A Jain Ritual at the Mughal Court

Starting in the 1580s (and according to some accounts earlier), Jains monks (sūrī) were officially invited at the Mughal court, where they engaged in different activities. While many activities of these monks would ultimately reflect on the local communities, some of these activities were turned towards the Mughals themselves. One such case is an apotropaic ritual performed for the well-being of the daughter of then Prince Salīm (later Jahāngīr). Found in the Mantrikarmacandravaṃśalīprabandha—a Sanskrit chronicle of the life of Mantri Karmacandra Bacchavat, minister of the Rāja Rāyasiṃha—the ritual involved Jain monks and the Mughal court and shows the participation of the latter in a Jain practice. The episode is equally paralleled in another Jain narrative, the Bhānucandragaṇicarita by Siddhicandra.

While mention of the event is found in the literature pertaining to the Mughals’ relationship with non-Muslim religious groups, a detailed analysis and translation of the passage still is to be done. The aim of this presentation is to bring to light this event and to frame it within the broader context of Jain-Mughal relations.