A Call for Eclectic Mysticism in Dara Shikoh’s Majma’-ul-Bahrain
Author : Sameena Tabassum
Abstract :
The well-known work Majma’-ul-Bahrain is a spiritual treatise written in the Persian language by the young Indian Mughal Prince, Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of the Indian Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan. The prince was deeply interested in the study of religion and philosophy. The title of his monumental work is a Persian phrase which means “The Mergence of Two Oceans”. The two Oceans represent the two religions, Islam and Hinduism. The treatise seeks to find the merging point for the two religions. The philosophical work is a literary legendary landmark in comparative religion. It is an earnest attempt to explore the similarities between the two religious philosophies, Islam and Hinduism. It is a spiritual treatise which not only highlights the commonalities between the two religions but also calls for their spiritual synergy for communal harmony. It draws parallels between the mystic ideas preached in both the religious philosophies and thus portrays a picture of eclectic mysticism sought by the prince-philosopher. The mystic unity is achieved by uniting the ideas from both the religions. Majma’-ul-Bahrain is, thus, Dara Shikoh’s ardent plea for pluralism and a clarion call for communal harmony. It proves the wise young Mughal Prince as a true champion of the Hindu-Muslim unity.
Keywords :
Dara Shikoh, Majma’-ul-Bahrain, communal harmony, comparative religion
