Birbal IPA: [biːrbəl] (born Mahesh Das Bhatt; 1528–1586), or Raja Birbal, was an advisor in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is mostly known in the Indian subcontinent for the folk tales which focus on his wit. Birbal was appointed by Akbar as a poet and singer in around 1556–1562. He had a close association with the Emperor, being part of his group of courtiers called the navaratna or nine jewels.