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BHĀNUCANDRA CARITRA
“Although I am the master of so vast a kingdom and all the appliances of Government are to my hand, yet since true greatness consists in doing the will of God, my mind is not at ease in this diversity of sects and creeds; and apart from this outward pomp of. circumstance, with what satisfaction in my despondency, can I undertake the sway of empire? I await the coming of some discreet man of principle, who will resolve the difficulties of my conscience". ("The Sayings of His Majesty" Aine Akbari Vol. III. P. 386).
Maxmuller calls Akbar the first student of comparative religion. Fired with the zeal to provide a common faith for all, he first studied and discussed the doctrines of Islam with the help of Ulemās. Next, he gathered around him a select group of persons, who had drunk deep at the fountains of other faiths-Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and other faiths. Reason rather than anything else was his guiding star in his quest of truth, which would be acceptable to all. He once said, "(1) The superiority of man rests on the jewel of reason. It is meet that he should labour in its burnishing, and turn not from its instruction; (2) A man is the disciple of his own reason. If it has naturally a good lustre, it becomes itself his director, and if it gains it under the direction of a higher mind, it is still a guide.” (Aine Akbari Vol. III p. 382).
The result of his inquiry into, and study of, the tenets of various faiths was little short of a revelation to him. He found that the common principle running through all the faiths was the quest of truth-eternal truth about the purpose lying behind the creation, in the broadest sense of the term. He also found that all the faiths were nothing but strenuous efforts to mould human behaviour in such a way that it would be in tane with the infinite, and that all the faiths represented the undying desire of Man to see his way through the tangled cobweb of this universe. Some faiths had gone far on the way to this final discovery, while others lagged behind; but all unflinchingly aimed at the same thing. No sooner did this truth dawn upon him, than he proclaimed complete religious toleration throughout the length and breadth of his mighty empire. It was the corner stone on which he strove to build the edifice of a World Faith. He earnestly believed that it would make the world happy and contented, and would bring lasting peace to one and all. At least, this belief made him the mightiest and the most beloved monarch.
The days of Islamic superiority and despotic fanaticism were over. He frankly admits :-"Formerly, I persecuted men in conformity with my faith, and deemed it Islām. As I grew in knowledge, I was overwhelmed with shame. Not being a Muslim myself, it was not meet to force others to become such. What constancy is to be expected from prosely tes on compulsion?" (Aine Akbari Vol. III. p. 384).
Early in 1573 A.D. the Ibādatkhānā or "The House of Worship" was built. Religious
1 Abul Fazal says:-"With the magnanimity which distinguishes him and with his wonted
zeal, he continues his search for superior men, and finds & reward in the care with which he selects such as are fit for his society". (Aine Akbari Vol. I, P. 154 Ain. 72 The manner in which His Majesty spends his time).
