The Treasure of the Adil Shahs

Present-day Karnataka was ruled by the Adil Shahis from 1489 to 1686 AD. During their reign, they built numerous secular and religious monuments with evolving architectural styles influenced by Persia and Ottoman Turkey. Bijapur, a significant center, housed 1,600 mosques during Ibrahim Adil Shah II's rule, but now has only 45 remaining. These mosques served as places of prayer, centres of education, and are a reminder of the Adil Shahi legacy.

The inscriptions in gold By Anandbora72 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72728979

Karnataka, located on the lower West Coast of South India, is often referred to as a precious gift of nature due to its unique combination of a glorious past and a prosperous present. From the 14th to the 18th century, Karnataka was under the rule of Muslim dynasties, and among them, the Adil Shahis held power over various regions of Karnataka from 1489 A.D. to 1686 A.D. This dynasty, founded by Yusuf Adil Shah, the son of Ottoman Sultan Murad II of Turkey, wielded significant political influence.

During the reign of the Adil Shahis, numerous secular and religious monuments were built in Karnataka. Initially, the architectural style of the Adil Shahis was influenced by the Bahmani style, but it later evolved and reached a higher level of technical maturity due to their continuous interaction with architectural schools from Persia, Ottoman Turkey, and other regions. The mosques constructed during this period incorporated various elements such as gateways, fountains, prayer halls, eaves, mihrabs (niches), wall cresting, domes, finials, and chhatris.

These mosques were built in different locations, including forts, cities, and provincial headquarters. Some followed a rectangular plan, varying in size from small to large, while many smaller ones were constructed without a courtyard. The Adil Shahis primarily focused on building Jama Masjids (congregational mosques). Most of these mosques featured a triple-arched façade with three to six bays. Some mosques were connected to tombs, as seen in Ibrahim Rouza and Ainapur Mosques.

The main entrance to the complex is through the eastern gate. Inside is a square courtyard (sahn) measuring 50 meters on each side, featuring fountains and an ablution reservoir. The main prayer hall is situated on the western end of the complex. It is crowned with a hemispherical dome topped by a crescent-moon finial and adorned with a balustrade at the base. The facade of the prayer hall showcases seven arched openings, with only the central one being embellished.

Another important mosque is the Asar Mahal. A relatively simpler and unadorned building, it was initially a public audience hall built by Muhammad Ali Shah. Its importance lies in the fact that it houses two strands of hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad, displayed only once a year on the night preceding Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi.

The next significant mosque is located in Raichur - the Ek-Minar-Ki-Masjid. The entrance is supported by pillars that hold up the roof and has only one minaret. The minaret, measuring approximately 65 feet (20 meters) in height and 13 feet (4.0 meters) in diameter, is constructed in the Persian style and shares the same form as the Chand Minar at Daulatabad and the minaret of Mahmud Gawan’s Madarsa at Bidar. The minaret consists of two stories, each featuring windows and surrounded by projecting galleries adorned with stone railings. It gradually narrows from the base to the top and is crowned with a round Bahmani-style dome. A spiral staircase leads to the top story, providing an excellent panoramic view of the town.

The interior of the prayer hall is divided into five bays by piers parallel to the western qibla wall. The interior design prioritizes clean lines over excessive ornamentation, with minimal plasterwork observed. The floor is divided into 2,250 rectangular boxes resembling a prayer mat, although this feature was added later during Aurangzeb's reign.

Several Adil Shahi mosques are mentioned in inscriptions across different districts in Karnataka. In the Dharwad District, mosques in Bankapur Fort, Misrikoti near Hubli, Bankapur, and Lakshmeshwar are mentioned, constructed during the reigns of Ibrahim Adil Shah I and II. In the Gulbarga District, mosques in Gulbarga Fort, Dornahalli, Hirapur, Bijapur Bakhshi Sahib Mosque, and Yadgir Taluk are recorded, built during the periods of Ali Adil Shah I, Muhammad Adil Shah, and Ali Adil Shah II. The Belgaum District features mosques in Belgaum, Hukkeri, Raibag, Athani, and Hukkeri, constructed under the rule of Ismail Adil Khan, Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Muhammad Adil Shah, and Sikandar Adil Shah. Finally, in the Bidar District, mosques in Shahpur, Bidar, and near the Mausoleum of Kunj Nashin are mentioned, built by Amin Khan, Miyan Yadgar, and Fath Shah during the periods of Ibrahim Adil Shah II and Ali Adil Shah II.

The mosques served as places of prayer and functioned as centres for education (madrasas), information dissemination, and dispute resolution. The Adil Shahi tradition involved inviting scholars from Turkey, Persia, and Arabia to their capital and supporting them as teachers in the mosques. Some Jami mosques in Bijapur even had attached resting houses for pilgrims, highlighting the diverse functions these mosques fulfilled. These mosques serve as important reminders of the Adil Shahi Sultans and the true spirit of God - kindness and the good of all.

The generally simple and austere interior is punctuated by elaborate mural ornamentation surrounding the central mihrab on the qibla wall. The mihrab, gilded and adorned in blue, black, and gold, displays diverse imagery and is dominated by Quranic inscriptions. This ornamental work was added during the time of Muhammad Adil Shah, as indicated by Persian inscriptions near the mihrab. Unlike Ali, Muhammad Adil Shah followed Sunni Islam, explaining the marked aesthetic difference between the mosque and its mihrab.

Bricks, stones, and wood were commonly used in the construction of Adil Shahi mosques, and stucco plaster coatings were popular adornments. Portals remained significant in the later mosques, and arches were prominently used in the openings and interiors. Nearly all the mosques had two minarets, although exceptions like Ek-Minar-Ki-Masjid had a single minaret. The Adil Shahis frequently employed Chhatris, decorative pavilions, to embellish mosque roofs, while finials (Guldastas) adorned the four corners.

During the rule of the Adil Shahi dynasty, Bijapur flourished. Historical records suggest that during the reign of Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Bijapur had 1,600 mosques. However, current evidence, including inscriptions, literary sources, and remaining monuments, indicates that there are forty-five mosques in the Bijapur district today. These mosques were constructed during the reigns of different Adil Shahi kings, and some are attributed to specific periods based on stylistic analysis.

The Jama Masjid, located in Bijapur, is the largest mosque in the city and can accommodate 4,000 worshippers. It stands as a prime example of Adil Shahi architecture. The Iranian influence deviates from local architectural traditions seen in later Bijapuri structures attributed to Ali Adil Shah's Shiism, as followers typically preferred less ornamentation in their places of worship.

An outside view of the Mosque By Venkygrams - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73234140

Interiors of the Mosque By Venkygrams - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73234228

A map pf Bijapur By The British Library - Image is taken from page 167 of 'Bijapur, the old Capital of the Adil Shahi Kings: a guide to its ruins with a historical outline. [With maps.]', No restrictions, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66064986

A Genealogy of the Adil Shah Dynasty By User: M a razvi - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19987685

Ek minar Ki masjid By Tanzeelahad - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21310437

A Dome of the Adil Shahs By Venkygrams - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73234944

Asar Mahal By Venkygrams - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73233029