Son’s tribute to father, ‘piece of Gujarat in Delhi’: Story of ChausathKhamba

Son’s tribute to father, ‘piece of Gujarat in Delhi’: Story of ChausathKhamba

Subject: History

Section: Arts and Culture

About ChausathKhamba:

• ChausathKhamba, also spelled ChaunsathKhamba, is a tomb built during 1623–24. 
• It is located in Nizamuddin precincts of Sufi Muslim shrines and tombs in New Delhi, India.
• The name means “64 pillars” in Urdu and Hindi. 
• The structure houses the tomb of Mirza Aziz Koka, foster brother of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
• It was built by Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Ataga Khan, as a mausoleum for himself, at the time when Mughal Emperor Jahangir ruled from Delhi. 
• Mirza Aziz Koka had served several times as Jahangir’s Governor of Gujarat before he died in Gujarat.
• The tomb enclosure is entered through a lofty arched gateway and has a large sunken forecourt.
• The mausoleum is unique on account of it being built entirely of marble, with 25 marble domes supporting the flat roof of the structure. 
• The plan for ChausathKhamba could have been inspired from the wooden garden pavilions from Persia — such as the ChihilSutun, and in turn, the ChausathKhamba seems to have inspired the architectural design for Emperor Shahjahan’s Diwan-i-Aam, Hall of Audience.
• Each facade of the square structure has five marble arches inset with marble jalis or lattice screens, and a doorway in the central arch providing access to the tomb.
• The column capitals are intricately carved with simple yet striking pendentives bridging the square floor plan to the circular dome above.
• The Aga Khan Trust for Culture along with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertook the conservation of ChausathKhamba.
• The project was co-funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.

About Urs Mahal:

• Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi  saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint’s dargah  (shrine or tomb). 
• Urs Mahal is located in front of the ChausathKhamba and it’s an assembly hall where Qawwali programmes are held on festival days and on the days during Urs of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya.
• It is a protected monument (refurbished in 2003).
• In most Sufi orders such as Chishtiya, etc. the concept of Urs exists and is celebrated with enthusiasm.