CHAPTER VI THE EUIN OF AUEANGZIB THE MAEATHA WAR 1680-1707 A. D. A PROFOUND tranquillity, broken by no rebellion of any political importance, reigned throughout Northern India for the first twenty years of Aurang- zib's rule. So far there had been no serious persecu- tion and no religious disabilities: but there can be no doubt that Aurangzib was only nursing his zeal for the faith until it should be safe to display it against the unbelievers. Indeed, there were signs of the coming storm as early as 1669. In April of that year he was informed that the Brahmans of Benares and other Hindu centres were in the habit of teaching their " wicked sciences, " not only to their own people, but to Moslems. This was more than the orthodox emperor could tolerate; the temple of Vishnu at Benares was destroyed, and the splendid shrine at Mathura was razed to the ground to make room for a magnificent mosque. The idols were brought to Agra and buried under the steps of the mosque, so that good Moslems might have the satisfaction of treading them underfoot. Three years later the fanaticism of the Hindus found 145
