regional and Persian languages. Birbal was a poet and author, whose intelligence and wisdom led the Emperor Akbar to invite him to be a part of the royal court and to bestow upon him a new name - Birbal (Bir means Brain, Bal means Strong). Akbar also conferred on him the title of Raja.

Meeting with Sikh Guru

According to Giani Gian Singh, the author of the Book Twarikh Guru Khalsa in 1626, Raja Birbal met Guru Amar Das, the third guru of Sikhism. He and his army had their meals in the Langar, when some unscrupulous individual
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Birbal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

told him that Guru Amar Das had a precious Rasayana (a rejuvenating ointment that promised eternal youth according to Ayurveda's Rasayana Vidya). He demanded this Rasayana from Guru Amar Das. But, Guru Amar Das replied God's name is the true rasayana and this Rasayana is only gifted to the previous Gurus. Birbal did not believe him and instead got angry. He said that he would take the Rasayana the next day but at night. However, he had orders to reach Malandri (Muhim) the next day. Abandoning his plans for the Rasayana, he journeyed onward.

Death
The Yousafzai and Khattak tribes of the Afghans in the North West had started low level skirmishes and looting raids against the Mughal Empire's outposts and trading routes along the East Bank of the River Indus, Attock and the Malandari pass. Attempting to crush the unrest, Akbar sent troops for the battle. However, the troops faced resistance from the Afghans and suffered many losses. At this time, the Afghan Lashkar's (army) front was concentrated on one end in what is now the Katlang area of Lund Khwar to the other end near the Malandari Pass at the head of the Barkua Stream, about 30 miles N. E. of Hoti Mardan.[1] After a succession of defeats in the February 1586 A.D. Akbar sent Birbal his Grand Vizier (Wazr-e Azam), closest advisory and chief among the navaratnas to help Zain Khan in the battle. Birbal took command of the troops and around mid February marched into a concentrated formation of the Afghans in the Katlang area of Lund Khwar. On the 16th of February, 1586 A.D. during a major skirmish and while in the thick of the battle, Birbal along with his personal troops advanced into a narrow pass in Katlang at night. The Yousafzai and the Khattak Afghans were well prepared and were ready on the hills. Many men on Birbals side lost their way or were killed in the holes and the caverns and it was a terrible defeat, in which Birbal fought with bravery but died on 16 Feb 1586 A.D. Birbals death was said to be caused by treachery, not military defeat. Akbar was shocked by the death of Birbal and didnt eat, drink, or attend court for two days.

References
1. ^ "Archive.org - The Kingdom Of Afghanistan" (http://www.archive.org/stream/kingdomofafghani00taterich/kingdomofafghani00taterich_djvu.txt)

Further reading
50 Wittiest Tales of Birbal (ISBN 81-7806-050-7) by Clifford Sawhney (Publishers: Pustak Mahal, Delhi) Solve Your Problems Author: Luis S. R. Vas (ISBN 81-223-0800-7) Birbal & Sikh Guru (http://www.mediaseva.org/Servants-63-122.pdf)

External links
Birbal History (http://www.indianchild.com/stories/akbar-birbal.htm) Stories of Birbal (http://www.bharatadesam.com/literature/stories_of_birbal/stories_of_birbal.php) Birbal story (http://www.india-intro.com/history/akbar-birbal/45-india-parichay-akbar-birbal-historymaheshdas.html)
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