A Study of Development of Gardens in Urbanization and Economy in Mughal India | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

The Mughal court culture was essentially urban in nature and garden was an integral element of urban living in Mughal India where rulers, aristocrats and elite class enjoyed comfortable, pleasant and aesthetic surroundings. The Mughals, specifically Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, started the tradition of an excellent layout of garden, known as Chaharbagh. The Persian literati used the words Gulistan and bustan for floral garden, especially in poetic form. The word gulistan in Persian consists of Gul in rose or flower and bustan in bu in perfume or smells. But in the sense of garden, both these Persian words are used in Arabic. In addition, in the sources are also found the words 'gulshan' or 'chaman.' Again, the term 'gulshan' (gulflower) in Persian refers to the flower garden or a rose garden. Overall, the Persian word 'bagh' is used for orchard, grove and garden by the Mughal Chroniclers. Because the term also refers to the cluster or plantings, it really refers to the Mughal Garden. Even inscriptions always mention bagh, which proves their official acceptance for gardens. The Hindi term bari in Guyarat and Rajasthan was synonymous with the Persian bagh. Garden poetry or imaginary works can also be well understood from the name of the two poetic compositions 'Gulistan' and 'Bustan' by the great Persian poet Sa'ady of Shiraz (1184-1291). In Mughal India in Chandra Bhan Munshi's Chaharchaman work, that is, 'four gardens,' was discovered with the same garden imagery. The book was divided into four shamans (sections). One of Chandra Bhan's biographers interprets it as a deliberate attempt to nod to the power of the shaharbagh as an imperial and paradisiacal metaphor rather than just coincidence that Chandra Bhan decides to name his grand opus prose, Chahar Khaman So the name of this scientific work related to the gardens indeed, to the influence of the predominant garden culture, particularly the concept of the chaharbagh system migrating from Persia to Mughal India.