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The Damage & Restoration From the Nagari and Persian
inscriptions on the minar, it appears that it was damaged
twice by lightning, in 1326 and 1368. The first damage
occurred during Muhammed Tughluq's reign (1325-51),
and was repaired by him apparently in 1332. The second
damage was attended by Feroze Tughluq (1351-88).
Later in 1503, Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517)
also carried out some restoration in the upper storeys.
Originally the minar had only four storeys, faced with
red and buff sandstone. The uppermost storey, which
was damaged in 1368 during Feroze Tughluq's reign, was
replaced by him by two storeys, making free use of marble
but leaving the lower portion of the fourth storey built
with sandstone in its original condition.
The original three storeys are each
laid on a different plan, the lowest with alternate
angular and circular flutings, the second with round
ones and the third with angular ones only, with the
same alignment of flutings, however, being carried through
them all. Its projecting balconies with stalactite pendentive
type of brackets and inscriptional decorative bands
on different storeys heighten its decorative effect.
It has a diameter of 14.32 m at the base and about 2.75
m on the top. With a height of 72.5 m and 379 steps,
it is the highest stone tower in India and a perfect
example of minar known to exist anywhere.
The Legend Of The Qutub There exists
a tradition that the Qutub-Minar was built by Prithviraj,
the last Chauhan king of Delhi, for enabling his daughter
to behold the sacred river Yamuna, from its top as part
of her daily worship. A Landmark In Islamic Architecture
The Minar's entire architecture, however, bespeaks an
Islamic origin, with two of its prototypes in brick
still existing at Ghazni, although Hindu craftsmen were
certainly employed for its construction, as is evident
also from certain 'Devanagari' inscriptions on its surface.
Sometimes sculptured stones from temples
have been found utilised in it. Originally, it was surmounted
by a cupola, which fell down during an earthquake and
was replaced early in the 19th century with a new cupola
in the late Mughal style, by one Major Smith. It looked,
however, so incongruous that it was brought down in
1848, and may now be seen on the lawns to the south
east of the minar.
A Complex Of Astounding Monuments Quwwatu'l-Islam
Masjid Just adjacent to the tower is the mosque of Quwwatu'l-Islam
Masjid, which can become a bewildering experience for
those who are not familiar with its history. It was
supposed to have been built using the materials and
masonry of the remains of Hindu Temples and architecture.
On one hand there is the beautiful, exceptional Islamic
handwriting and brocaded designs.
Then there are pillars with clearly
pre-Islamic Hindu motifs. The reason is that the pillars
were taken from the 27 temples of Qila Rai Pithora,
the city of the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan. This
in fact has been recorded by Qutub-ud-Din in his inscriptions,
who call it the Jami Masjid (Friday Mosque) in his inscriptions.
The mosque was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak,
the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty and was finished
four years later.
The Iron Pillar In the courtyard of
the Quwwatu'l-Islam mosque stands the famous iron pillar,
which bears a Sanskrit inscription in Gupta script,
palaeographically assignable to the 4th century, a date
which is also confirmed by the peculiar style of its
'Amalaka'-capital. The inscription records that the
pillar was set up as a standard or dhvaja of god Vishnu
on the hill known as 'Vishnupada', in the memory of
a mighty king, named 'Chandra', who is now regarded
as identical with Chandragupta II (375-413) of the imperial
Gupta dynasty.
A deep hole on the top of the pillar
indicates that an additional member, perhaps an image
of 'Garuda', was fitted into it to answer to its description
as a standard of Vishnu. The pillar has been brought
here evidently from somewhere, else, as no other relics
of the 4th century are found at the site. There is a
strong bardic tradition that it was brought here - wherefrom,
nobody knows - by Anangpal, the Tomar king who is credited
with the founding of Delhi.
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