A visit to tomb of Rahim Khan-I-Khana

Khanzada Mirza Khan Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana ( 17 December 1556 - 1627, popularly known as Rahim, was a composer of Mughal times during the reign of Akbar.  He was born in Lahore on 14th Cafar 964. He was one of the Navaratnas(minister) in the court.  Father of Abdul Rahim, Bairam Khan, was a trusted caretaker of Akabar, belonged to Turkic ancestry.

Khanzadahs, the royal family of Muslim jadon Rajput, accepted Islam on their association with the sufi saints.  Khanzadah, the persian form of Rajputana word 'Rajput', is the title of the great representatives of the ancient Jadubansi royal rajput family, descendant of Krishna and therefore belonging to Lunar dynasty (Chandravanshi).

After Bairam Khan was murdered in Patan, Gujrat, his wife and young Rahim were brought safely to Ahmedabad, and from there they were brought to Delhi, where they were presented to the Royal court of Akbar, where he was awarded the title of 'Mirza Khan'.   There he was married to Mah Banu, sister of Mirza Aziz Kokah, son of  Ataga Khan, a noted Mughal noble.

Later on, Akbar married Bairam Khans' wife, thus making Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khan his stepson.  Although a muslim by birth, Abdul Rahim was a devotee of Lord Krishna and wrote about him in his poetries.  Other than poetry he was also an noted astrologer and known for two of his important works namely - Khet Kautukam and Dwawishd Yogavali, which are still popular.

Also, Rahim was known for his peculiar manner of giving alms to the poor.   He never looked at the person he was giving alms to, keeping his gaze downwards in all humility.  When Tulsidas heard about behavior of Rahim, he wrote the following couplet in his honor.

"ऐसी देनी देंन ज्यूँ, कित सीखे हो सैन ज्यों ज्यों कर ऊंच्यो करो, त्यों त्यों निचे नैन"
"Sir, Why give alms like this? Where'd you learn that? Your hands are as high as your eyes are low."

Realizing that Tulsidas was well aware of the truth behind creation, and was merely giving him an opportunity to say a few lines in a reply, in all humility he replied


"देनहार कोई और है, भेजत जो दिन रैन
लोग भरम हम पर करे, तासो निचे नैन"
"The Giver is someone else, giving day and night. So they won't give me the credit, I lower my eyes"

Apart from writing dohas, Rahim translated Babar's memoirs, Baburnama, from Chagatai language to Persian language, which was completed in AH 998 ( 1589-90). He was extremely fluent in Sanskrit, and could work with Arabic, Persian and Turkish language.

The tomb was build by him for his wife in 1598, and later he was himself buried in it 1627.  This monument is carved with stucco work and intricate patterns.

This information has primarily been compiled from Wikipedia

Here is the link to my Picasa web album with some more clicks of this monument.