The empress who ruled the heart of a Mughal emperor
In short: Dilras Banu Begum was more than just a consort; she was the singular, commanding influence in the life of Emperor Aurangzeb. Despite his many secondary wives, she remained his sole favorite, wielding a unique authority that even the powerful ruler could not—or would not—undermine.
A member of the Persian Safavid dynasty, Dilras was the daughter of Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi, the viceroy of Gujarat. Her marriage to Prince Muhi-ud-din in May 1637 was a grand affair, marked by fireworks and a mehr of 400,000 rupees. Unlike Aurangzeb's later marriages, which were described as meaningless and left his secondary wives isolated, Dilras held a position of supreme authority in the Mughal court.
While Aurangzeb was a staunch Sunni, Dilras was a devout Shia. This religious distinction did not weaken her standing; instead, she remained his chief consort and most beloved companion throughout their twenty-year marriage. Historians note that Aurangzeb, who was often indifferent to material values, showed a rare tenderness toward her, admitting that despite her imperious and short-tempered nature, he never once wounded her feelings.
The physical toll of imperial life may have claimed her. Muhammad Akbar, her fifth offspring, arrived in September 1657. She probably died from puerperal fever on 8 October 1657, shortly after giving birth. Her death left Aurangzeb in extreme pain, and his grief was so profound that he made a rare exception to his usual rule of not commissioning monumental edifices by building the Bibi Ka Maqbara in her honor.
The Bibi Ka Maqbara, or 'Tomb of the Lady,' stands in Aurangabad as a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal. It serves as a lasting symbol of Aurangzeb's conjugal fidelity, ensuring that even after her death, Dilras's status remained unmatched by any other woman in his palace.
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