Beyond the Throne: Humayun's Whimsical Inventions and the 'Carpet of Mirth'

Emperor Humayun, often remembered for his tumultuous reign marked by periods of exile and restoration, was a ruler with a mind that constantly sought order, symbolism, and even playful innovation. Beyond the grand strategies of war and governance, Humayun possessed a unique genius for devising systems and objects that blended the practical with the philosophical, the earthly with the celestial. Abu'l Fazl, in the Akbarnama, offers us a window into this fascinating aspect of Humayun's court, detailing inventions that aimed to bring harmony, structure, and even mirth into the daily life of the empire.

A Mind Aligned with the Cosmos

Humayun's inventive spirit wasn't merely about novelty; it was deeply rooted in his belief in cosmic influences and divine guidance. Abu'l Fazl recounts an instance where Humayun, seeking an augury for his dominion (daulat), encountered three men whose names—Murad (Joy), Daulat (Dominion), and Sa'adat (Auspiciousness)—perfectly aligned with his aspirations. This event solidified his conviction in structuring his world according to symbolic principles.

This led to a unique organization of his court and subjects into three classes, mirroring these auspicious concepts:

Ahl-i-Daulat (People of Dominion): His relatives, officers, viziers, and soldiers—those essential for the empire's power.
Ahl-i-Sa'adat (People of Auspiciousness): Philosophers, scholars, Sayyids, Shaikhs, judges, poets, and skilled individuals—those who brought honour and wisdom.
Ahl-i-Murad (People of Desire/Joy): Architects, painters, musicians, and singers—those who brought delight.

He even assigned days of the week to these groups, aligning them with planetary influences. Saturday and Thursday (Saturn and Jupiter) for the Ahl-i-Sa'adat, Sunday and Tuesday (Sun and Mars) for the Ahl-i-Daulat, and Monday and Wednesday (Moon and Mercury) for the Ahl-i-Murad. Friday, the day of assembly (jam'a), was for all.

Golden Arrows and Elemental Governance

To oversee these divisions, Humayun devised three golden arrows (sahm, meaning both division and arrow), each entrusted to a leader from the respective class. These weren't just symbols; they represented authority and responsibility, with consequences for those who strayed from loyalty and justice.

Further reflecting his structured mind, Humayun divided the state departments into four classes based on the classical elements:

Fire: Artillery, armour, and weapons.
Air: Wardrobe, kitchen, stables, and animal management.
Water: Drinks, canals, and waterworks.
Earth: Agriculture, buildings, and treasury lands.

Each department had its own vizier and associated officials, creating a system that, while perhaps overly symbolic, aimed for comprehensive administration.

Floating Palaces and Movable Marvels

Humayun's inventions weren't confined to abstract organization. He commissioned remarkable physical structures:

River Barges: Large barges on the Yamuna were fitted with elegant two-storey houses, joined to create an octagonal reservoir in the center—a floating court for leisure and contemplation.
Boat Bazar and Garden: He even organized a moving bazar and a garden on boats, allowing the court to travel by river without leaving behind the comforts and necessities of city life.
Movable Palace: A three-storey palace constructed from interlocking beams that could be dismantled and transported—a testament to ingenious carpentry and the transient nature of a ruler's abode.

Other notable inventions included the Tāj-i-‘izzat (Cap of Honour) with symbolic divisions and tents designed to represent the zodiac and the celestial spheres.

The Carpet of Mirth: A Cosmic Game

Perhaps the most captivating of Humayun's inventions was the Basāt-i-Nishāt (Carpet of Mirth). This was a large, round carpet with nine concentric circles, each representing a celestial sphere and coloured accordingly (white for the crystalline sphere, blue for the moon, golden for the sun, etc.). Courtiers would sit in the circle corresponding to their planetary association.

Adding a layer of playful interaction, dice were used, each side depicting a human figure in a different position (standing, seated, reclining). Depending on the throw, the person had to assume the corresponding position. Abu'l Fazl describes this as a means of "increasing mirth," but in Humayun's court, even games likely carried deeper symbolic weight, perhaps reminding participants of the ever-changing positions dictated by fate and cosmic forces.

Humayun also practiced wearing clothes whose colour matched the planet of the day and instituted a "Drum of Justice" with different beats to signal various types of grievances, ensuring accessibility for his subjects.

Legacy of an Inventive King

Abu'l Fazl presents these inventions not just as curiosities but as reflections of Humayun's profound nature—a ruler who sought to harmonize the earthly realm with the divine and cosmic order as he understood it. While some innovations might seem eccentric today, they reveal a king deeply engaged with the intellectual and symbolic currents of his time.

By meticulously recording these details, Abu'l Fazl preserves a unique portrait of a monarch whose reign, though politically turbulent, was marked by a constant, often whimsical, pursuit of order, beauty, and meaning through invention. These accounts remind us that history is not just a chronicle of battles and successions, but also of the fascinating ways individuals shaped their world, blending governance with personal philosophy and cosmic belief.

What can we learn? Perhaps that true leadership, even amidst chaos, can manifest in unexpected ways, seeking not just control, but also harmony, understanding, and even a touch of cosmic playfulness in the fabric of daily life." of daily life." of life.