Divine concept of Muslim kingship was derived from the ancient civilizations of the East in which the person of king  had become sacred  and infallible, therefore, the symbols which were adopted by kings were enunciation of their power  and wealth.  The Mughal rulers inherited these symbols of royalty  which were  evolved and developed during the time of Umayyid and Abbasid Caliphate who modeled their courts on   the pattern of Byzantinian and Sasanids ruling dynasties. When the political power of the Abbasid Caliphate declined and the provincial governors became independent rulers, the Persian influence in their courts was more emphasised, especially in the courts of the Samanids, Ziyarids, and Buyids who claimed  descent from the Persian royal family. The idea that the rulers of Persian descent were the inheritors of the royal splendour ( farr-I-kiyani ) was deeply rooted in the hearts of the Persian converts to Islam. They worked with zeal in the Eastern kingdoms of the Caliphate for the revival of the Persian concept of kingship, Persian symbols of royalty , and court ceremonies.The majestic titles, rituals, ceremonies , processions, awards, construction of huge monuments were adopted as means to build the image of the king. The Persian symbols of royalty: the throne, the chatr (umbrella ), the sceptre and kettledrums became the royal insignia of Muslim rulers.

The Mughal  rulers, thus, not only inherited the old Byzantinian ,  Sasanid and Islamic traditions,  but also added  the  Chingizi  and the Indian royal symbols and ceremonies to make their court glamorous and resplendent. The early two rulers, Babur and Humayoun , because of political instability, didn’t get time to incorporate these symbols  and traditions to the court ceremonies, Akbar, the third ruler of the dynasty, completed the the task of  making the court  a centre of power by establishing  etiquette, rituals, ceremonies and displaying symbols of royalty. Abul Fadl, the official historian at the court, provided the philosophical basis for Mughal kingship by exalting the position and emphasising the importance of royalty. Royalty , according to him, is the highest dignity in the eye of God. It is the light which emanates from God. According to him , all actions of the king are divine, and therefore are to be accepted by his subject without any question. The divine concept of the Mughal kingship justified all  symbols and etiquette which were adopted by  the rulers to show their divinity and powers.

The paper on the “Mughal Symbols of Royalty” will trace the idea of  divine kingship which evolved by the Muslim ruling dynasties and legalised by  Muslim jurists on the basis of the doctrine of necessity.The Mughal rulers adopted these symbols to legitimise their rule.No new symbol was invented by them. They only made these symbols more elaborate and magnificient.There was also no serious religious challenge to these emblems, except a few court etiquette, which contradicted religious rituals, such as prostration before the emperor  which was objected by a group of ulama. On the other hand, symbols were just displayed for observation.They not only impressed observers to see power and grandeur of their rulers but also involved them  emotionally and psychologically to become a part of them. That’s why symbols of royalty were  seldom criticised or condemned by ulama.

 The paper will also trace the history of the symbols which were modified by the various Mughal rulers according to their needs and taste. However, all  rulers made  attempts  to give them a Mughal character and identity.