The Mughal Era has left us with a collection of the most exquisite and monumental buildings across the Indian subcontinent. Many historians, architects, students, and admirers of these monuments exalt them, not only for their architectural perfection but also for their ornamental beauty. Some of these monuments, especially the mausoleums, do not only display Mughal power. Other than highlighting the wealth, ambition, and artistic appreciation of the rulers, Mughal architecture features a human attempt to create paradise on Earth.
The Layout
The Persian word for paradise, pairidaēza means “walled garden.” Built across the lands of Persia, these beautiful green expanses represented the lush gardens of paradise.
An important accompaniment to major Mughal monuments is the Charbagh. As the name suggests, Charbagh is a garden divided into four parts by perpendicular pathways. Commonly, the main building lies at the intersection of the pathways. A perfect example of the Charbagh can be seen at Akbar’s Tomb at Sikandra, among others.
Water channels run down the pathways. They further divide the four parts of the garden into four squares. A tank is created at the point where these channels intersect. Interestingly, the Quran describes paradise as a beautiful garden divided into north, south, east, and west by four rivers of water, milk, wine, and honey. Furthermore, four is a holy number in Islamic traditions. So, the four channels represent the four rivers, and the tank or the celestial pools reflect the main building, making these tombs not only sepulchral but also an earthly imitation of paradise. Humanyun’s Tomb and the Taj Mahal are also among those Mughal monuments that use this layout of the Charbagh.
The Garden
The Quranic garden of bliss becomes the main idea behind a Mughal garden. In the Quran, the gardens are said to be surrounded by fruit-laden trees, shrubs, and flowers, creating symmetrical patterns. This garden is a place of abundance, a place where one shall not miss anything. At the same time, this place does not exist only to provide the joy of exuberance. It is also a place where one can contemplate how their actions shall affect the future. Hence, one can say that the Mughal garden represents the afterlife.
To this day, the gardens in major mausoleums like Humanyun’s Tomb, Jahangir’s Tomb, and the Taj Mahal are pruned and manicured. Lush fruit-bearing trees of mango, orange, lemon, and even neem are grown here and act as cool shaded pavilions.
The Calligraphy
A study of the garden is revealing as it does not limit the monument to a funerary one but deems it the resident of the Almighty, paradise on Earth. The extensive calligraphy on most of these monuments also suggests this idea. Because of its role in recording the word of God, calligraphy is considered one of the most important Islamic arts. Nearly all Islamic buildings have some kind of inscription in stone, marble, or mosaic, like the Quranic inscription on the southern façade of the main gate of the Taj Mahal, which compares it to the garden of paradise.
“O! the one in
Rest and satisfaction
Come back to your Lord–well pleased
And well pleasing unto him!
Enter you then, among My honoured slaves
And enter you, My Paradise!”
–The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Fajr 89:27-30
A casual visit to these places shall introduce you to their beauty. However, it is important to remember that these monuments are not just architectural marvels; they stand for the mortal effort to create something immortal in more ways than one.
Sources:
-Ria Khetrpal “The Mughal Charbagh: Paradise Gardens on Earth” The Heritage
Lab, May 2, 2020 www.theheritagelab.in
-“Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi” UNESCO World Heritage Convention
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232/
– Pictures :
- tripadvisor.com
- https://www.tajmahalvisit.com/akbar-tomb.html
- https://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/taj_mahal/tlevel_2/t4visit_3calligraphy.html
Sunaina Jain
Description: Sunaina has been a dancer and a teacher of Spanish, English and movement for 14 years. She has worked in many institutions, projects and productions both in India and the US. Her interest in History, Photography, Music, Urdu and Literature fuels her passion.
