Sultan Ghari was the firstIslamicMausoleum (tomb) built in 1233 AD for PrinceNasiruddin Mahmud, eldest son ofIltumish, in the "funerary landscape ofDelhi" in the Nangal Dewat Forest, Near Nangal DewatVasant Kunj).[2][3]
Iltumish was the third Sultan of the Slave Dynasty who ruled inDelhi from 1210 to 1236 AD. The area where the Ghari (meaning: cave) tomb is situated, was part of medieval Delhi known as theSlave Dynasty that ruled during the period 1206 CE to 1290 CE, pre-existed as a Hindu temple fromGurjara-Pratihara era (700 to 1100 CE). This area is now part of theQutb complex. The Slave Dynasty was the forerunner under the earlyDelhi Sultanate that ruled from 1216 CE to 1516 CE. This dynastic city was followed by creation of other five cities of Delhi ruled by different dynastic rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, namely, theKhalji dynasty (1290–1320), theTughlaq dynasty (1320–1413 CE), theSayyid dynasty (1414–51 CE), and theLodi dynasty (1451–1526 CE). The rule of theMughal Empire then followed and lasted from 1526 CE to 1857 CE.[2][3][4][5][6]
Thecrypt or the tomb is implanted in a Ghari (cave), approached by winding steep stairs made of stone, and supported by pillars and flooring. The cave is covered by an unusualoctagonalroof stone slab. The exterior of the tomb structure built in Delhisandstone withmarble adornment exhibits a walled area with bastions (towers) on corners, which impart it the look of afortress in aestheticPersian andOrientalarchitecture.[3][7][8] The other tombs inside the Ghari have not been identified.[4]
Iltumish, ruling from Delhi since 1210 AD, invaded eastern India in 1225 AD to captureLakhnauti (now a ruined city inWest Bengal called Gaur). The resultant battle ended in signing of atreaty betweenIwaz Khalji, the then ruler of Eastern India (Bihar andBengal) and Iltumish; the former ruler agreeing to pay a surety of 80 lakh tankas (silver currency), 38 elephants, mint and issue of coins in the name of Iltumish and accepting Sultan's suzerainty over the region. Before returning to Delhi, Iltumish divided the region into Bihar and Lakhnauti, and installedAlauddin Jani as his feudatory in Lakhnauti. But Jani's control was short-lived, as he was overthrown by Iwaz soon after Iltumish's departure.[9]
Thereafter, Iltutmish deputed his eldest son princeNasiruddin Mahmud to fightIwaz Khalji. In the battle which took place near Lakhnauti, Iwaz was trounced and executed in 1227 AD, along with his nobles. Prince Nasiru'd-Din Mahmud, who was then appointed as governor of Lakhnauti province, merged his original province ofOudh with Bengal and Bihar, and established his capital at Lakhnauti. This act of his coupled with the fact that he was son of Iltumish enhanced his prestige in the province. As a reward, he was given the honorific title of ‘Malik-us-Sharq' (king of the East) by Iltutmish. His rule was short-lived, eventful and he could consolidate his territory.[9] But after a rule of 18 months, Nasiru'd-Din Mahmud was killed. Immensely grieved by the death of his favourite eldest son, Iltumish built a tomb called the Sultan Ghari in memory of his son, in 1231 AD, close to theQutb complex. Five years later, Iltumish died in 1236 and his tomb can be seen in the Qutb complex. His two other sons, namely Ruknuddin Feroz Shah (died November 1236 AD, after he was deposed) and Muizzudin Bahram Shah (was killed in 1242 AD) who ruled for short periods, before and after their famous sisterRazia Sultan ruled Delhi, were also buried in separateChhatris (cenotaphs), just next to the Sultan Ghari. One of the two Chhatris (pictured) is restored while the other has been destroyed.[4][9][10]Some archaeological findings reported by the Archaeological Survey of India are a) the inscription of 1361 recording the excavation of a tank on the occasion of a marriage, b) a stonelinga (Symbol of LordShiva theHindu God in alintel and c) a dilapidatedmosque of SultanFeroz Shah Tughlaq's time and a few scattered remnants of theMughal period.[4]
The plan of the tomb structure is unusual. It is in the form of a fortress with a courtyard like layout, not common among tombs. It is built over a raised plinth of certain height in rubble masonry work. The octagonal shape of the tomb is also unique as it has been built within the fortress like outer structure with four corner towers, over a Ghari (cave) in front of the westernQibla wall of the mosque. It, thus, is a combination of an over ground tomb with towers (which is common in most of the tombs) and an underground chamber for the crypt.[4][7]
The octagonal grave–chamber with the crypt (tomb) in an underground opening is supported on four columns raised with two pillars each that support beams, and depict ancient Indian temple relics both on the columns and on the floor. The roof of the chamber is built in thick lime–concrete. The westernqibla (prayer wall) which has themihrab, is made of marble in exquisiteTurkish andAfghan design. The marble mihrab also has inscriptions from theQuran. The front elevation of this west wall has a marble facade, dated to Feroze Shah's rule (1351–88). The prayer chamber in front of the qibla depicts ayoni-patta (the base slab of aLinga.[4][7]
The entire tomb depicts a trabeate orcorbel arch construction, which was common in India before thetrue arch design of theRomans was introduced, which are seen in subsequent Islamic monuments.[4]Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 AD) is credited to have repaired the tomb, which had been substantially damaged. TheChhatri, a stand-alone structure, next to the Sultan Garhi, a tomb of one of the two sons of Iltumish, was also restored during Firuz Shah's reign.[4][5][7] Old village ruins surround the tomb. Old ruins of a Tugluq mosque, Jamimasjid and akhanqah (a place of spiritual retreat) are also located on the southern side of the tomb.[4][5]
The tomb is built on the site of aPratihara era (700-1100CE) Hindu temple[11] as the tomb resembles images and structures present in ancient Hindu temples and incorporates Hindu era motifs on the plinths, columns as well as the chamber of the Tomb which is supported by four towers that are raised by two pillars each supporting a beam which showcases ancient relics of Hindu Temples on the Columns as well as on the floor.[1][12][13][14]
The ceiling rests on columns raised with two pillars each robbed from an earlier Hindu shrine; carved lintels from another were found embedded in the thick lime-concrete roof. Other pieces were used in the ceilings of the prayer-chamber and bastions and the pillars re-utilised in the verandahs, originally used as a madrasa, after chipping the decoration off them. The tomb was repaired later by Firuz Shah Tughluq.
— Archaeological Survey of India, Sultan Ghari,[1]
.
The tomb is a revered place for devotees of bothHindu andMuslim religious communities of the nearby villages of Masood Pur, Mahipalpur and Rangpuri since they consider the tomb as thedargah of a saintly ‘peer’; a visit to the tomb is more or less mandatory for newlyweds from these two villages. Because of the religious veneration, the monument is maintained better by the local people than theArchaeological Survey of India who are the formal custodians to maintain the heritage structure.[2]
Thursday is a special day for worship at this tomb when devotees, both Hindus and Muslims, visit the shrine, which represents a festive display of Hindu – Muslim syncretism of religious tolerance.[15] Every year, on the 17th day of the Islamic month of Ziqad (month occurring between Ramadan and Eid festivals), the "Urs (death anniversary) of Nasiruddin Shah" is held when pilgrims from all parts of Delhi visit the tomb.[15]
The heritage area of Sultan Ghari extends to 25 ha (61.8 acres), which has been zoned as per the topographical features to implement appropriate restoration and conservation actions.[16] In order to restore this monument, which has been declared as a Grade A Monument by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the Delhi Urban Heritage Foundation evolved a Plan combining restoration works along with creation of a pleasant environmental ambience to bring out its ancient glory. This plan is under implementation by the Delhi Development Authority.[15][17] TheDelhi Development Authority has undertaken the following construction activities :[15]
Sultan Ghari is located near Malakpur Kohi village on theMehrauli–Mahipalpur Road, 8 km west of Qutb complex from Andheria More in present-daySouth West Delhi. The C–Block ofVasant Kunj, a modern suburb of Delhi, is just across the tomb.[10]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)
