Jain Journal 1995 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

JAIN : ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVALUATION
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aligment and orientation as the hillock. During excavation near Jodhba... Palace, a house complex was found in the same orientation and alignment. This fact goes on to prove that the present day structures and buildings are standing over a previous settlement
was built by well-qualified architects and town planner of an earlier age and was in existence may be in the shape of ruins, at the time the existing structures were raised.
On a close study of architectural aspect of the existing buildings and structures, one finds that one thing that has suffered the most is the symmetry of planning, design and construction, for the much talked about symmetry of Moghal buildings is totally missing here. The construction is haphazard and is definitely not in any sort of design. The crudity of the constructional aspects is visible every here and there. One can easily see that while each building is a separate unit complete in itself and has a separate design, an attempt has been made to join these buildings together and bring then into an enclosure. The why and wherefore of this is not the subject-matter of this article. The jointing structures are very crude and lack in similarity or resemblance. The jointings appear to have been done without caring for any order or spirit of resemblance at the whim and fancy of the builder. In this hodge-podge jointing the original purpose, planning or design of the building has not been cared for. Also the material used appears to have been brought in to use as and when available. It is evident from the pillars in the Panch Mahal that there is a chaos in design such that no two pillars are of the same design. The carvings on these is exactly like those used in a Hindu Temple. This leads one to believe that these pillars belonged to the razed temples and were subsequently gathered from their original sites for use in the Mahal. This answers for the lack of symmetry and design. As regards Jodhbai Mahal, it looks, as if, it was a temple, or to say the least, old temple material has been used therein. Similarly, the single pillar with symbolical lotus design and a Makar-Torar nearby like a Chhatri called today the Astrolodger's Seat, is singularly Hindu in design.
The view that old existing buildings and structures were destroyed is further strengthened by the evidence of the broken tusks of the elephant design carved on the Hathi Pol, which is a Gateway designed per Rajput structures available in Rajasthan and various Hindu Temples and Palaces. Hathi Pol appears to be the main entrance way to the whole palace-complex as the passage through it leads to the palaces after crossing seven or so thresholds.
It is, therefore, evident that a full-fledged and planned city existed at the site much before Akbar used this place for his capital.