The Abduction of Usha (Usha Ikha Purana)

Indian architecture and decorative arts achieved a high level of development under the Mughals. In spite of their appetite for conquest, rebellions against their fathers and murder of their own brothers, the Mughal emperors were educated, steeped in Persian influenced literature, architecture and arts with a highly refined aesthetic sensibility. Like their contemporaries, the Safavids in Iran and Ottomans in Turkey, the Mughals devoted considerable resources to ambitious building projects and also patronised the decorative arts and miniature painting.

Akbar (ruled 1556–1605), Jahangir (ruled 1605–27), Shah Jahan (ruled 1627–58) and Aurangzeb (ruled 1658–1707) were the four most long-lived Mughal emperors. These rulers are credited with founding and often personally supervising workshops that manufactured sumptuous carpets, textiles and gorgeous metallic, crystal, ivory and enamelled objects.