[Solved] Majma-ul-Bahrain: Dara Shikoh's Philosophical Synthesis

Among the following which is a composition of Dara Shikoh?

[Chhattisgarh PCS (Pre) 2018]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Prince Dara Shikoh was a philosopher-prince who sought to find a common ground between Islamic Sufism and Hindu Vedantic philosophy. His work is the peak of the 'syncretic' intellectual movement of the Mughals.

Authentic Source Evidence

Dara Shikoh authored the Majma-ul-Bahrain (written in the options as Mazzmaul Bahainna). The title translates to 'The Confluence of the Two Oceans'. In this treatise, he argued that the fundamental truths of the Upanishads and the Quran are essentially the same and lead to the same God.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Tabakat-e-Nasiri and Kitab-ul-Hind belong to much earlier historians (Minhaj-us-Siraj and Al-Biruni).

Logic 2: Dara Shikoh’s focus was on spiritual synthesis, making Majma-ul-Bahrain a unique bridge between Indian and Persian religious thought.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What was Dara Shikoh's other major contribution to literature?"

He oversaw the translation of fifty Upanishads into Persian, titled 'Sirr-i-Akbar' (The Great Secret).

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Dara Shikoh's Majma-ul-Bahrain represents the 'unfulfilled potential' of a multi-religious India, which was later suppressed by the more orthodox Aurangzeb."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Sirr-i-Akbar 3 Upanishads 6

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