Aurangzeb, like his predecessors, was determined to reinforce and expand the might of the Mughal empire to the farthest corners of Hindustan. His principal obsession was to live his life true to the guiding principles of the Sharia. But his ability to successfully abide by the Sharia did not suffice. He was determined to make every Muslim of Hindustan live their life that way. As for the other hapless inhabitants of the country, they would be penalised unless they chose to embrace Islam. Thus began the intimidation and harassment of other religions that terminated only after the tyrant’s death.
In 1659, he issued a firman ordering that although long-standing temples would not be demolished, no new ones would be allowed. By this firman, he was enforcing Islamic law. No old temples would be destroyed, but he wouldn’t permit old temples to be repaired.
His religious fanaticism was apparent even in his youth. In 1635, aged 17, on Shahjahan’s orders he demolished the great temple built by Bir Singh in Orchha and built a mosque on the site. A decade later as the governor of Gujarat, in Ahmedabad and other parganans, he destroyed many temples. During his second governorship of the Deccan, he boasted of destroying a hilltop temple by “god’s grace” and ordering the temple dancers (muralis) to stop their shameful profession. A Brahman revenue officer was beheaded for uttering improper words with reference to the prophet.
However, during the first decade of his reign, he was careful to tone down his campaign against the Hindus, although the temple demolitions continued here and there. In 1665, he ordered that the demolished temples that had been recently restored be pulled down. In Orissa, his officers were instructed that every idol house built in the last decade, whether of brick or clay, should be demolished immediately.
But the situation changed dramatically around 1668, when he realised that he had not done enough to promote Islam in the ten years that had elapsed since he ascended the throne. The continued prosperity of Hindus even after 500 years of Muslim rule in Hindustan was, to him, an intolerable affront to a true believer. He set about harassing Hindus with a renewed vigour and zeal. In 1669, he issued orders to governors of all provinces to destroy all temples and schools of the infidels and put an immediate stop to the teaching and practising all idolatrous forms of worship. From Rajasthan, several cartloads of idols were taken to Delhi to be cast in the quadrangle of the court, under the steps of the Jama Masjid to be trodden upon.
In the last year of his reign when he was enmeshed in the hopeless war against the Marathas, he wrote to his officers in Gujarat, “The temple of Somnath was destroyed early in my reign. I do not know what the present state of affairs there is. If the idolators have taken to worship of images again, ensure that the temple is destroyed in such a way that no trace remains of the building. Expel every worshipper from the place”. He then ordered that the temple in Pandharpur be demolished, the butchers of the camp be taken there and all the cows of the temple be slaughtered in the temple. And so his tyranny continued until death stilled his hand.
Although, Aurangzeb’s ancestors, including Akbar, demolished temples, the difference was that their demolitions were random and carried out on an impulse. They were not part of a systematic state policy like it was with Aurangzeb. He sought to restrict festivals like Holi and Diwali, ordering that there be no illumination. Sati was abolished and Muharram procession of the Shias was banned (Mughals were Sunnis).
In 1671, he ordered that all the revenue officers in the crown lands be only Muslims with the intent of inducing conversions with the lure of office. This policy was a failure although the lure of office did induce some Hindus to convert. Wait for the next column to learn more about Aurangzeb’s policies of discrimination.