Indian Antiquary Vol 56

SR No.: 032548
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 286
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 166

144
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ AUGUST, 1927
MOSLEM EPIGRAPHY IN THE GWALIOR STATE.1 BY RAMSINGH SAKSENA. (Continued from page 104.)
THESE inscriptions belong to one of the many cities of historical importance which lie within the territories of the Sindhias of Gwalior. This sacred city of hoary fame and mys. terious origin rightly deserves the name of Ujjain (the City of Light). It has been given a dozen names in the Hindu scriptures, viz., Avanti, Kanaksharanga, Kush-sthali, Vishala, etc.; but is more extensively styled Ujjayinî, and has been noticed by every known historian or traveller. The present town, however, though enjoying its ancient historic attributes and traditions, is devoid of any remains earlier than the tenth century A.D. It lies two miles south of its ancient site, the remains of which still yield interesting antiquities, whenever tapped. It lies in 23° 11' North and 75° 50′ East, on the Sipra river, and is still, as in the past, the Government head-quarters of the Mâlwâ Division and is reached by the Bombay Baroda & Central India and the Great Indian Peninsula systems of Railways.
Unfortunately Ujjain has escaped expert antiquarian survey by the modern archæologists. Even Sir A. Cunningham and his successors seem to be content with the undisputed identification of the site and by its mention in different epigraphical records, with brief descriptions thereof published in various journals from time to time. An authoritative, systematic and well-linked history of the old and new sites is a keenly felt need, and let us hope that the Gwalior Archæological Department will try to fill this gap. Scientific excavations at the site may yield startling discoveries, which may be as valuable as those of Mohenjo-daro (Sind) and Harappa (in the Panjab).
The Muhammadans laid their hands on Ujjain (Malwâ) as early as A.D. 724 under Junaid, governor of Sind, but they actually occupied it only from the time of Qutbu'd-din, A.D. 1196-97, up to the fall of the Mughals. The following are a few of the many unnoticed and unpublished Moslem inscriptions to be seen at Ujjain.
A.-Inscription on Binâ-nim-ki Masjid (or Mosque without Foundation), Ujjain.
This epigraph though belonging to one of the interesting monuments of Ujjain, has remained unnoticed for the reasons given above. The building is wittily known locally as Binâ-nîm-ki-Masjid (the mosque without foundation) on account of its having been erected on the (still visible and intact) plinth, and from the materials, of some Hindu temple. Though numerous mosques of this type are extant all over India, the adoption of this fanciful name in this case baffles explanation, except as a local joke.
The inscription is said to consist of a piece of slaty stone of the bluish colour common in Mâlwâ, measuring 2' 7" by 2' 4" and to have been fixed over the only entrance of the mosque. It consists of raised letters and contains five lines of Persian verse,3 each of which has been relieved by a plain line 3-inch in breadth. The style of writing is Naskh, but poor in execution. It has been difficult to fully decipher it, because the small photographic reproduction, which though apparently neat, has apparently been made after inking over the original inscription, and the ink has run into the curves of already crude letters. However, as I have been able to make out the salient points, I feel no hesitation in publishing this small record, since I believe that the undeciphered portion of it would probably reveal nothing more than a mere eulogy of the Prophet or the king, couched in elegant and forcible words. The record refers to the completion of the mosque in A.H. 806 (A.D. 1403) and names Dilawar Khân as king. Dilawar Khân Ghori (whose real name was Hasan, a descendant on his mother's side from Sultan Shihâbu'd-din Ghori) is a well-known personage in history. He was appointed Governor of Malwâ by Muhammad IV ibn Firôz of Delhi about A.H. 794, asserted his independence in A.H. 804, and proclaimed himself Dilawar Khân Ghorî, Sultân of Mâlwâ. As 2 Elliot, HI, I, 126.
1 See ante, vol. LV, p. 4.
In mujalleth muthmin wafi mazahif mahbun mayur metre. (chip) 4 Briggs, Ferishta, vol. IV, pp. 167-173.