Book Title: Ethnicity and Religious Heritage
Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: T U Mehta

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Page 167
________________ 162 Indian Ethnicity and Religious Heritage Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan was a great Sufi and a pupil of Sufi saint Mulla Shah. He was entitled to the throne of Delhi but was treachously murdered by his brother Aurangzeb, who usurped the throne by imprisoning his father Shah Jahan. Dara knew Sanskrit and translated Hindu scriptures in the Persian language. Sufi Saint Sarmad He migrated to India from Iran during the reign of Shah Jahan. Originally he was selling gold embroidered clothes but after he became a Sufi he discarded all clothes and moved naked which was no approved by the tradition alists as Islam, according to them, did not approve of this. However, Shah Jahan and his son Dara adored him. He tought Upnishads and Bhagavad Gita to Dara. This intimacy was responsible for Aurangzeb's enmity to this saint. After Aurangzeb came to power, being instigated by fanatic Maulwis, he called the saint and aksed him the reason for going naked. His reply was : "He who has conferred on thee the crown of Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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