Rulers And Buildings

Shikhara is the mountain peak. In North Indian temples highest roof of the temple is also known as Shikhara.

Pietra-dura is an architectural style in which coloured, hard stones placed in depressions are carved into marble or sandstone creating beautiful, ornate patterns. The stonework is glued stone-by-stone to a base after being "sliced and cut in different shaped sections, and then assembled together so precisely that the contact between each section is practically invisible.

The quadrilateral Charbagh concept is based on the four gardens of Paradise. The elements of a Mughal chaharbagh garden are:

● Rectangular walled enclosures and

● Division of the garden into quarters by artificial channels.

1. In those time temples were beautifully constructed because they were places of worship. So construction of a temple emphasized the king’s moral right to rule.

2. They communicate the importance of a king as they were meant to demonstrate the power, wealth and devotion of the patron.

3. The largest temples were all constructed by kings.

4. Temples help the king to create a god like image as the king took the god’s name because it was auspicious. Constructing places of worship provided rulers with a chance to proclaim their close relationship with god.

5. For example Rajarajeshvara temple. It was built by King Rajarajeshvara. It shows that the names of the ruler and the gods are very similar.

6. It also gives a chance to the king to proclaim their close relationships with god.

7. The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies.

8. They worshiped their deities together in the royal temples; it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth.

During Shah Jahan’s reign, the different elements of Mughal architecture were fused together in a grand harmonious synthesis.

1. The image of Paradise on Earth was created through the construction of audience halls, which were modeled like a mosque.

2. The pedestal on which his throne was placed was frequently described as the qibla which means the direction of Muslims pray as everybody faced that direction when court was in session.

3. These architectural features communicated a sense of divine justice and the idea that the king was the representative of God on earth.

Therefore, by the means of architecture style, this image was created.

The Mughal court suggests that everyone – the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak – received justice equally from the emperor:

1. The construction of the royal court in Red Fort emphasized the connection between the imperial court and royal justice.

2. Construction of Divan-e-aam of Mughal court suggested that justice is made for all.

3. By architectural features which highlight the idea of the king as a representative of God on earth.

4. There were a series of pietra dura inlays behind the emperor’s throne which depicted that legendary Greek god Orpheus playing the lute.

5. The construction of audience hall aimed to communicate that the king’s justice would treat the high and the low as equals creating a world where all could live together in harmony.

Role of Yamuna in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad:

1. The imperial palace commanded the front of river Yamuna in the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi.

2. Only the most favored nobles were given access to the river.

3. Other peoples had to construct their home in the city away from the river Yamuna.

4. This gave a new layout to the city and the city expanded.