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have many issues." of twelve children.
And later, that woman became the mother
A trader from Agra once went to some foreign country for trade. On the way his creditors pressed for payments. He had no money. He then took a vow that he would consecrate onefourth of his goods to Akbar if he came out successful from his business deals. It so happened that he got immense profits; but when he returned to Agra he did not like to give the one-fourth portion to Akbar. Once Akbar called him to his presence and asked him why he was not paying the one-fourth portion. The trader was filled with wonder and faith and soon gave him the promised portion.
A woman once took a vow that if she got a son she would greet the Emperor and give him two coconuts. The woman got a son. She then greeted the Emperor, but she put only one coconut before him. Akbar at once reminded her of her vow and asked her as to why she was putting one coconut and not two. She confessed her guilt and put two coconuts.
It is true that he was considered divine, and yet it is rather surprising that neither his divinity nor his new faith lived after his death. Scholars explain this differently. Some say that great supporters and promoters of his faith like Abul Fazl and Faizi died before Akbar's death, and there was none to uphold this faith. Others say that no one had accepted this new faith sincerely. Some others say that even Akbar himself had no unswerving devotion to and belief in this faith.*
One of Akbar's many traits was to make use of all available opportunities for peaceful prosecution of his designs. He believed in conciliatory methods as far as possible, and in so doing he adopted the policy of 'divide and rule' also. He had won many Rajput heroes on his side by such a policy. Raja Bhagwandas, Raja Todarmal and Raja Mansinh were such heroes won over by Akbar. Akbar had married the sister of Raja Bhagwandas, and Salim was born of this Hindu wife of Akbar. Akbar had married
* It is interesting to note that Akbar had introduced a form o! greeting amongst the members of the ia 'th, whereby, when a member met another, he would say 'Allah-o-Abar' and the other would return it by 'Jalla - Jalaluddin.'
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
