Raja Birbal (1528-1586) was the Grand Vizier (Wazīr-e Azam) of the Mughal court in the administration of the Mughal emperor Akbar and one of his most trusted members along with being a part of Akbar's inner council of nine advisors, known as the navaratna, a Sanskrit word meaning nine jewels.

Birbal's duties in Akbar's court were mostly military and administrative but he was also a very close friend of the emperor, who liked Birbal most for his wit and wisdom, as a result of which they frequently had witty and humorous exchanges between them. These exchanges and stories have become part of a rich tradition of folklore and legend.

Early years

Born Mahesh Das in 1528 in the village Ghoghara of Sihawal tehsil in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, Birbal grew up in a Brahmin household, educated but impoverished. He was a poet and author whose wit and wisdom led the Emperor Akbar to invite him to be a part of the royal court and to bestow upon him a new name - Birbal. Akbar also conferred on him the title of Raja.

Birbal & Sikh Guru

According to Giani Gian Singh, The author of the Book Twarikh Guru Khalsa , in 1626, Raja Birbal met Guru Amar Das, the third guru of Sikhism. He and his army had their meals in the Langar, when some unscrupulous individual told him that Guru Amar Das had a precious rasayana (a rejuvenating ointment that promised eternal youth according to Ayurveda's Bhoota Vidya). He demanded this rasayana from Guru Amar Das. But Guru Amar Das replied God's name is the true rasayana and this rasayana is only gifted to the previous Gurus.

Birbal did not believe him and instead got angry. He said that he would take the rasayana the next day but at night. However, he had orders to reach Malandri (Muhim) the next day. Abandoning his plans for the rasayana, he journeyed onward.

Death

Raja Birbal died in the battle of Malandari Pass, attempting to quell unrest amongst Afghan or Pashtun tribes in Northwest India. Akbar was said to have mourned for a long time on hearing the news. The death was said to be caused by treachery, not military defeat. Sanchit Fazal killed Birbal because of his close relationship with Akbar.

Further reading

• 50 Wittiest Tales of Birbal (ISBN 81-7806-050-7) by Clifford Sawhney (Publishers: Pustak Mahal, Delhi)
• Solve Your Problems Author: Luis S. R. Vas (ISBN 81-223-0800-7)

Unravelling in the Court of Akbar, the well-known Birbal stories illustrate the minister’s sagacity and problem-solving acumen. The Ninth Gem of the Mughal Crown By: James Moseley

See also

• Tenali Ramakrishna

References

• Birbal & Sikh Guru

External links

• Stories of Birbal
• Akbar and Birbal Digital Flipbook