In Mughal history, Mumtaz Mahal, in whose memory the Taj Mahal was built, originally bore which of the following names before she became a queen?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of Mughal royal history, specifically about Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal, one of the most famous monuments in the world, was constructed in her memory. Before becoming queen and being given the title Mumtaz Mahal, she had a personal name. Exams often ask for this original name to connect architectural history with personal details of Mughal royalty.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about the original name of Mumtaz Mahal.
- It mentions that she was the queen in whose memory the Taj Mahal was built.
- The options include names of different Mughal royal women such as Mihr un Nisa, Jagat Gosain, Arjumand Banu, Man Bai and Nur Jahan.
- We assume the question expects the commonly accepted historical detail that Mumtaz Mahal was born as Arjumand Banu Begum.

Concept / Approach:
Mumtaz Mahal was the chief consort of Shah Jahan and died in 1631. Her original name before marriage and elevation to the title Mumtaz Mahal was Arjumand Banu Begum. Mihr un Nisa is the birth name of Nur Jahan, the influential wife of Jahangir. Jagat Gosain and Man Bai were other queens associated with different Mughal emperors. The approach is to match each name with the correct historical figure and identify which one corresponds to Mumtaz Mahal.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his consort Mumtaz Mahal. Step 2: Remember that historical records state her original name as Arjumand Banu Begum. Step 3: Identify Mihr un Nisa as the original name of Nur Jahan, the powerful queen of Jahangir. Step 4: Note that Jagat Gosain and Man Bai were queens of Akbar and Jahangir in other contexts, not Shah Jahans Mumtaz. Step 5: Match this knowledge with the options and select Arjumand Banu as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall commonly repeated facts in history books, where Arjumand Banu Begum is consistently mentioned as the woman later titled Mumtaz Mahal. In contrast, Mihr un Nisa is always connected with Nur Jahan. Remembering these distinct name and title combinations, such as Arjumand Banu Mumtaz Mahal and Mihr un Nisa Nur Jahan, provides a reliable cross check.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mihr un Nisa: The original name of Nur Jahan, wife of Jahangir, not of Mumtaz Mahal.
Jagat Gosain: A queen associated with Akbars family, not identified as Mumtaz Mahal.
Man Bai: Another Mughal royal lady, but not the consort for whom the Taj Mahal was built.
Nur Jahan: This is itself a title referring to Mihr un Nisa, not the original name of Mumtaz Mahal.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Mughal queens because of multiple names and titles, such as Mihr un Nisa and Nur Jahan for the same person. Another error is to guess based on the most familiar sounding name. Organising the information into simple pairs such as Arjumand Banu Mumtaz Mahal and Mihr un Nisa Nur Jahan helps keep these identities clear and prevents mixing them up.

Final Answer:
The original name of Mumtaz Mahal was Arjumand Banu.