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Questions about Jagat Gosain

Short answers, pulled from the story.

Who was Jagat Gosain and why was she important in Mughal history?

Jagat Gosain was the empress consort of the fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir and the mother of Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal. Born Manavati Bai on the 13th of May 1573, she was a Rajput princess of Marwar and the daughter of Raja Udai Singh, known as Mota Raja.

When did Jagat Gosain marry Jahangir and what were the circumstances?

Jagat Gosain married Prince Salim, later known as Jahangir, on the 11th of January 1586, when he was sixteen years old. The marriage settlement was fixed at seventy-five lakhs tankas, and the ceremony was attended by Emperor Akbar himself and combined Hindu fire rituals with Muslim observances.

What was the relationship between Jagat Gosain and Shah Jahan?

Jagat Gosain was the mother of Shah Jahan, born Muhammad Khurram on the 5th of January 1592. Emperor Akbar took the boy to be raised in his own palace shortly after birth; he was returned to his mother after Akbar's death in 1605. Shah Jahan was so devoted to her that he designated her Hazrat in his court chronicles and mourned her for twenty-one days after her death.

How did Jagat Gosain die and where is she buried?

Jagat Gosain died on the 8th of April 1619 at Akbarabad, present-day Agra, after falling ill during her stay at Fatehpur Sikri. She was buried at Dehra Bagh near Noor Manzil in Agra according to her wishes. Her tomb was demolished in 1832 by the British for its stone and brick, and a chhatri was erected on the site in 1921.

What was Jagat Gosain's relationship with Nur Jahan?

Jagat Gosain and Nur Jahan were rivals in the Mughal imperial harem. Jahangir married Nur Jahan in 1611, after which Nur Jahan became his undisputed favorite wife. According to S. S. Gupta, Jagat Gosain had previously been Jahangir's favorite and was scornful of Nur Jahan.

What is the posthumous title given to Jagat Gosain and what does it mean?

After her death in 1619, Jahangir ordered that Jagat Gosain be referred to in all official documents as Bilqis Makani, meaning the Lady of Pure Abode. During her lifetime she had been given the title Jagat Gosain in recognition of her ability and learning.