Religious Policies of Jahangir | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

Continuity of Akbar's Liberal State:

• After Akbar, the liberal nature of the state continued in the early 17th century.
• There were minor setbacks during Jahangir's reign, but the overall liberal approach was maintained.
• Shah Jahan made some adjustments to Akbar's policies, but the core liberal character remained intact.

Expectations of orthodox circles

• At the beginning of Jahangir's reign, there was an expectation among orthodox circles that Akbar's policy of sulh-i-kul and religious eclecticism would be abandoned in favor of restoring sharia supremacy.
• Jahangir's early actions, such as asking the ulama to collect distinctive appellations of God and associating with learned men and pious individuals, raised hopes among orthodox sections.

Contrast with Orthodoxy:

• Despite initial hopes, Jahangir was not orthodox by temperament or training.
• His fondness for drinking, even inviting nobles to join him, and his excesses, such as ordering large quantities of wine at Babur's grave, reflected a different lifestyle.

Ordinances and Policies:

• Jahangir's ordinances included prohibiting killing or slaughtering animals for food on specific days, such as Thursday and Sunday.
• Forcible conversion to Islam was forbidden in the Ain-i-Jahangiri rules.

Continuation of Akbar's Policies:

• Jahangir continued Akbar's policy of sulh-i-kul, respecting and giving freedom to all religions.
• He praised Akbar's approach in his Memoirs, highlighting the inclusivity of different faiths in his dominions.

Discipleship and Festivals:

• Jahangir followed Akbar's practice of enrolling murids (disciples) and advising them to avoid sectarian quarrels.
• He celebrated various Hindu festivals, actively participating in them, and even banned cow slaughter in certain regions.
• Festivals like Nauroz and Parsi festivals were celebrated with music and festivity, and Christians were allowed to celebrate their festivals as well.

Religious Freedom and Temple Building:

• Jahangir promoted religious freedom, allowing Hindus to follow their customs without force or compulsion.
• There was no ban on Hindus building new temples, and Christians were also given land to build churches.
• Jahangir continued Akbar's practice of giving gifts and grants to brahmans and temples, supporting the followers of Chaitanya at Vrindavan.

Some Occasions of Narrow Mindedness

Despite his liberalism, Jahangir sometimes showed a narrow-minded approach, possibly to appease powerful orthodox clerics or to project himself as an orthodox Muslim ruler.

• He declared the war against Mewar a jihad, despite the lack of justification.
• During the campaign, many Hindu temples were destroyed, contrary to Jahangir's earlier instructions to treat the Rana of Mewar as a friend if he agreed to submit.
• In 1621, the Kangra campaign was also declared a jihad, even though it was led by a Hindu, Raja Bikramajit.
• Jahangir visited the Durga temple at Jwalamukhi, where he observed crowds of Muslims offering prayers to an idol, but made no effort to stop this practice.
• During a visit to Pushkar, he was disturbed by the worship of Vishnu in the form of a boar and ordered the image to be destroyed, although he did not harm other temples dedicated to Vishnu.
• In 1617, Jahangir ordered the closure of Jain temples in Gujarat and the expulsion of Jain saints due to moral concerns, but this order was not effectively implemented.
• Jahangir’s relationship with the Sikhs, particularly Guru Arjun, was contentious. He believed Guru Arjun was gaining followers at the expense of Islam and contemplated taking action against him.
• Jahangir eventually targeted Guru Arjun for allegedly blessing Khusrau, considering it treason. He confiscated the Guru's property and ordered his execution.
• While some sources argue that Jahangir only imposed a fine on Guru Arjun, the punishment was still severe for a respected saint.
• Jahangir also imprisoned Guru Arjun’s son, Guru Hargovind, for two years for attempting to collect arrears of the fine.
• Jahangir was known for his interest in various religious figures and often made grants to deserving individuals regardless of their religion. He was particularly drawn to monotheism and engaged with dervishes and religious thinkers.
• He had a favorable view of Vedanta and sought out Jadrup Gosain, a Vedanta scholar, who impressed him with his knowledge and simplicity.
• Jahangir maintained a strong sense of kingly duty, believing that sovereignty was bestowed by God on those deemed fit for the responsibility.

Conclusion

Jahangir's Approach Compared to His Father's:

• Jahangir generally maintained his father’s liberal attitude.
• R.P. Tripathi describes Jahangir as “more orthodox than his father and less than his son Khurram.”

Actions Against Specific Individuals:

• Jahangir is said to have taken harsh actions against Sikhs, Jains, and Sunnis.
• However, these actions were directed at specific individuals such as Guru Arjan Singh, Man Singh Sun, and Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, rather than against entire religious groups.

Hindu Mansabdars and Religious Policies:

• The percentage of Hindu mansabdars remained stable during Jahangir’s reign.
• He did not initiate a policy of destroying Hindu places of worship, reimpose jiziya, or believe in forcible conversion to Islam.