THE GREAT MUGHAL DYNASTY,INDIA

THE GREAT MUGHAL DYNASTY:

In fifteenth century the political condition of India deteriorated and there was no powerful kingdom in northern India to rule. The last ruling Lodi dynasty had weakened the position. Such a situation invited the invasion from northern west boarders of India with Babur’s Invasion.

Zahiruddun Mohammed Babur founded the Mughal Emphire in India; he is the history’s most powerful conquerors. In his young days he was among the improvised princes, all descended by Timur. He inherited the small state of Farghana in AD 1494. In order to extend in India and improve his situation in central Asia he invaded India five times. In the fifth expedition he defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in AD 1526. Babur’s conquest was incomplete till he defeated Rana Sanga, the kind of Mewar and the greatest Rajput kind of the period.

Rana Sanga was defeated on 16 March, 1527 but unfortunately Babur was not destined to enjoy the fruits of his victory as he died in Agra in AD 1530. Babur was an enlightened ruler who loved poetry, gardening and books. He wrote cultural treatises on Hindus, he conquered and took notes on flora and fauna. Babur’s eldest son Humayun succeeded him as the king. The strongest challenge for Humayun was the Afghan Leader Sher Shah Suri, who defeated Humayun in the battles of Chausa and Kanuaj in AD 1540. Humayun was forced to spend nearly fifteen year in exile in Persia. The Shah of Iran gave him shelter in Persia.

During this period Sher Shah family ruled the over Northern India. Though Sher Shah ruled only for short period he is remembered in Indian History as one of the best rulers in Medieval India. In AD 1554 Humayun was able to invade India with the help of Bairam Khan. He conquered most of the Punjab and defeated the Afghans in a battle near Sirhind and captured Delhi. When Humayun died he left behind his thirteen year old son Jalal-ud din Akbar as his heir under the care of Bairam Khan.

Akbar had demonstrated his own capacity as an Administrator. He was free from influences of the ministers of his court. He had shown his capability for judgement and leadership. His administrative policies were backbone of Mughal Empire for more than 200 years. He separated the military and political functions from the other functions of the Imperial Service. Akbar created a ranked Imperial service based on the person's ability rather than birth. In the second battle of Panipat fought between Hemu Vikramaditya and Bairam Khan in AD 1556, Hemu was defeated. It gave Delhi and Agra back to Akbar. In 1562 he married a Rajput princess, daughter of the Raja of Amber (now Jaipur). She becomes one of his senior wives and the mother of his heir, Jahangir.

Din-I-IIai was the new syncretic religion propounded by Akbar intended to merge the best elements of the Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Zoroastrianism. Akbar’s reigns lasted nearly for fifty years and he established dominion on central and north India. He was the first great Mughal emperor who patronized art. After Akbar, Jahangir ascended the throne as Akbar’s eldest son. The Mughal Era under Jahangir and Shah Jahan was remembered as the era for political stability, strong economic activity, monument building and beautiful paintings. Due to Akbar’s organized administration, Jahangir had the unlimited source of revenue. Jahangir built the famous garden after his name and spent much time relaxing. Jahangir married a Persian princess Nur Jahan who evolved as the most powerful in the court. Jahangir passed the expanding empire to his son Shah Jahan in 1627. Shah Jahan left behind the colossal monuments of the Mughal Empire, Including Taj Mahal (his favorite wife’s tomb), the pearl Mosque, the Royal Mosque, and the Red Fort. Jahan’s campaigns in the south and his flare extravagant architecture necessitated increased taxes

Shah Jahan is called the "architect king". The Red Fort and the Jama Masjid in Delhi are the achievements of both civil engineering and art. Yet above all else, Shah Jahan is remembered today for the Taj Mahal, the massive white marble mausoleum constructed for his wife Mumtaz Mahal along the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra.The third son of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb imprisoned him and ascended to the throne in 1658. Aurangazeb took the title ‘Almagir ‘ . During his reign the Mughal Empire reached to its highest peak. He was a superb general as well a rigourous administrator. The peaceful religion of Sikhism turned militant against Aurangazeb who murdered the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Jat, Sikh and Rajput in the North and the Marathas in the Deccan revolted against Aurangazeb.

Languages Spoken

Language spoken by the Mughals was Urdu which slowly evolved into a mixture of to a form of Hindustani known as Urdu. Apart from Urduthe other languages spoken were Persian, Arabic and Turkic.

Mughal Coinage

Mughal Empirebrought about a lot of uniformity in the coinage system of India. The system lasted even after the downfall of the Mughal Empire. Coins were largely the creation of Sher Shah Suri. Sher Shah was the person who issued a coin of silver which was termed the Rupiya. This coin weighed 178 grains. It remained largely unchanged till the early 20th Century. Gold coins were issued together with the silver Rupiya and they were called the ‘Mohur’ which weighed 169 grains. The copper coins were called the ‘Dam’. Usage of Coins by Mughal reflected originality and innovative in technique. The designs of coins came to development during the reign of the Grand Mughal emperor, Akbar.

KAKATIYA DYNASTY.WARANGAL FORT,ANDRAPRADESH,INDIA

KAKATIYA DYNASTY:

Kakatiya Dynasty is the south Indian Dynasty which ruled in Andhra Pradesh in India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE. The 12th and 13th centuries saw the emergence of the Kakatiyas and they were the first feudatories of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyana, ruling over a small territory near Warangal. The rule of Kakatiya Dynasty is considered as the most promising period of History of Telugu & Andhra Pradesh.

The next ruler Prola II ruled from AD 1110 TO 1158 as he expanded the dynasty to south and declared his independence.

His next successor was Rudra who ruled during AD 1158 to 1195. Rudra was a very much renowned ruler in Kakatiya Dynasty. As he stretched his empire till the north as far as till the Godavari Delta. To serve as a second capital, he constructed the fort at Warangal. He also faced the invasions of Yadavas of Devagiri.

The next king who ascended the throne was Mahadeva who extended the throne till Coastal Areas.

Ganapati was another king who came after Mahadeva who has made extension to Coastal regions. Ganapati was the supreme king among all the rulers of Kakatiya dynasty. As he played a pioneering role in consolidation of Telugu region under one rule. It was due to Ganapati’s capability and courage that there was the establishment of a huge kingdom. He also promoted the trade practices in the kingdom.

After Ganapati something unusual happened in the Kakatiya dynasty as Ganapati did not have any son to take up the ruling of the empire after him. His daughter Rudramba ascended the throne and took up the charge of the empire. She ruled in AD 1262, some of the generals who did not want to be dominated by Rudramba formed a different rebellion. Later due to some of the regal subordinates of Rudramba, she suppressed all kind of criticisms bought due to domestic & foreign insurrections. She moved every move with great courage even to the extent of blowing the Cholas and Yadavas tremendously.

Then the grand successor of Rudramba was Prataparuda. He came to power in AD 1295 TILL AD 1323. During this time the dynasty saw the extension of border till Raichur. With his initiatives some administrative reforms were introduced. He divided his army into seventy five ‘Nayakships’. Later the Rayas of Vijayanagara took over the Nayakships and made growth in great extent. During this period only the Muslims invaded the empire of Kakatiya Dynasty in Andhra Pradesh for the first time.

The king of Delhi Sultanate Ala-ud-din Khilji the famous ruler send his army for defeating the empire in AD 1303. Upparhalli which the Prataparuda District overpowered them. Again in AD 1310 Malik Kafur sent his army to capture Warangal and invade it. Another major invasion of Muslims in Kakatiya Dynasty took place in order to capture ‘Tilling’, Ghiaz-ud-din Tughlaq the ruler of Tughlaq Dynasty sent his huge army under the leadership of Ulguh Khan during AD 1321. How ever due to some blockades faced by him due to some internal rebellions withdrew the army and left to Delhi. He only went back to return in a very short while and came back with huge army against Prataparuda where he was defeated and forced to surrender and then Prataparuda was taken as a prisoner. This marked an end to the Kakatiya Dynasty.

Art and literature of Kakatiya dynasty

The Rulers of Kakatiya Dynasty had great patronage for art and literature. They took initiative to promote Sanskrit and during this period there was revival of Sanskrit literature. Among the rulers, Prataparuda had good writing flair which is interesting to note. He even promoted literature. The rulers had a treasure for the religious art. They also built temples of Lord Shiva which were perfect examples of blending between the style forms of northern and southern India.

During AD 1162, the Thousand-Pillared Temple at Hanamkonda was built by the Kakatiya Dynasty. King Rudramba built this in is similar style and workmanship to the Ramappa temple. This temple is dedicated to Siva, Vishnu and Surya, and is star-shaped. The Nandi pavilion is also famous in which a huge granite bull still stands, which has the beautiful entrances to the shrine with pierced slabs used for screens and windows and an elegant open work by which the bracket-shafts are attached to the pillars are the other most interesting features of this temple.

Warangal fort temple had been built by Kakatiya Ganapati, which was constructed making use of large slabs. Floor of the temple shrine is beautifully polished and twinkles like a mirror. An interesting feature of Warangal fort temple is there are four gateways called 'Kirti Stambhas' which face the four cardinal points of the compass.

The design of the gateways is redolent like the ‘toranas’ of the Great Stupa at Sanchi. The architecture and sculpture of these temples are magnificent as no one can fail to see the rich imagination, patient industry and skilful workmanship of the builders of the temples of the Kakatiya period.

TIRUPATHI,ANDRAPRADESH,INDIA,

TIRUPATHI:

There is ample literary and epigraphic testimony to the antiquity of the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

All the great dynasties of rulers of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple.

After the decline of the Vijayanagar dynasty, nobles and chieftains from all parts of the country continued to pay their homage and offer gifts to the temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle, visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also presented valuable jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald which is still preserved in a box named after the General. Among the later rulers who have endowed large amounts are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms, the Muslim rulers of Karnataka and then the Britishers took over, and many of the temples came under their supervisory and protective control.

In 1843 AD, the East India Company divested itself of the direct management of non-Christian places of worship and native religious institutions. The administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara and a number of estates were then entrusted to Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the temple remained under the administration of the Mahants for nearly a century, till 1933 AD.

In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras.

In 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and an Executive Officer was appointed by the Government .

The provisions of the Act of 1951 were retained by Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966.

CHAR MINAR,ANDRAPRADESH,INDIA,HYDERABAD

CHAR MINAR:

The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Often called "The Arc de triumph of the East", Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. Legends has it that it was built as charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it. The Charminar is a square edifice with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that opened once upon a time into four royal streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, more than 55 mt. in height with a double balcony. A bulbous dome crowns each minaret with dainty petal like designs at the base. A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutub Shahi times.

Built with granite and lime-mortar, the Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The intertwined arches and domes are typical of the Islamic architecture. The graceful floral motif atop the Charminar is enchanting.The Charminar depicts the Indo-Saracenic tradition - a symbiosis of the Hindu and the Muslim traditions, which has woven the magic of a rich Deccani culture. The nightly illumination of Charminar is spectacular. 

TAJ MAHAL:

The Taj Mahal is the epitome of Mughal art and one of the most famous buildings in the world. Yet there have been few serious studies of it and no full analysis of its architecture and meaning. Ebba Koch, an important scholar,  has been permitted to take measurements of the complex and has been working on the palaces and gardens of Shah Jahan for thirty years and on the Taj Mahal itself—the tomb of the emperor's wife,Mumtaz Mahal—for a decade.

The tomb is the representation of the house of the queen in Paradise, and  its setting was based on the palace gardens of the great nobles that lined both sides of the river at Agra India.  You will explore the entire complex of the Taj Mahal with an explanation of each building and an account of the mausoleum's urban setting, its design and construction, its symbolic meaning, and its history up to the present day.

Taj Mahal was built in 22 years (1631-1653) with the orders of Shah Jahan and it was dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum), the wife of Shah. 20.000 workers labored and 32 crore rupees were spent during the construction of the monument and it was built according to Islamic architecture. It is one of the Unesco world heritage site. Taj Mahal means the’ Place of the Crown’ because; Taj means “Crown” and Mahal means “place”. There are several myths about Taj Mahal. According to one of the myths, the construction is sinking and it is known that in spite of all the precautions, cracks were discovered in it just 4 years after its completion and that it was tilting towards the riverside. According to another myth a number of items such as diamonds, a gold leaf which covered the part of the dome, a pearl blanket etc that were originally a part of the Taj were stolen. It is also told that Shah Jahan got the hands of his sculptors and architects cut off so that they would never be able to build a monument as magnificent and beautiful as the Taj again and he even got their eyes pulled out so that they would never be able to witness anything bigger and more beautiful than the monument that they had built during their lifetime.