The Navaratnas

                  Great Mughal Emperor Akbar's Navaratnas 

     The Mughal ruler Akbar, despite his illiteracy, was a great lover of the artists and intellectuals. His passion for      knowledge and interest in learning from great minds led him to attract men of genius to his court, known as          the nine courtiers of Emperor Akbar or Navratnas.

 1. Abu'l-Fazl :

  The Author of Shaikh Abu al-Fazal ibn Mubarak (Persian: ابو الفضل‎) also known as Abu'l-Fazl, Abu'l Fadl and Abu'l-Fadl 'Allami (January 14, 1551 – August 12, 1602) was the vizier of the great Mughalemperor Akbar, and author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbar's reign in three volumes, (the third volume is known as the Ain-i-Akbari) and a Persian translation of the Bible.^[1] He was also the brother of Faizi, the poet laureate of emperor Akbar.

  

2. Birbal :

Birbal (Hindustani: [birbəl]; born Mahesh Das; 1528–1586) or more accurately Rajah Birbar, was a Hindu advisor in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar during his rule in India and is mostly remembered in folk tales, which focus on his wit. He belonged to the Brahmin class and was appointed by the Emperor as a poet and singer around 1556–1562, later formed a close association with him, becoming an important advisor and soon being sent on military expeditions despite having no previous background.

3. Miyaan Tansen :

Mian Tansen (born 1493 or 1506 as Ramtanu Pandey – died 1586 or 1589 as Mian Tansen; also named Mohammad Ata Khan) was a prominent Indian classical music composer, musician and vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the plucked rabab (of Central Asian origin). He was among the Navaratnas (nine jewels) at the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.

4. Raja Man Singh :

 Man Singh (Man Singh I) (December 21, 1550 – July 6, 1614) was the Kacchwaha King of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur. He was a trusted general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who included him among the Navaratnas, or the 9(nava) gems(ratna) of the royal court. Akbar  was his Matrimonial Uncle as he was married to Jodha Bai , Man singh's Matrimonial Aunt .

5. Raja Todarmal :

Raja Todar Mal was born in Laharpur, Uttar Pradesh in a Hindu family, and rose to become the Finance Minister in Akbar's Darbar of the Mughal empire.

6. Shaikh Faizi :

 The Elder Brother of ABU'L FAZL . He Translated the LEELAWATI GRANTH in PERSIAN language . 

7. Abdul Raheem Khan-e-Khana :

Khanzada Mirza Khan Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana (17 December 1556 – 1626) (Hindi: अब्दुल रहीम ख़ान-ए-ख़ाना, Urdu: عبدالرحيم خانخان), also known as Rahim (रहीम, رحیم) was a poet who lived during the rule of Mughal emperor Akbar. Rahim is known for his Hindi couplets and his books on astrology . The village of Khankhana, which is named after him, is located in the Nawanshahr district of the state of Punjab, India.

8. Faqir Aziao - Din :

Faqir Aziao-Din (Faqir means Sage or Ascetic in Urdu) was a mystic and also was a chief ad-visor in akbars court. Akbar regarded his advice in high esteem and included him among the nine gems of his court .He used to give the Emperor Akbar advice on religious matters.

  

9. Mullah Do-Piyaza

Mullah Do-Piyaza, is a character from the folk tales featuring the Mughal emperor Akbar and the wit of his courtier Birbal. As he too, was known for his wit, he is portrayed as Birbal's rival. While these folk tales originated at the end ofAkbar's reign, Mullah Do-Piyaza's character began to appear later, popularised by writers in the twentieth century. Based on a persian who existed before Akbar, he was Birbal's Muslim counterpart and was like a proponent of orthodoxIslam. Most of the time shown getting the better of both Birbal and Akbar but there are other stories which portray him in poor light.^[1]

No contemporary record mentions about Mullah Do-Piyaza, pamphlets on his life and jokes were published in the late 19th century, which were rejected by a modern scholar Hafiz Mahmood Shirani, where he claimed that Mulla Do-Piyaza was a historical personality whose original name was Abdul Momin. He was born in India but left for Iran in 1582. He returned to India after 36 years and died in 1620. His tomb is located in Handia. But his claim was refuted by other modern scholars, who consider Mullah Do-Piyaza to be completely fictional.