In the battle that ensued, the defeated Jahangir was sentenced to death by the Emperor. Another plausible reason for Akbar dissuading his son was that Anarkali was rumoured to have given birth to AkbarвЂ™s second son, Prince Daniyal. The Emperor tried to convince his son against having a relationship with a dancing girl - dancers were considered to be born of low birth. The story goes that Prince Salim, who later became Mughal Emperor Jahangir, had become enamoured by AnarkaliвЂ™s looks and skillful movements while watching her dance performance at AkbarвЂ™s court. However, due to her subsequent love affair with AkbarвЂ™s son and heir-apparent, Prince Salim, she was entombed alive by an enraged Emperor at Anarkali Bazaar, Lahore. Anarkali became the EmperorвЂ™s favourite court dancer. Nadira Begum asked for a pomegranate, and thus was christened Anarkali (pomegranate blossom) by the Emperor himself. Akbar was besotted by her beauty and wished to bestow upon her a reward.

Legend attributes her meeting with Emperor Akbar in a garden. She was originally known as Sharf-us-Nisa or Nadira Begum, and came to the Mughal empire through Lahore.

The life of Anarkali, the medieval period dancing slave girl, is hazy. She was moved by their kindness and joined BuddhaвЂ™s order, becoming a begging saint. Around this time Amrapali came upon Buddha and his disciples, who were visiting Vaishali. Amrapali renounced him and asked him to leave. The people of Vaishali imprisoned Amrapali, to stop her union with Ajatashatru. BimbisaraвЂ™s other son, the brave Ajatashatru, who conquered many kingdoms, imprisoned his father and set out to capture VaishaliвЂ¦and Amrapali. AmrapaliвЂ™s beauty continued to enchant people of royal birth. Later, on AmrapaliвЂ™s request, Bimbisara returned to his kingdom. He thereafter lived with Amrapali, who bore him a son named Vimal Kondanna. However, Bimbisara, the brave ruler of Magadha, the most powerful kingdom of ancient India, heard about her beauty and dancing talent, and invaded Vaishali. This meant that there could be no rivalry among the royals to possess this beautiful girl, who had been married to the entire city or kingdom. As was the practice in those days, Amrapali was declared a вЂNagaravadhuвЂ™ (Bride of the Kingdom). It is believed that the Vaishali King, Manudev, who witnessed her dance performance, was besotted with her. Amrapali was a beautiful girl, with immense grace. Nevertheless, Amrapali and Anarkali have captured the imagination of cultural connoisseurs, due to their roles as powerful and enchanting dancing courtesans.ДЄmrapali, or Ambapali, is said to have been born under a mango (amba) tree in the republic of Vaishali, which was inhabited by people of the Lichchavi clan. However, there is surprisingly no mention of Anarkali in other authentic sources. The Mughal period accounts written by a traveller, William Finch, and by Abdul Halim Sharar, have references to Anarkali. Authentic Pali texts and Jataka Tales, which narrate the stories of Buddha, refer to Amrapali, a beautiful dancing courtesan of Vaishali.

If legend is to be believed - classically captured by Bollywood in Amrapali (1966) starring Vyjantimala, Anarkali (1953) starring Bina Roy and Mughal-e-Azam (1960), starring Madhubala - the influence of these dancing courtesans could well have altered the history of Ancient and Medieval India. Century, BC, and the Mughal empire during the time of Emperors Akbar and Jahangir. The beauty and dancing prowess of two courtesans could well have brought down two great empires - the Kingdom of Magadha in 5th.

Amrapali doordarshan