THE LODIS, MUGHALS AND SHER SHAH

1414 AD - 1560 AD

Presented By:Ar. Shivani Kaul

• BACKGROUND: In the early 15th century, architectural activities were stilled but political intrigues , conspiracies and murders were rife

• Khizar Khan (descendent from prophets family), governor of Multan started ruling in 1414 AD: SAYYID DYNASTY

• The last Sayyid ruler, Alam Shah retired leaving BAHLOL LODI, chieftain of an Afghan tribe, to take over the reins of power

• Bahlol was the first true blooded afghan to sit on the throne of Delhi, after centuries of rivalry with rulers of Turkish descent

Khizir Khan

Alam Shah

SAYYIDS AND LODI NECROPOLIS IN DELHI

• Bahlol died in 1489 AD. He was followed by Sikander Shah (praised for his excellent qualities of head and heart)

• Under his rule, the centre of the government of Lodis shifted to Agra

• Lodis ruled from Agra during this period, their mortal were brought and buried in Delhi (monuments of lodis, largely tombs, are found in Delhi)

Delhi became one vast necropolis- more than 50 fifty tombs of kings and ministers and other members of the Afghan nobility were erected in the countryside south of Firuz Shah’s city of Tughlaqabad

TOMBS IN THE LODHI GARDENS

• Group of tombs: Lodi garden (formerly Lady Willingdon Park)

• Two distinct prototypes:1. OCTAGONAL in its configuration2. Conventional CUBE WITH A DOMED ROOF

• Octagonal: royalty- association with the plan of the sacred Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

• Inspiration : the first octagonal tomb was erected during the tughlaq period

Mubarak Shah’s Tomb

• built in 1434 AD: the Sayyid builders proceeded to enlarge and refine the proportions of the Tughlaq prototype

• 15m high dome, arches in each 9m side of the octagon, merlons along the parapet and kiosks above the verandas were more firmly organized than in tughlaq prototype. Yet the stilted dome seems to sit rather than bend over its 21m wide octagonal base

tomb of Mubarak Shah

• This fault was rectified in the tomb of Muhammed Sayyid built a decade (1444 AD) later- the drum of the dome along with the kiosks was several feet higher

The garden tomb of SIKANDER LODI

• The tomb profile of Mubarak Sayyid was found to be pleasing that when 75 years later in 1518 AD, a tomb had to be erected for Sikander Lodi, almost an exact copy of the Sayyid tomb was repeated

• Only the kiosks on the verandah roof were eliminated and replaced by semi minarets or guldastas attached to the base of the tomb

• Two significant contributions to the development of Islamic architecture in Delhi by Lodi's:

1. attempt to raise the outer dome to more splendid heights, w/o allowing inner chamber to appear disproportionately tall, they introduced a second inner dome of a lower profile within the outer one (outer inner shell separated by void)

2. Though the structure is not quite set within an ornamental gardens as later Mughal toms were- for the first time in Islamic Delhi, the tomb instead of standing dejectedin barren and flat site, became the focus of a fairly formal and elaborate arrangement

Sikander Lodi tomb:• Arcaded surrounding well defines the square courtyard in the

centre of which lies the tomb• Additional: verandah to its western wall, the central court became

the liwan and mosque attached to the funerary chamber• Impressive gateways were installed at the cardinal points in the

centres of the surrounding wall• Southern wall: large platform and elaborate in its arrangement • Progress made from tomb and mosque of Sultan Garhi• Initiated the idea, the Lodis that was later improved during

Mughals: Garden and Tomb Architecture

‘GUMBADS’ for the Lodhi’s• BARE-KHAN-KA-GUMBAD (1497 A.D.)• CHOTE-KHAN-KA-GUMBAD • BARA GUMBAD (1494 A.D.)• SHEESH GUMBAD