Dilras Banu Begum
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Dilras Banu Begum (; 1622 – 8 October 1657) was the first wife and chief consort of Emperor
Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
, the sixth
Mughal emperor The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...
. She is also known by her posthumous title, Rabia-ud-Durrani (" Rabia of the Age"). The
Bibi Ka Maqbara The Bibi Ka Maqbara (English: "Tomb of the Lady") is a tomb located in the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's son, Prince Azam Shah, in the memory of his mother ...
in
Aurangabad Aurangabad (), officially renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Aurangabad district and is the largest city in the Marathwada region. Located on a ...
, which bears a striking resemblance to the
Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( ; ; ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his belo ...
(the mausoleum of Aurangzeb's mother
Mumtaz Mahal Mumtaz Mahal (; ; born Arjumand Banu Begum; 27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631) was the empress consort of Mughal Empire from 1628 to 1631 as the chief consort of the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal in Agra, often cited as one of t ...
), was commissioned by her husband to act as her final resting place. Dilras was a member of the
Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
of
Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
and was the daughter of
Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi (Persian: بدیع‌الزمان صفوی; died 1659) was a prince of the Safavid dynasty of Persia and a powerful ''amir'' at the Mughal court during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign. He is better known by the title Shahnawaz Khan ...
(titled Shahnawaz Khan), a descendant of
Shah Ismail I Ismail I (; 17 July 1487 – 23 May 1524) was the founder and first shah of Safavid Iran, ruling from 1501 until his death in 1524. His reign is one of the most vital in the history of Iran, and the Safavid period is often considered the beginn ...
, who served as the viceroy of
Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
. She married Prince Muhi-ud-din (later known as 'Aurangzeb' upon his accession) in 1637 and bore him five children, including:
Muhammad Azam Shah Mirza Abu'l Fayaz Qutb-ud-Din Mohammad Azam (28 June 1653 – 20 June 1707), commonly known as Azam Shah, was briefly the seventh Mughal emperor from 14 March to 20 June 1707. He was the third son of the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his ...
(the
heir apparent An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
anointed by Aurangzeb), who temporarily succeeded his father as
Mughal emperor The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...
, the gifted poet Princess
Zeb-un-Nissa Zeb-un-Nissa () (15 February 1638 – 26 May 1702) was a Mughal princess and the eldest child of Emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort, Dilras Banu Begum. She was also a poet, who wrote under the pseudonym of Makhfi (, "Hidden, Disguised, ...
(Aurangzeb's favourite daughter),
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 73
Princess
Zinat-un-Nissa Zinat-un-Nissa Begum ( 5 October 1643 – 7 May 1721) was a Mughal princess and the second daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb and his Chief consort Dilras Banu Begum. Her father had conferred upon her the honorable title of ''Padshah Begum''. Life Z ...
(titled
Padshah Begum Padshah Begum () was a superlative imperial title conferred upon the empress consort or 'First Lady' of the Mughal Empire and was considered to be the most important title in the Mughal harem or '' zenana''. This title can be equivalent with "e ...
), and
Sultan Muhammad Akbar Mirza Muhammad Akbar (11 September 1657 – 31 March 1706) was a Mughal prince and the fourth son of Emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort Dilras Banu Begum. He went into exile in Safavid Persia after a failed rebellion against his father i ...
, the Emperor's best-loved son. Dilras died possibly of
puerperal fever The postpartum (or postnatal) period begins after childbirth and is typically considered to last for six to eight weeks. There are three distinct phases of the postnatal period; the acute phase, lasting for six to twelve hours after birth; the ...
in 1657, a month after giving birth to her fifth child, Muhammad Akbar,
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 3
and just a year before her husband ascended the throne after a fratricidal war of succession.


Family and lineage

Dilras Banu Begum was a member of the prominent
Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
, the ruling dynasty of
Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
and one of its most significant ruling dynasties. She was the daughter of
Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi (Persian: بدیع‌الزمان صفوی; died 1659) was a prince of the Safavid dynasty of Persia and a powerful ''amir'' at the Mughal court during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign. He is better known by the title Shahnawaz Khan ...
(titled Shahnawaz Khan and popularly known as Mirza Deccan) whose great-grandfather was a son of Shah Ismail I Safavi, the founder of the Safavid dynasty. Shahnawaz Khan was the viceroy of
Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
and a powerful, high ranking grandee at the Mughal court. He loved pomp and grandeur, which was very evident in the lavish and grand marriage celebrations of his daughter, Dilras to Prince Muhi-ud-Din.
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 1
Dilras' mother, Nauras Banu Begum, was the daughter of Mirza Muhammad Sharif, while her father was a son of Mirza Rustam Safavi, who rose to eminence during Emperor
Jahangir Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was List of emperors of the Mughal Empire, Emperor of Hindustan from 1605 until his death in 1627, and the fourth Mughal emperors, Mughal ...
's reign. In 1638, Dilras' younger sister, Sakina Banu Begum, married Aurangzeb's youngest brother, Prince
Murad Baksh Mirza Muhammad Murad Bakhsh (9 October 1624 – 14 December 1661) was a Mughal prince and the youngest surviving son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal. He was the Subahdar of Balkh, till he was replaced by his elder ...
. A niece of Shahnawaz Khan and cousin of Dilras was also married to Aurangzeb's older brother Prince Shah Shuja. These marriages further strengthened the ties between the imperial family and Shahnawaz Khan's family, and as an extension, the Safavid dynasty.


Marriage to Aurangzeb

In February 1637, Dilras was betrothed to Prince Muhi-ud-din (later known as Aurangzeb), the third son of the reigning Mughal emperor
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan I, (Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram; 5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), also called Shah Jahan the Magnificent, was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 until his deposition in 1658. As the fifth Mughal emperor, his reign marked the ...
and his beloved wife
Mumtaz Mahal Mumtaz Mahal (; ; born Arjumand Banu Begum; 27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631) was the empress consort of Mughal Empire from 1628 to 1631 as the chief consort of the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal in Agra, often cited as one of t ...
. The marriage proposal was put forth by Shah Jahan and was accepted by Dilras' father which led to their betrothal. Aurangzeb was lovingly called by the Emperor from the
Deccan The Deccan is a plateau extending over an area of and occupies the majority of the Indian peninsula. It stretches from the Satpura and Vindhya Ranges in the north to the northern fringes of Tamil Nadu in the south. It is bound by the mount ...
, where he was campaigning, and arrived at
Agra Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
on 15 April 1637 for his wedding. The marriage took place a few weeks later on 8 May 1637 at Agra amidst great rejoicings. As decided by the imperial court astrologers, their marriage ceremony was held four hours before dawn, amid lavish and grand celebrations and took place at Shahnawaz Khan's mansion. The grandeur of the celebrations are described by chronicler
Khafi Khan Muhammad Hashim (c. 1664–1732), better known by his title Khafi Khan, was an Indo-Persian historian of Mughal India. His career began about 1693–1694 as a clerk in Bombay. He served predominantly in Gujarat and the Deccan regions, including the ...
, "The burst of fireworks transformed the earth into another sky," and the charms of the singers and dancers would've been the envy "even of
Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...
." The ''
qazi Qazi may refer to: * Qadi A qadi (; ) is the magistrate or judge of a Sharia court, who also exercises extrajudicial functions such as mediation, guardianship over orphans and minors, and supervision and auditing of public works. History ...
'' married the couple in the Emperor's presence, and the '' mehr'' was fixed at 400,000 rupees. After the wedding, a reception (''
walima () is the second of the two parts of an Islamic wedding. It is the wedding reception banquet and is performed after the (marriage ceremony). It designates a feast in Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Se ...
'') was held on 14 May at Aurangzeb's mansion, where Emperor Shah Jahan gave wedding gifts to ''
amir Emir (; ' (), also transliterated as amir, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or ceremonial authority. The title has ...
s''. The newly married couple spent more than three happy months at Agra with the Emperor before taking their leave for the Deccan on 4 September 1637, where Aurangzeb was serving as
viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...
. During their stay at Agra, Dilras had become pregnant with Aurangzeb's first child: the gifted poet Princess
Zeb-un-Nissa Zeb-un-Nissa () (15 February 1638 – 26 May 1702) was a Mughal princess and the eldest child of Emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort, Dilras Banu Begum. She was also a poet, who wrote under the pseudonym of Makhfi (, "Hidden, Disguised, ...
. She was born nine months after their marriage on 15 February 1638 at Daulatabad, Deccan, and was her father's favourite daughter. Over the next nineteen years, the imperial couple would have four more children, all of whom were favoured by Aurangzeb above the rest of his children from his secondary wives. As Aurangzeb's chief consort, Dilras wielded considerable influence over him and ruled his
harem A harem is a domestic space that is reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A harem may house a man's wife or wives, their pre-pubescent male children, unmarried daughters, female domestic Domestic worker, servants, and other un ...
.
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 92
She was amongst the highest ranked figures at the Mughal court unlike her husband's secondary wives, who were very unpopular at court. However, Dilras did not take part in court politics and in administrative affairs as her husband did not seem to have allowed his wives to interfere in such matters. But, it is said that it is true that Muhi-ud-din rules over the provinces where he was acting as Na'ib (viceroy), but in the house of this Dilras Banu who rules over him. Dilras' known physical and personal attributes describe her as being beautiful, vivacious and charming. Pertaining to her character, she seems to have been a proud and self-willed woman and her husband stood in some awe of her. She was reputed to have been short-tempered, and was, says Aurangzeb, a woman of "extreme imperiousness, but to the end of her life I continued to love her and never once did I wound her feelings." Dilras' proud nature did not create problems in her marriage as Aurangzeb always acted humbly with his haughty and imperious wife.
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 84
From all accounts it appears that Dilras shared several character traits with her husband. Both of them were strong-willed, pious and comparatively indifferent to the normal scheme of material values. However, whereas Aurangzeb was a staunch
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
, Dilras Begum was a devout
Shia Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
.
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 54
In his court, the princess organized debates between Shia and Sunni ''
ulema In Islam, the ''ulama'' ( ; also spelled ''ulema''; ; singular ; feminine singular , plural ) are scholars of Islamic doctrine and law. They are considered the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam. "Ulama ...
'' in which Princess Zeb-un-Nissa also participated. However, when he became emperor, after Dilras had died, Aurangzeb asked his daughter not to participate in these debates, which she did, according to the historian Magan Lal. Safavid Shias grew in Aurangzeb's reign became even more influential than ever in the Mughal empire and their military leaders led almost all of Aurangzeb's successful military campaigns.
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 55
Aurangzeb's other marriages to his two secondary wives were meaningless. As a result, these two inferior wives, though they produced four more children for him, remained isolated from their husband. The status and authority of being the imperial consort was reserved for Dilras only. She retained her influence over her husband till the end of her life and always remained his favourite as well as his chief consort. Even after her untimely death, her position at court, in the palace, and in her husband's life was not taken by either of his secondary wives.
Krynicki Krynicki is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nikifor, also known as Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), Lemko naïve painter * Ryszard Krynicki (born 1943), Polish poet and translator See also * Krynicki (Sas and Korab), th ...
, p. 103
Thus, Dilras was never replaced and no empress ruled Aurangzeb's palace.


Issue

Dilras' initial pregnancies took place at intervals of at least four years. Professor Annie Krieger-Krynicki states that "Aurangzeb may not have wanted to put a strain on her fragile health by imposing too many pregnancies on her frequently, as Shah Jahan, fatally, had done with Mumtaz Mahal." During the course of their twenty years of marriage, the imperial couple became parents of five children: *
Shahzadi Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...
Zeb-un-Nissa Zeb-un-Nissa () (15 February 1638 – 26 May 1702) was a Mughal princess and the eldest child of Emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort, Dilras Banu Begum. She was also a poet, who wrote under the pseudonym of Makhfi (, "Hidden, Disguised, ...
Begum Begum (also begüm, bagum, begom, begam, baigum or beygum) is an honorific title from Central Asia, Central and South Asia, often used by leading women in society, including Royal family, royals, aristocrats, first lady, first ladies and prime ...
(15 February 1638 – 26 May 1702) died unmarried. *Shahzadi
Zinat-un-Nissa Zinat-un-Nissa Begum ( 5 October 1643 – 7 May 1721) was a Mughal princess and the second daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb and his Chief consort Dilras Banu Begum. Her father had conferred upon her the honorable title of ''Padshah Begum''. Life Z ...
Begum (5 October 1643 – 7 May 1721) acted as the First Lady (
Padshah Begum Padshah Begum () was a superlative imperial title conferred upon the empress consort or 'First Lady' of the Mughal Empire and was considered to be the most important title in the Mughal harem or '' zenana''. This title can be equivalent with "e ...
) of the empire during Aurangzeb's reign, she died unmarried. *Shahzadi
Zubdat-un-Nissa Zubdat-un-Nissa Begum (; 2 September 1651 – 17 February 1707) was a Mughal princess, the third daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb and his wife Dilras Banu Begum. Life Zubdat-un-Nissa was born on 2 September 1651 in Multan. Her father Aurangzeb was ...
Begum (2 September 1651 – 17 February 1707) married her
first cousin A cousin is a relative who is the child of a parent's sibling; this is more specifically referred to as a first cousin. A parent of a first cousin is an aunt or uncle. More generally, in the lineal kinship, kinship system used in the English-s ...
, Prince Siphir Shikoh, son of her uncle,
Dara Shikoh Dara Shikoh (20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659), also transliterated as Dara Shukoh, was the eldest son and heir-apparent of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Dara was designated with the title ''Padshahzada-i-Buzurg Martaba'' () and was favoured ...
; had issue. *
Shah Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...
zada
Muhammad Azam Shah Mirza Abu'l Fayaz Qutb-ud-Din Mohammad Azam (28 June 1653 – 20 June 1707), commonly known as Azam Shah, was briefly the seventh Mughal emperor from 14 March to 20 June 1707. He was the third son of the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his ...
''Shahi Ali Jah'' (28 June 1653 – 8 June 1707), briefly succeeded his father as Mughal emperor, married his first cousin, Princess Jahanzeb Banu, a daughter of Dara Shikoh; had issue. *Shahzada
Sultan Muhammad Akbar Mirza Muhammad Akbar (11 September 1657 – 31 March 1706) was a Mughal prince and the fourth son of Emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort Dilras Banu Begum. He went into exile in Safavid Persia after a failed rebellion against his father i ...
(11 September 1657 – 31 March 1706) married his cousin, Princess Salima, a granddaughter of Dara Shikoh; had issue.


Death and aftermath

On 11 September 1657, Dilras gave birth to her fifth child, Muhammad Akbar, following which she possibly suffered from
puerperal fever The postpartum (or postnatal) period begins after childbirth and is typically considered to last for six to eight weeks. There are three distinct phases of the postnatal period; the acute phase, lasting for six to twelve hours after birth; the ...
, due to complications caused by the delivery and died on 8 October 1657. Upon her death, Aurangzeb's pain was extreme, and their eldest son, the four-year-old Prince Azam, was so grieved that he had a
nervous breakdown A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...
. It became Dilras' eldest daughter, Princess Zeb-un-Nissa's responsibility to take charge of her newborn brother. Zeb-un-Nissa doted on her brother, and at the same time, Aurangzeb greatly indulged his motherless son and the prince soon became his best-loved son.


Bibi Ka Maqbara

In 1660, three years after Dilras' death, Aurangzeb commissioned a mausoleum at Aurangabad to be her final resting place, known as
Bibi Ka Maqbara The Bibi Ka Maqbara (English: "Tomb of the Lady") is a tomb located in the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's son, Prince Azam Shah, in the memory of his mother ...
("Tomb of the Lady"). It is notable that Aurangzeb never raised monumental edifices during his half-a-century reign, but made just one exception, that is, to build the mausoleum of his wife. Here, Dilras was buried under the
posthumous title A posthumous name is an honorary name given mainly to revered dead people in East Asian culture. It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments ...
of 'Rabia-ud-Daurani' ("Rabia of the Age"). Her title was given in honour after
Rabia of Basra Rābia al-Adawiyya al-Qaysiyya (; 801 CE) or Rabia Basri was a Saints in Islam, poet, one of the earliest Sufi mystics and an influential religious figure from Iraq. She is regarded as one of the three preeminent Qalandar (title), Qalanda ...
. Rabia of Basra lived in the 9th century CE and is considered a saint due to her piety. The Bibi Ka Maqbara bears a striking resemblance to the
Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( ; ; ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his belo ...
, the mausoleum of Dilras' mother-in-law, Empress Mumtaz Mahal, who herself died in childbirth. Bibi Ka Maqbara was the largest structure that Aurangzeb had to his credit and is considered to be a symbol of his conjugal fidelity. In the following years, her tomb was repaired by her son, Azam Shah, under Aurangzeb's orders. Aurangzeb, himself, is buried a few kilometers away from her mausoleum in
Khuldabad Khuldabad, also called Rauza, is a city (municipal council) and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is known as the Valley of Saints, or the Abode of Eternity, because in the 14th century, several Sufi saints ...
.


In popular culture

*Dilras Banu Begum is a principal character in Ruchir Gupta's historical novel ''Mistress of the Throne'' (2014). *She is a main character in the 2016 novel ''Shahenshah: The Life of Aurangzeb'' written by N.S. Inamdar and Vikrant Pande. *Dilras is an important character in the 2018 novel ''Frontiers: The Relentless Battle between Aurangzeb and Shivaji'' written by Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran. *She might be portrayed by
Alia Bhatt Alia Bhatt (; born 15 March 1993) is a British actress of Indian descent who predominantly works in Hindi films. Known for Alia Bhatt filmography, her portrayals of women in challenging circumstances, she has received List of awards and nomin ...
in the upcoming epic film ''Takht'' (2020) directed by
Karan Johar Karan Yash Johar (born Rahul Kumar Johar; 25 May 1972), often informally referred to as KJo, is an Indian filmmaker, producer and television personality who primarily works in Hindi cinema. He has launched the careers of several successful ac ...
.


Ancestry


See also

*
Bibi Ka Maqbara The Bibi Ka Maqbara (English: "Tomb of the Lady") is a tomb located in the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's son, Prince Azam Shah, in the memory of his mother ...
*
Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
*
Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...


References


Further reading

* Annie Krieger-Krynicki (2005). ''Captive Princess: Zebunissa, Daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb''. Oxford University Press. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Begum, Dilras Banu Safavid princesses 17th-century Indian Muslims Indian people of Iranian descent Deaths in childbirth 1657 deaths 1620s births 17th-century Indian women Wives of Aurangzeb 17th-century Iranian women Mothers of Mughal emperors 17th-century Mughal Empire people