The Jama Masjid is a 16th-century
congregational mosque in the
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
of
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri () is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. Situated 35.7 kilometres from the district headquarters of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar, serving this ...
in
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Constructed by
Mughal Emperor
The Mughal emperors ( fa, , Pādishāhān) were the supreme heads of state of the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughal rulers styled t ...
Akbar, it is one of the largest mosques in India. It is the most sought after pilgrimage site by the devotees. It is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in
Agra district. Some of the designs of the mosque reflect beautiful
Iranian architecture
Iranian architecture or Persian architecture ( Persian: معمارى ایرانی, ''Memāri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC ...
.
History
Akbar commissioned the Jama Masjid as part of his new capital city of Fatehpur Sikri. The structure was one of the first sites constructed in the city, and was completed sometime between 1571 and 1574, according to its own inscriptions.
The mosque was in honour of the
Sufi Shaikh
Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...
Salim Chishti
Salim Chishti (1478–1572) () was a Sufi saint of the Chishti Order during the Mughal Empire in India.
Biography
The Mughal Emperor Akbar came to Chishti's home in Sikri to ask him to pray for a male heir to the throne. Chishti blesse ...
, Akbar's spiritual advisor. It was also meant to serve as a ''
khanqah'' (monastic school) for the Shaikh's descendants. In its time, it was extolled by various authors and travellers for its beauty and grandeur.
The mosque played a part in Akbar's religious designs. In 1579, he delivered the ''
khutbah
''Khutbah'' ( ar, خطبة ''khuṭbah'', tr, hutbe) serves as the primary formal occasion for public preaching in the Islamic tradition.
Such sermons occur regularly, as prescribed by the teachings of all legal schools. The Islamic traditio ...
'' for a congregational prayer attended by the inhabitants of Fatehpur Sikri. While some of his ancestors had done this, the reading of the ''khutbah'' was typically reserved for religious leaders (such as an ''
imam'') and hence was perceived by the ''
ulema
In Islam, the ''ulama'' (; ar, علماء ', singular ', "scholar", literally "the learned ones", also spelled ''ulema''; feminine: ''alimah'' ingularand ''aalimath'' lural are the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious ...
'' as radical. Akbar also joined the population in their prayer, and was even seen sweeping the floors of the mosque.
Kavuri-Bauer argues that all these actions were conscious moves on Akbar's part, using the mosque to portray himself as a divine sovereign rather than a regular ruler.
The Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri remained a "symbol of Mughal heritage and pride" after Akbar's rule. The mosque was heavily admired by Akbar's son and successor
Jahangir, who called it one of his father's greatest architectural achievements. Jahangir discussed the mosque complex at length with his son Khurram during a stay at Fatehpur Sikri in 1619. Khurram went on to become Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan, and cited this mosque as the model for his own
Jama Masjid at Delhi.
Architecture
![Fatehpur Sikri near Agra 2016-03 img05](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Fatehpur_Sikri_near_Agra_2016-03_img05.jpg)
The Jama Masjid is situated on the highest point of the rocky ridge on which the Fatehpur Sikri site is located. It is placed on an elevated plinth, built in order to provide a level surface. The mosque complex is surrounded by enclosure walls; just outside the southern wall is a large ''
baoli
Stepwells (also known as vavs or baori) are wells or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from 7th to 19th century. So ...
'' (octagonal step-well).
Similar to the rest of Fatehpur Sikri, the mosque is made of locally-quarried red sandstone. It also employs yellow sandstone, marble, and slate for decoration, and features
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
and
Arabic calligraphy
Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy based on the Arabic alphabet. It is known in Arabic as ''khatt'' ( ar, خط), derived from the word 'line', 'design', or 'construction'. Kufic is the oldest form of t ...
.
At the time of its construction, the mosque was the largest in
Mughal India. It represents a fusion of
Islamic,
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
, and
Jain architecture
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings gen ...
, with a marked Gujarati influence.
Asher asserts that the mosque draws elements from the
Jama Masjid at Mandu, and the Jama Masjid at
Chanderi, both pre-Mughal structures. Alfieri also sees an inspiration from pre-Mughal Jama Masjids, but instead cites those at
Atala and
Champaner.
Gates
The mosque complex is entered via three gates. The eastern gate, known as the ''Badshahi Darwaza'' (Imperial Gate), was used by Akbar to access the mosque. It is decorated using cut mosaics. The northern and southern gates may have historically resembled each other - however, in 1573 the southern gate was rebuilt by Akbar as the ''
Buland Darwaza
Buland Darwaza (), or the "Door of Victory", was built in 1602 by Mughal emperor Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. It is the main entrance to the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, which is 43 km from Agra, India.There is another memori ...
'' (High Gate) to celebrate the success of his
military campaign in Gujarat. It is the most prominent gate and a monument in itself, featuring hallways and rooms over its many floors. Asher says that it is more likely the gate was built to emphasise Akbar's relationship with the
Chishti Order
The Chishtī Order ( fa, ''chishtī'') is a tariqa, an order or school within the mystic Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. It began with Abu Ishaq Shami in Chisht, a ...
.
Courtyard
The ''
sahn
A ''sahn'' ( ar, صَحْن, '), is a courtyard in Islamic architecture, especially the formal courtyard of a mosque. Most traditional mosques have a large central ''sahn'', which is surrounded by a '' riwaq'' or arcade on all sides. In traditi ...
'' (courtyard) is of dimensions 165 m by 130 m. An
ablution tank lies in its centre. The courtyard's northern, southern, and eastern sides are lined by ''dalans'' (arcades). These are shaded by a continuous, projecting ''
chhajja'' (eave), which is supported by
corbels
In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal jutting from a wall to carry a superincumbent weight, a type of bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in the wall, whereas a console is a piece applied to the st ...
. ''
Chhatris
''Chhatri'' are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indo-Islamic architecture and Indian architecture. Originating as a canopy above tombs, they serve as decorative elements. The earliest example of chhatri being used in the ...
'' top the parapets of these arcades. The inner bay of the arcades is divided into ''hujra'' (cells), probably used as sleeping quarters for devotees.
Towards the northern side of the courtyard are the
Tomb of Salim Chishti and the tomb of
Islam Khan. The former is contrasted from the red sandstone of the Jama Masjid complex by its wholesale use of
makrana marble
Makrana marble is a type of white marble, popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It is mined in the town of Makrana in Rajasthan, India, and was used in the construction of several iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and the ...
. Underground water reservoirs lie beneath the courtyard.
Prayer Hall
The rectangular prayer hall (dimensions 89 m by 20 m) lies on the western end of the courtyard, facing
Mecca
Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow ...
in keeping with Islamic tradition. Its facade is dominated by a grand ''
pishtaq'', which contains three arched entryways. Three domes rise from the roof, corresponding to the three bays into which the hall is divided.
The central bay is square and richly decorated, featuring geometric marble inlays as well as polychrome floral paintings. Its western wall bears ornate ''
mihrabs'' (prayer niches), bordered by mosaics and glazed tile. The two side bays are colonnaded halls, each containing a square chamber. These halls contain their own decorated ''mihrabs'', and are supported by
Hindu-style pillars.
At the extremities of the prayer hall are
''zenanas'' (women's galleries).
See also
*
Islam in India
Islam is India's second-largest religion, with 14.2% of the country's population, approximately 172.2 million people identifying as adherents of Islam in 2011 Census. India is also the country with the second or third largest number of Musli ...
*
Jodha Bai Mahal
*
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...
*
Tomb of Salim Chishti
*
Ibadat Khana
The Ibādat Khāna (House of Worship) was a meeting house built in 1575 CE by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1605) at Fatehpur Sikri to gather spiritual leaders of different religious grounds so as to conduct a discussion on the te ...
*
Naubat Khana
Naqqar Khana ( hi, नक़्क़ार ख़ाना, ur, ) or Naubat Khana (Hindi: नौबत ख़ाना, Urdu: ) is a term for a drum house or orchestra pit during ceremonies. The name literally means ''drum'' (Naqqar/Naubat)-'' ...
*
Buland Darwaza
Buland Darwaza (), or the "Door of Victory", was built in 1602 by Mughal emperor Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. It is the main entrance to the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, which is 43 km from Agra, India.There is another memori ...
References
Bibliography
*
*
External links
http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/south-asia/india/agra/fatehpur-sikri/map.htmlhttp://www.pbase.com/primero/india2006
{{Authority control
Buildings and structures in Agra district
Fatehpur Sikri
Mosques in Uttar Pradesh
Archaeological monuments in Uttar Pradesh
Mosques completed in the 1570s
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri () is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. Situated 35.7 kilometres from the district headquarters of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar, serving this ...
Mughal mosques