and servant (dasa bhava), friend and
friend (sakha bhava), parent and child
(vatsalya bhava), and lover and beloved
(madhurya bhava). Although all of
these modes were legitimate forms of
relationship with the divine, the last was
considered the highest because it gener-
ated the most intense emotions.
Moghul Dynasty
(1525–1857) Muslim dynasty that ruled
large parts of India for almost 200 years.
The dynasty was established by Babar (r.
1625–1630), a central Asian monarch
who had been displaced from his own
homeland in Afghanistan and defeated
the Lodi dynasty rulers at Panipat in
- Babar’s son Humayan (1508–1556)
acceded to his father’s throne but spent
much of his life fighting an Afghan
threat. He finally recovered his kingdom,
but within six months died from injuries
sustained in a fall. Humayan was suc-
ceeded by his son Akbar(1542–1605),
considered the greatest of the Moghul
emperors, both for his long reign of
forty-nine years and for his efforts to
include his Hindu subjects as equal citi-
zens, not simply as conquered infidels.
Akbar was succeeded by Jahangir
(1569–1627), and Jahangir by Shah Jahan
(1592–1666). The last of the great
Moghuls was Aurangzeb (1618–1707),
who added parts of the Deccanregion to
the Moghul empire. During Aurangzeb’s
reign, the Krishna Janam Bhumiin the
city of Mathura and the Vishvanath
temple in the city of Benares were
destroyed. Such incidents have caused
much speculation as to whether the
destruction was the result of anti-Hindu
religious sentiments (the Moghuls were
Muslims) or an expression of Moghul
political dominance. After Aurangzeb’s
death the Moghul empire broke apart,
but the dynasty continued to wield
diminishing influence until the 1857
rebellion against the British, when it was
definitively removed.Mohan
(“beguiling,” “bewildering”) Epithet of
the godKrishna, which may refer either
to his overwhelming attractiveness,Moghul Dynasty
Ruins at Mohenjo-Daro. This archeological site contains some of the earliest
discovered remains of the ancient Indus Valley civilization.