Identify the elements that went into the making of the Mughal ideal of kingship.

There were many elements that led to the formation of the Mughal period as an ideal ofkingship.

(i)    King as symbol of the Divine Power:

According to many chronicles, the Mughal rulers derived their power directly from God. They were on the top of the list of those who received the light emanating from God (farr-i-izadi). The transmission of the Divine Light to the king made them the source of spiritual guidance for their subjects.

(ii)    Sulh-i-Kul: The source of a unifying force. The Mughal Empire comprised of many religious communities such as the Hindus, the Jainas, the Zoroastrians and the Muslims. However the Mughal kings stood above all religious and ethnic groups. They mediated between people belonging to the different religious communities to ensure peace, stability and justice. According to Abul Fazl, the ideal of Sulh-i-kul was the cornerstone ef enlightened rule and absolute peace. Nobody was permitted to undermine the authority of the state. Similarly all were exhorted not to fight with each other. In fact, the Mughal rulers instructed all their officers to follow the ideal of Sulh-i-kul in administration.

(iii)    Just sovereignty as social contract : Abul Fazl defined sovereignty as a social contract. In other words, the emperor protected the following four essences of his subjects:

(a)    Life (Jan)

(b)    Property (mal)

(c)    Honour (namus)

(d)    Faith (din)

In lieu of this protection, people expressed their obedience and submission to the kings. They also contributed their share of resources. As the sovereigns were just, they honoured the contract with power and divine guidance. That is why, many symbols were used by the artists. There was a popular motif of the lion and the lamb. Both lived peacefully in the company of each other. It signified that the Mughal reign was a realm of peace and justice where both the strong and the weak could exist in harmony.