Was Akbar raised as Shia originallly? I am asking this question because Humayun had accepted to become Shia as a condition for accepting the help of Iranians and was probably Shia when Akbar was born. If so, did he become Sunni while under the custodianship of Bairam Khan?
Contrary to popular belief Akbar, continued the policy of Babur and Humayun in the destruction of Hindu temples. It is recorded by Bayazid Biyat, personal attendant of Humayun, that Akbar gave two villages for the upkeep of a mosque and a Madrasa which was setup by destroying a Hindu temple [18]. Akbar's army was responsible for demolition of rich Hindu temples which had gold idols in the Doab region between Ganga and Yamuna [18]. Historian Abd al-Qadir Badauni records that during Akbar's reign at Nagarkot, near Kangra, 200 cows were slaughtered, numerous Hindus killed and a temple was demolished [18].
Contrary to popular belief Akbar, continued the policy of Babur and Humayun in the destruction of Hindu temples. It is recorded by Bayazid Biyat, personal attendant of Humayun, that Akbar gave two villages for the upkeep of a mosque and a Madrasa which was setup by destroying a Hindu temple [18]. Akbar's army was responsible for demolition of rich Hindu temples which had gold idols in the Doab region between Ganga and Yamuna [18]. Historian Abd al-Qadir Badauni records that during Akbar's reign at Nagarkot, near Kangra, 200 cows were slaughtered, numerous Hindus killed and a temple was demolished [18].
On the 1st Rajab 990 [AD 1582] Akbar's forces encamped by a field of maize near Nagarkot. The fortress (hissãr) of Bhîm, which has an idol temple of Mahãmãî, and in which none but her servants dwelt, was taken by the valour of the assailants at the first assault. A party of Rajpûts, who had resolved to die, fought most desperately till they were all cut down. A number of Brãhmans who for many years had served the temple, never gave one thought to flight, and were killed. Nearly 200 black cows belonging to Hindûs had, during the struggle, crowded together for shelter in the temple. Some savage Turks, while the arrows and bullets were falling like rain, killed those cows. They then took off their boots and filled them with the blood and cast it upon the roof and walls of the temple [19].
Akbar waged a holy war (Jihad) against Rana Pratap. Abd al-Qadir Badauni who was then one of Akbar's court chaplains or imams, states that he sought an interview with the emperor when the royal troops were marching against Rana Pratap in 1576, begging leave of absence for "the privilege of joining the campaign to soak his Islamic beard in Hindu infidel blood". Akbar was so pleased at the expression of allegiance to his person and to the Islamic idea of Jihad that he bestowed a handful of gold coins on Badaoni as a token of his pleasure.[20]
At first the Emperor said: “Why he has just been appointed one of the Court-Imáms, how can he go?�? Naqíb Khán represented that I had a very strong desire to take part in a holy war. So the Emperor sent for me, and asked me: “Are you in earnest?�? I answered: “Yes.�? Then he said, “For what reason?�? I humbly replied: “I have the presumption to desire to dye these black mustachios and beard in infidel blood through loyalty to your Majesty's person:— .....And when I put out my hand towards the couch in order to kiss his foot, he withdrew it; but, just as I was going out of the audience chamber, he called me back, and filling both his hands he presented me with a sum of 56 ashrafí, and bid me farewell.
During the siege of Chittor, 8000 rajputs had remained inside the fort to defend various temples after the cavalry sallied out to meet Akbar's army in the plain below. These 8000 died fighting to the last man in defence of Hindu temples when Akbar's army stormed the fort and attacked the temples. In addition their were 30,000 Hindu peasants inside the fort who were unarmed and massacred in cold blood by Akbar's forces [21]. Historians have succesfully argued that victorious Islamic armies usually gave a choice of conversion to the defeated and on refusal to convert such massacres occured.
The shrine of Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer was presented brass candlesticks by Akbar which were taken after the destruction of Kalika temple by Akbar during the third siege of Chittor [22]
References
1. bookrags.com - Encyclopedia of World Biography article
2. the-south-asian.com - Short Biography
3. bookrags.com - Encyclopedia of World Biography article
4. the-south-asian.com - Short Biography
5. Women of the Mughal Dynasty - Deborah Hutton - 2002 - Skidmore College.
6. History of India The Nine Gems of Akbar - Neria Harish Hebbar, MD - Saturday, April 5 2003
7. The Second Battle of Panipat - Robert W. Martin - about.com.
8. a b c Abul Fazl - Akbarnama Volume II
9. The life and times of Humayun, by Ishwari Prasad (1955, rev. 1970)[1]
10.Akbar - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2006
11.a b Irfan Habib (1992), "Akbar and Technology", Social Scientist 20 (9-10), pp. 3-15 [3-4].
12.Abul Fazl - Akbarnama Volume III
13.S.K. Banjerji: "Humayun Badshah".
14.Abul Fazl - Akbarnama Volume I
15.http://punjabgovt.nic.in/government/gurdas1.GIF
16.a b Jahangir, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Memoirs), 17th century, as translated by Alexander Rogers, 1863.
17.M. Miles, SIGN, GESTURE & DEAFNESS IN SOUTH ASIAN & SOUTH-WEST ASIAN HISTORIES: a bibliography with annotation and excerpts from India; also from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma/Myanmar, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Persia/Iran, & Sri Lanka, c1200-1750
18.a b c Harbans, Mukhia : The Mughals of India, Pub: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., ISBN: 9780631185550, Page 23
19.H.M. Elliot and J.Dowson, History of India As Told by Own Historians, Volume V, Publisher: Ams Pr Inc (June 1977), p. 358
20.Abd al-Qadir Badauni, Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, vol. II, p. 383
21.Dr. Satish Chandra: Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals, Pub: Har Anand Publications, ISBN: 8124105227, Page 107
22.C.C.Watson (I.C.S): Rajputana District Gazetteers, Pub: 1904 Scottish Mission Industries Co., Ltd., Page 17
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