Qutb complex free essay sample

The most famous monument situated in the complex is the Qutub Minar; other important constructions in the complex are the Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque, the Ala-l-Darwaza, the Alai Minar and the iron pillar. Twenty-seven previous Jain temples were destroyed and their materials reused to construct the minar and other monuments of the complex. Qutub Minar At 72. 5 metres high, the Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and an important example of Indo- Islamic Architecture. The Qutub Minar is 72. 5 metres (239 ft) high. The diameter of he base is 14. 3 metres wide while the top floor measures 2. 7 metres in diameter. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with surrounding buildings and monuments. The purpose for building this beautiful monument has been speculated upon, apart from the usual role of a minaret that of calling people for prayer in a mosque- in this case the Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque. Other reasons ascribed to its construction are as a tower of victory, a monument signifying the might of Islam, or a watch tower for defence. Controversy also surrounds the origins for the name of the tower. Many historians believe that the Qutub Minar was named after the first Turkish sultan, Qutb-ud-din Aibak but others contend that it was named in honour of KhwaJa Qutb- ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint from Baghdad who came to live in India who was greatly venerated by Akbar. Alai Minar The incomplete lai A Minar. Ala ud din KhilJi started building the Alai Minar, which was conceived to be two times higher than Qutub Minar. The construction was abandoned, however, after the completion of the 24. 5 meter high first storey; soon after death of Ala-ud-din. The irst story of the Alai Minar still stands today. Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque Many types of structure still stand in the complex. Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque (Might of Islam) (also known as the Qutb Mosque or the Great Mosque of Delhi) was built by Qutb-ud-din Aybak, founder of the Mamluk or Slave dynasty. The mosque construction started in the 1190s when Aibak was the commander of Muhammad Ghoris garrison occupied Delhi. Expansion of the mosque continued after the death of Qutub. His successor lltutmish extended the original prayer hall screen by three more arches. By the time of lltutmish, the Mamluk empire had stabilized enough that the Sultan could replace most of his conscripted Hindu masons with Muslims. This explains why the arches added under lltutmish are stylistically more Islamic than the ones erected under Qutbs rule. The mosque is in ruins today but indigenous corbelled arches, floral motifs, and geometric patterns can be seen among the Islamic architectural structures. To the west of the Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque is the tomb of lltutmish which was built by the monarch in 1235. Ala-l-Darwaza The Ala-l-Darwaza is a magnificent gateway in the complex. The gateway was built by he first KhilJi sultan of Delhi, Ala ud din KhilJi. The gateway is decorated with inlaid marble decorations, latticed stone screens and showcases the remarkable craftsmanship of the Turkish artisans who worked on it. it is considered to one of the best building built in the sultanat period. with its horse shoe shaped arches it aads a grace to the quwatul islam mosque to which it served as an enternce. Iron pillar of Delhi Inscriptions have survived the test of time on the iron pillar. Translation of the inscription in English. The iron pillar is one of the worlds foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar, almost seven metres high and weighing more than six tonnes, was erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375-414 CE), (interpretation based on careful analysis of archer type Gupta gold coins) of the Gupta dynasty that ruled northern India 320- 540. The pillar, with an idol of Garuda at the top, was originally located at a place called Vishnupadagiri (meaning Vishnu-footprint-hill), identified as modern Udayagiri, situated in the close vicinity of Besnagar, Vidisha and Sanchi, towns located about 50 kilometres east of Bhopal, in central India. Vishnupadagiri is located n the Tropic of Cancer and, therefore, was a centre of astronomical studies during the Gupta period. The Iron Pillar served an important astronomical function, in its original site; its early morning shadow tell in the direction ot the toot ot Anantasayain Vishnu (in one of the panels at Udayagiri) only in the time around summer solstice Oune 21). The creation and development of the Udayagiri site appears to have been clearly guided by a highly developed astronomical knowledge. Therefore, the Udayagiri site, in general, and the Iron Pillar location in particular, provide firm vidence for the astronomical knowledge in India around 400 CE. It is the only piece of the Jain temple remaining, which stood there before being destroyed by Qutb-ud- din Aybak to build the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque. Qutub built around it when he constructed the mosque. The pillar bears an inscription which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honour of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413). Made up of 98% wrought iron of pure quality, it is 23 feet 8 inches (7. 21 m) high and has a diameter of 16 inches (0. 41 m). Also, it was confirmed that the temperatures required to form such kind of pillars cannot be achieved by combustion of coal. The pillar is a testament to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron. It has attracted the attention of archaeologists and metallurgists as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather. Its unusually good corrosion resistance appears to be due to a high phosphorus content, which together with favorable local weather conditions promotes the formation of a solid protective assivation layer of iron oxides and phosphates, rather than the non-protective, cracked rust layer that develops on most ironwork. A fence was erected around the pillar due to the popularity of a tradition that considered good luck if you could stand with your back to the pillar and make your hands meet behind it. ttp:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Qutb_complex FACTS FIGURES Built In 1193 (started) Built By Qutub-ud-din Aibak Location Delhi THE QUTAB COMPLEX The Qutab Minar is identified with Delhi, as the Leaning Tower is associated with the city of Pisa or the Eiffel Tower with Paris. It is not only an important tourist spot in Delhi, it is also an excellent example of early Islamic architecture in India. The area around Qutab Minar has a number of important monuments and together they constitute the Qutab complex. BIRTH OF INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE The Qutab Minar, apart from being a marvel in itself, is also significant for what it represents in the history of Indian culture. In many ways, the Qutab Minar, the first monument of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style. Indo-Islamic style is neither a local variant of Islamic art, nor a modification of Hindu art; it is an assimilation of both the styles, though not always in an equal degree. It is so because each region in India has its own form of Indo-Islamic architecture, which varies trom place to place, and there is no standardization. On the other hand, Islamic art itself was a composite style, which had various Muslims influences- Turkish, Persian, and Arabic. Rulers from different parts of the Muslim world, who came to India and settled here, brought with them the artistic traditions of their regions. The intermingling of such raditions with local Indian practices resulted in different examples of Indo-Islamic art. In Delhi, Islamic influences dominated while in the Deccan, local styles were more prominent in the buildings. In Bengal, the indigenous practice of using bricks for building was adopted and the monuments were richly decorated with chiseled and molded decorations typical of Hindu temples. This amalgamation of exotic and indigenous architectural styles was possible due to a variety or factors-the Muslim rulers had to use, in most cases, Indian craftsmen and sculptors who were schooled in their own art traditions. Another factor that nadvertently contributed to this fusion of style was that during the early Muslim invasions, mosques were often built out of materials from Hindu and Jain temples and sometimes temples themselves were modified into mosques. Though both the Indian and Islamic styles have their own distinctive features, some common characteristics made fusion and adaptation easy. Both the styles favor ornamentation and buildings of both styles are marked by the presence of an open court encompassed by chambers or colonnades. The Qutab Minar and the other buildings surrounding it are fine examples of the Delhi style of Indo-Islamic art and architecture. Most of these edifices were the first of their kind in India, be they mausoleums, mosques or madrassas (theological colleges). However, there are a number of monuments within the Qutab complex apart from the Qutab Minar: The Quuwat-ul-lslam Mosque was the first mosque to be built in India. Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Slave dynasty, used parts of 27 Jain and Hindu temples to build it. Both Indian and Islamic features are present. The mosque is in ruins today, but one can see indigenous corbelled arches, floral motifs, as well as Islamic practices such as squinches (setting arches diagonally to a square to support a ome), calligraphy, and geometric patterns. To the west of the Quuwat-ul-lslam mosque is another remarkable building-the Tomb of lltutmish, which was built by the monarch himself in 1235. This building was definitely a departure from the norm, for the concept of building huge mausoleums was new. The rather plain exterior conceals an interior with many interesting examples of the Indo-Islamic style. There is a fusion of Indian and Islamic decorative motifs-the lotus and the wheel belonging to the former tradition and geometric arabesque patterns and calligraphy from the latter genre. The dome no longer exist as it has collapsed-the corbelled squinches testify to an early amalgamation that went wrong, a flaw that characterizes early Indo-Islamic architecture. Any write-up on the Qutab Minar will be incomplete without mentioning the century Iron Pillar, 7. m high, and 37 cm in diameter, which stands in the courtyard of the Quuwat-ul-lslam mosque. This pillar, with its distinctly Hindu inscriptions from the Gupta period, is said to have been transported here, but its origins remain a mystery. Another mystifying factor is that despite being exposed to the elements, the illar has remained rust-free. According to popular belief, anyone who stands with his back to the pillar and enc ircles it with his arms will have his wish granted.