Balban's Tomb in Delhi's Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Balban's Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi is home to the tomb of Ghayasuddin Balban (1200-1287), the last major ruler of the Salve Dynsaty (also known as Mamluk dynasty), the first of the five Muslim dynasties, known as Delhi Sultanate which ruled from 1206 to 1526. 

Balban ascended the throne in 1266 and ruled till 1287. After an iron rule of about twenty-two years, Balban died in 1287. Today his tomb betrays no hint of Balban's fame as one of the most powerful rulers of medieval India. 

Adjacent to the Balban’s tomb lies the grave of his son Muhammad Khan who had died fighting against the Mongols under their leader Tamar near Multan in 1285. Muhammad Khan was appointed governor of Multan. After his death he was given the title of Shahid, "the Martyr" and came to be known as Khan-i-Shahid, (the Martyr Prince).

Balban's tomb was renovated last year.  

Sati Burj

 

Sati Burj Mathura

Sati Burj  is a 17m high four-storey sandstone tower built in 1570 by Raja Bhagwan Das, the son of Jaipur ruler Behari Mal, to commemorate his mother’s sati (self-immolation on her husband’s funeral pyre). Mariam-uz-Zamani, sister of Bhagwan Das, was the chief consort of Mughal emperor Akbar and mother of Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor.

In ancient India the custom of Sati was condemned by Banabhatta, also known as Bana, was the court-poet of Harsha.

During the Vijayanagar period, the Sati or Sahagaman was performed only by women belonging to higher strata of the society. 

in 1821 Raja Ram Mohan had launched a Bengali weekly newspaper Sambad Kaumudi or “The Moon of the Intelligence” through which he started a campaign for the abolition of Sati. 

The Bengal Sati Regulation which banned the Sati (suttee) practice in all jurisdictions of British India was passed on December 4, 1829 by the then Governor Genral of Fort Willim (Bengal) Lord William Bentinck who later became the India’s first governor general. 

 

Chennakeshava Temple of Aralaguppe

Chennakeshava temple of Aralaguppe / Image Credit

Dedicated to Vishnu, the Chennakeshava temple of Aralaguppe is a Hoysala era shrine.  Located at the small town of Aralaguppe in the Tumkur district of Karnataka, the temple is located 60 km from the Hassan city. It was built in the middle of the 13th century by the Hoysala ruler Vira Someshwara (1235–1263 CE). 

Dedicated to Vishnu, the Chennakeshava temple of Aralaguppe is a Hoysala era shrine.  Located at the small town of Aralaguppe in the Tumkur district of Karnataka, the temple is located 60 km from the Hassan city. It was built in the middle of the 13th century by the Hoysala ruler Vira Someshwara (1235–1263 CE). 

Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote

Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote / Image Credit

Built during the Hoysala period, Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote in the Mandya district of Karnataka is a sacred shrine for the Hindus. Hoysalas were a powerful south Indian dynasty which ruled from 11th to 14th century AD.

Standing on a hill at a height of 1777 metres above the sea level, the shrine  is dedicated to the Narasimha, incarnation of Vishnu. Tradition has it that the idol of Narsimha in this temple was installed by Prahalad, the pious son of the demon Hiranyakasipu. 

Hiranyakasipu had obtained a boon from Brahma ensuring that he could not be killed either by day or night by god, man or beast. As Hiranyakasipu was now safeguarded he began persecuting gods and men, including Prahalad who called on Vishnu for help. Then Vishnu took the form of Narsimha (half man and half lion) and slewed the demon. 

The ascent to the temple is by a flight of 300 steps. The panoramic views of surrounding landscape as well as religious activities will provide you peace of mind.

Melukote is located at a distance of 51 km from Mysore and 133 km from Bangalore.

Nageshvara-Chennakeshava Temple Complex: The Twin Temples of Mosale

The Twin Temples of Mosale  / Image Credit

Built during the Hoysala reign in the 13th century AD, Nageshvara-Chennakeshava Temple complex of Mosale (10 km from the Hassan city) houses two nearly identical shrines dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. 

Nageshvara temple at Mosale / Image Credit

Located on the Hassan-Mysore road in the Hassan district, the temples of Nageshvara and Chennakeshava are now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and known for their sculptured decoration.  

Vir Singh Deva Bundela of Orchha

Raja Mahal Orchha / Image Credit

Founded in 1531 by the Bundela Chieftain, Rudra Pratap Singh, Orchha, which literary translates into ‘hidden place’, is one of Madhya Pradesh’s greatest treasures. This historic small town on the Betwa River boasts its assembly of magnificent monuments in the form of beautiful palaces, temples and royal chhatris (cenotaphs) built along the banks of the Betwa river in the memory of Bundela Kings. 

History of Orchha Kingdom

Orchha kingdom was ruled by the Bundela Rajputs. In 1531, Rudra Pratap Singh was succeeded by his son, Bharatichand, who died without leaving an heir in 1554 and was in turn succeeded by his younger brother, Madhukar Shah who considerably extended the limits of his kingdom. 

During their reigns Bharatichand and Madhukar Shah (reigned 1554 A.D. – 1591 AD ) had to contend Afghan ruler and Sher Shah’s son Islam Shah Suri (r. 1545–53) and the Mughal emperor Akbar. Madhukar Shah was the patron of Hindi poet Keshavdas.

Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha) / Image Credit 

After Madhukar Shah’s death, his eldest son, Ram Chand, was appointed ruler of Orchha by Mughal emperor Akbar.  This was resented by Madhukar Shah’s another son Vir Singh Bundela who continued to defy Akbar till latter’s death in 1605. 

Vir Singh Bundela 

Vir Singh Bundela was commissioned by Jahangir to murder the court historian Abul Fazal  (1551–1602) , author of Akbarnama. the official history of Akbar’s reign. Abul Fazal who had opposed Jahangir’s accession to the throne was executed by Vir Singh Bundela (Bir Singh Bundela).

Vir Singh Bundela was also the patron of Keshavdas who is known for composing a eulogy of the former titled Virsinghdev Charit in 1607. 

After his death in 1627, Vir Singh Deo was succeeded by his son Jhujhar Singh who rebelled against Shah Jahan who had ascended the Mughal throne in 1628. Jhujhar Singh and his son were killed by the Mughal forces which was led by crown prince Aurangzeb.  All the treasure and several royal Bundela ladies fell into the hands of the Mughals who also demolished the massive  Orchha temple built by Vir Singh Bundela and a mosque was built on the site. One of Jhujhar Singh’s sons and a grandson were converted to Islam. 

As a patron of art and architecture

Vir Singh Bundela was a prolific builder. He built temples not only in Orchha, but also constructed the Forts of Datia and Jhansi, and temples in Mathura and Varanasi. In Mathura he had built the Keshav Rai temple which was demolished by Aurangzeb who built the Shahi Eidgah in its place. A blend of Bundela and Mughal architecture, Jahangir Mahal at Orchha was built by him to welcome Emperor Jahangir during the latter’s visit to the Bundela capital. 

Jahangir Mahal, Orchha / Image Credit

Zeb-un-Nisa: Mughal Princess Imprisoned for More Than Two Decades by Her Father

Zaibunissa Palace / Image Credit

Mughal princess Zeb-un-Nisa was the eldest child of sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. She was a poetess of considerable merit and wrote under the pen name of Makhfi (meaning Hidden One in Persian). She produced a brilliant collection of beautiful poems which were published after her death in 1702 as Diwan-i-Makhfi.

Born in 1738 in Daulatabad in Deccan, Zeb-un-Nisa seems to be antithetical to what Auranzeb stood for. 

Strained relationship between Zeb-un-Nisa and Aurangzeb had led the father to imprison the daughter for the last 20 years of her life at Salimgarh Fort which lies adjacent to the Red Fort  in Delhi.

Her grandfather, the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, had betrothed her to Sulaiman Shikoh, the eldest son of Dara Shikoh, elder brother of Aurangzeb. The marriage, however, did not take place. This is because as soon as Shah Jahan fell ill in September, 1657, it sparked a deadly war of succession among his four sons – Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad. During the course of this fratricidal war of succession Murad  and Sulaiman Shikoh were executed on the orders of Aurangzeb in the Gwalior Fort where they were imprisoned.