Arranged for her
education in a royal manner and she developed in her all the qualities and merits
of a royal family. When she became young, she attracted Prince Khurram and both
of them started loving each other.
Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal were inseparable
lovers and it is clear from the incident that when Shah had to go to suppress
a rebellion of Khan-e-Jahan Lodi at Burhanpur in the Deccan, then Mumtaz was also
at the side of Shah Jahan in Burhanpur in that campaign. At the same time she
gave birth to their fourteenth child, Gauhar Ara Begum, and fell seriously ill,
it is said that the time of her death, Mumtaz Mahal expressed her last wish to
the Royal Emperor Shah Jahan that he will build a beautiful and uncomparable monument
over her grave as a token of their worldly inseparable love.
One of
the court historians of Shah Jahan has narrated the incident that at the time
of the death of Mumtaz Mahal, princess Jahan Ara called her father to her mother's
deathbed. Shah Jahan became very upset and on hearing of this sad news he was
greatly upset at the bedside of his life-long companion and became restless and
agitated. The noble queen; weeping bade her farewell to her Royal spouse and expressed
her final wishes. Till her last breath, she requested the king for his kindness
to her children and royal consideration towards her parents. And thus, after transferring
the responsibility of the care of Shah Jahan to her elder daughter Jahan Ara,
Mumtaz Mahal expired on Tuesday, 7th June, 1631 (17 Dhu' - Qa'da 1040), and left
Shah Jahan alone to mourn.
After the death of Mumtaz Mhal - 'The Lady
of the Raj', Shah Jahan could not bear this great loss of his dear wife and his
health began to decline. For complete two years,, he abstained himself from all
kinds of pleasures and functions. On each Friday, Shah Jahan used to go to her
grave on foot in white dress, to read 'Fatiha', accompanied by his courtiers and
nobles.
The nurtal remains of Mumtaz Mahal were given a temporary burial
(Amanat) in the building which was situated inside a garden at Zainabad, opposite
of Burhanpur on the other side of the River Tapti in the month of June 1631 (on
Thursday, 25 Dhu'l-Qa'da 1040), the Emperor crossed River Tapti and went to the
grave and shed oceans of tears on her 'Fatiha' prayers and on his return, distributed
aims etc. for the heavenly peace of the departed soul.
On 1st December,
1631 A.D. (17 Jumada J, 1041), the dead body was sent to Agra, accompanied by
various V.I.P.'s like Prince Shuja, Nawab Wazir Khan and the most beloved friend-cum
secretary of Mumtaz Mahal, Sittiiu' Nisha Khanam. All along this journey, aims
in cash, food and clothes were distributed freely to the poor as per Shahjahan's
wishes.