INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MONUMENTS OF AKBAR

Author(s): S. JABIR RAZA

Source: Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 53 (1992), pp. 244-250
Published by: Indian History Congress
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 23

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MONUMENTS

OF A KB AR

S. JABIR RAZA*

0.1 Akbar's reign is comparatively rich in official and unofficial histories and a
number of surviving primary documents. In addition to these sources, epigraph
evidence of considerable value is also forthcoming. This information has alr
been mentioned and published.1 This paper is concerned with only th
inscriptions found on the monuments built by Akbar himself, such as fort
Agra, the edifices at Fatehpur- Sikri and Nagar Nagar fort of Srinagar, etc.

0.2 The number of such inscriptions that we are discussing here is eighteen. M
of them are expectedly on the buildings at Fathpur Sikri,2 the capital city b
by the Emperor. One is from the Agra fort3 and a very interesting inscrip
is the one on the gate of the Nagar Nagar fort at Srinagar.4

0.3 These inscriptions are in Persian except five of them that are only verses f
Quran and thus in Arabic. There is only one very significant departure, th
epigraph on one of the structure at Fathpur Sikri popularly identified as Bir
house is in Devanagari.5

1.1 The calligraphy of these inscriptions reflects the interest the Emperor himself
took in this art and the excellence of his calligraphers. Abul Fazl mentions eight

* AM- 14253. Research Associate, Centre Advanced Study in History, AMU, Aligarh

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 S. Jabir Raza : Inscriptions on the Monuments of Akbar

calligraphic systems viz. Kufic, Thulth, Tauqi', Muhaqqaq , Naskh, Riqá, T'aliq
(derived from the Riqá and the Tauqi) and Nast'aliq (derived from Naskh and
Taliq). Akbar himself took much interest in the art of calligraphy. Hence, Nast'aliq
had received a new impetus during his reign. The difference in the forms of
letters in various systems lies in the 'proportion of the straight and round
strokes,' The Kufic character consists of 'one sixth curvature and five-sixth
straight lines', while the Naskh and the Thulth script consist of 'one-third curved
lines and two-thirds straight lines, hence the name Thulth which means one-
third. The Thulth is called jali (clear) while the Naskh is khafi (hidden). In
Nast'aliq , the letter consist entirely of round lines.6 To depict the texts in a
decorative and artistic pattern, the art of Tughra was also developed. The
Tughra accommodates the text in the minimum possible space by elongating
or contracting the letters as required.7 The epigraphs under study provide
specimen of Thulth , Thulth in Tughra and Nast'aliq scripts.

1.2 In addition to calligraphic merit, the epigraphs have also preserved the names
of several epigraphists, whose name are not mentioned in the literary
sources.8 Besides the name of renowned composer and tracer of Akbar's time,
Muhammad Ma'asum Nami of Bhakkar, the names of Darwish Muhammad al-
Haji alias a'r-Ramzi, Muhammad Baqir, Abdul Fath, Ism'ail, Husain Khan, Arifi,
Abdul Halim, Abdul Qadir son of Abdul Latif and Husain son of Ahmad al-Chishti
are frequently mentioned as a composer and writer. None of these is mentioned
by Abu'l Fazl or in any other literary source.

1.3 The inscriptions of Akbar's monuments which are still extant seem to shed light
on socio-political, administrative and economic aspects. Some of these also
help in identification of the structures. In certain cases these inscriptions helpfully
provide the date directly or through a chronogram. Since most of these inscriptions
were engraved prior to the introduction of the llahi era (i.e. A.H. 992/1584-85
A.D.) the dates where ever given are in Hijri era except in three instances. The
Devanagari inscription on the so-called Birbal's house is in Vikram era, while
the one on the Buland Darwaza, Fathpur Sikri inscribed after the conquest of
Khandesh mentions llahi year along with Hijri. The one on the Nagar Nagar fort
that was built in 1597-98 that is after the introduction of the llahi era, follows
the same style and gives both llahi and Hijri year.

1 .4 The Janni1 mosque was the first building to be built in Fathpur Sikri. There are
in all ten inscriptions on this mosque-Buland Darwaza complex out of which six
are only Quranic verses. Interestingly enough, even in such inscriptions the
tracers mentions his own name as well. For example, on the arched border of
the gate of Jamř mosque after engraving the verses from Quran the inscriber
Husain son of Ahmed al-Chishti also inscribes his name.

1.5 With the demise of Sheikh Salim Chishti soon after he completion of th
mosque, he was buried in the courtyard of the Jami ' mosque. The epitaph o
the tomb gives line of his ancestors connecting him with the famous Chisht
saint of 13th century Sheikh Farid Ganj-i Shakar of Pak-pattan. His sufic statu
was compared with the renowned saints Junaid of Baghdad and Taifur. The
inscription also provides us the year of his demise as A.H. 979/A.D. 1571-72
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 Proceedings, I HC : 53rd Session, 1992-93

1.6 The inscription in Devanagari on the so-called Birbal's house (it being a part of
harem sara) gives the date of the beginnings of the construction of the palace
complex as V.S. 1629/A.D. 1572 (Appendix No. 4).

1.7 There are two other inscriptions on this compiex that appear to be of greater
significance. Both of these are of A.H. 1010/A.D. 1601-02 implying that these
were inscribed in later years after the construction. The conquest of Khandesh
seems to have provided the occasion for engraving these. The most striking
aspect of this inscription is that it goes on to record a saying of Jesus Christ.
(See Appendix No. 2)

II

2.1 The epigraph, composed and traced by the leading calligrapher of Akbar,
Muhammed Masum Nami, on the western side of the Buland Drawaza also
seems to reflect the prevailing religious atmosphere and ethos after 1580 A.D.
For example, it says, "Poverty is a kingdom in which there is no accountancy."
(See Appendix No. 3). It further supplies the genealogy of the composer in
these words : "Its composer and writer in Muhammad Masum Nami, son of
Saiyid Safi, at-Tirmizi by origin and al-Bhakkari by residence, descended from
Saiyid Sher Qalandar, son of Baba Hasan Abdal, as-Sabzuari by brřth and al-
Qandahari by residence.9

2.2 There are two rather long versified inscriptions in Persian, one outside and the
other inside the khwabgah. Though these epigraphs do not mention the date
of engraving, however, since the palace complex was completed in A.H. 979/
A.D. 1571-72, these might have been inscribed around this time.10

2.3 A very interesting inscription on a beautiful fresco painting is on the structure

identified as Mariam house. It describes the fight of elephants, in which one
elephant Bakht Bali smashed the head of another elephant named Prataba.
These names of elephants are no mentioned in A'in-i Akbari and Akbarnama .11

2.4 The epigraph on the Yatishkhana helps us in defining the function of this
building, which was the office of Muhammad Baqir, who was the superintendent
of the kitchen establishment as the epigraph states.

2.5 Besides the inscription at Fathpur-Sikri one important inscription is found on the
guards room at the Delhi gate of Agra fort. It was inscribed in Hijri era 1008,
corresponding to 1599-1600 A.D. On the arrival of Emperor at Agra from
Lahore in 1598, perhaps a renovation, of the fort that contained the imperial
residential complex, took place at the time and this epigraph mention that
Agra's status as the capital of the Empire had been restored. Unfortunately
even at the time when Cunnignham recorded it, this inscription was no more
intact and he was unable to read it fully.

2.6 One of the most important and untapped inscription of Akbar is on the outer-
gate of Nagar Nagar fort (known as Hari Parbat fort) of Srinagar. It throws light
on a variety of important aspects of the construction of this fort.

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 S. Jabir Raza : Inscriptions on the Monuments of Akbar

2.7 The script of the inscription has been recorded by Pir Ghulam Hasan Khuihami
in his Tarikh-i Hasan. But the text given here is not at all accurate. One couplet
has been omitted in the Tarikh-i Hasan, which says "He (Akbar) is such an
Emperor in the world who has no equal of his nor shall have any."

2.8 Next, the first part of one couplet has been erroneously copied in which the
term ' Begař (forced labour) has been misread as ' Bekař (useless) and by this
wrong rendering the entire sense is lost. At one place, the original term ' Zuhuř
has been replaced by Julus. Even arrangement of the couplets has also been
disturbed. Some such omissions and substitutions made the epigraph lost much
of its sense.

2.9 The inscription attached in the Appendix of this paper is in the original from with
rearrangement of couplet. The full translation has been given in the Appendix
No. 6. It has not been translated earlier.

2.10 According to the epigraph, this fort was constructed under the supervision of
Khwaja Muhammad Husain. The epigraph explicitly states that the Emperor
Akbar sent two hundred master craftsmen and from the imperial treasury a sum
of rupees one crore and ten lacs. The construction workers were paid and no
forced labour was exacted from any one. It was completed in 44th regnal year
corresponding to 1006 A.H. / A.D. 1597-98.

APPENDIX - I

INSCRIPTION ON THE CENTRAL PRAYER HALL OF THE JAM! ' MASJID.

Translation :

In the time of the king of the world, Akbar, through whom the
country became well organized, Shaykh' al-lsalm built a mosque
which on account of purity came to be respected even by
Ka'ba.

.The year of the completion of this lofty edifice came to be : Replica of the Holy
Mosque.

APPENDIX - 2

EASTERN SIDE OF THE GATE OF JAMI' MASJID

KNOWN AS THE BULAND DARWAZA

Translation :

(a) His Majesty the Emperor who has the heavenly sphere as his court, the
shadow of God, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Akbar Badshah, conquered
the country of Dakan and Dandes, which previously was called Khandes.
In the llahi year 46, corresponding to the year A.D. 1010.

(b) Having reached Fatehpur, he set out for Agra.

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 Proceedings. I HC : 53 rd Session. 1992-93

As long as the name of heaven and earth exists,

As long as the picture of existence is in the world,
May his name be seated together with the sphere,
May his person be connected with the eternal world.

(c) Jesus, peace upon him, has said, "The world is a bridge; pass over it
and do not inhabit it."

In the traditions : He who thinks that he will live tomorrow thinks he will live
eternally. The world is only a moment; hence utilize it in devotion. What
remains of life, there is no value for.

APPENDIX - 3

WESTERN SIDE OF THE JAMI 4 MASJID GATE

KNOWN AS THE BULAND DARWAZA

Translation :

(a) In the traditions : He who stands up for prayers while his heart is not with
Him, he will increase only distance from God. The best of wealth is that
which is spent in the path of God. Sell the world for the hereafter and you
will profit. Poverty is a kingdom in which there is no accounting.

(b) Nami, what would it matter if you set up a place for a throne,
And established shelter in a gilded palace?
Know that the beauty of the world is like a mirror;
You find yourself when you look into it.

(c) Its composer and writer is Muhammad Ma'sum Nami, son of Saiyid
Safi al -Tirmizi by origin and al-Bakkari by residence, and related to
Saiyid Sher Qalandari, son of Baba Hasan Abdal, as-Sabzvari by birth
and al-Qandahari by residence.

APPENDIX - 4

ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE WEST WALL

OF THE SO-CALLED BIRBAL'S HOUSE

Translation :

(Vikram) Samvat 1629, royal mansion of initiation.

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 S. Jabir Raza : Inscriptions on the Monuments of Akbar

APPENDIX - 5

LOOSE SLAB OF YATISHKHANAS OF MUHAMMED BAQIR

Translation :

Guard house ( Yatishkhana ) of the servant of the court, Muhammed

Baqir, the layer of the dinner table ( sufrachi ).

APPENDIX - 6

INSCRIPTION ON THE NAGAR NAGAR FORT OF SRINAGAR

Translation :

(1a) The construction of the fort Nagar was completed by the order of the Just
Emperor.

(1b) The head of all rulers of the world, Emperor Akbar; May Allah, the great,
increase his dignity;

(1c) An Emperor, who has no equal of his nor shall have any in the universe.

(Ila) He despatched one crore and ten lacs from the royal treasury and two
hundred Indian masters (masons), in his service.

(lib) No one did unpaid work ( begar); all of them received money from his
treasury.

(lie) (It was) Forty-four years since the accession of the Emperor, corresponding
to 1006 of the era of the Prophet.

(Ilia) The construction of the Nagar Nagar fort undertaken with the help of
Allah, and by the order of Majesty, shadow of God, Emperor Akbar,

(I lib) was Completed by the effort of Khwaja Mohammed Husain, a humble

slave amongst the slaves of Emperor Akbar.

(I lie) May the foundation of government of this Emperor remain forever, by the
command of God, I testify that there is no God but Allah!

(Translations of the Sikri inscriptions are largely in conformity with Z.A. Desai,
Inscriptions in Fatehpur Sikri; A Source Book, ed. , Michael Brand and Glenn
D. Loury, Massachusettes, 1985.)

NOTES AND REFERENCES

1 . Muhammad Sa'id Ahmad Marahravi, Athar-i Akbari, Agra, 1324 A.H. S.M. Latif, Agra. Hi
and Descriptive, Calcutta, 1896. A. Cunninghum, Archaeological Survey Report, Vo
Varanasi, 1966; E.W. Smith, The Moghul Architecture of Fathpur Sikri, 4 pts, Alla
1894; Saiyad Athar Abbas Rizvi and Vincent Johan Flynn, Fathpur Sikri, Bombay

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 Proceedings , I HC : 53 rd Session , 1992-93

Fetehpur Sikri : A Source Book, ed. by Michael Brand and Glenn D. Lowry, 1985; Inscriptions
sections compiled by Z.A. Desai; Epigraphia Indica (Arabic & Persian Supplement),
Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

2. Out of eighteen inscriptions, sixteen are found on the edifices at Fathpur Sikri. cf. Fatehpur
Sikri : A Source Book , Brand and Lowry, pp. 227-29, 230-31, 257-59;

3. Cf. A. Cunningham, Op. cit., Vol. IV, pp. 113-14. S.M. Latif, Op. cit., p. 75.

4. Cf. Pir Ghulam Hasan Khawihami, in Tarikh-i Hasan, Vol. 2, p. 443 fn, preserved the text
with full of defects. I am thankful to Professor Irfan Habib who supplied me the correct text
as read by him .

5. Originally, this house is an integral part of the Haramsara but presently it is popularly known
as Birbal's house. Ff. Rizvi and Flynn, Op. cit., pp. 59-69.

6. Abul Fazl, A'in-i Akbari, Nawal Kishore edition, Lucknow, 1882, pp. 74-78. Tr. Blochmann,
revised ed., Phillot, Vol. I, Calcutta 1927, pp. 105-09; Qeyamuddin Ahmad, Corpus of Arabic
and Persian Inscriptions of Bihar, Patna, 1973, p. xxvii.

7. Qeyamuddin Ahmad, Op. cit., p. xxvii.

8. A' in-i Akbari, p. 76, mentions the name of renowned calligraphist such as Muhammad
H usain of Kashmir (with honorific title of zarrinqalam, the golden-pen), Maulana Baqir, son
of Mulla Mir 'Ali, Muhammad Amin of Mashhad, Mir Husain-i-Kulanki, Maulana Abdul Haq,
Maulana Dawri, Maulana Abdur Rahim, Mir Abdullah, Nizami of Qazwin, Ali Chaman of
Kashmir, Nesrullah Qasim Arslam, etc.

9. Hence, he was a resident of Bhakkar, where his father settled after migration from Tirmiz
of Bukhara. His poetical name was Nami. As a poet, he composed a Diwan and Khamsa.
He is the author of Tarikh-i Sind, best Known as Tarikh-i Masumi. He was actively attached
with the Court of Akbar, who had sent him as ambassador to Persia in 1601-02 A.D. By
1605 A.D., he returned from Iran and Jahangir sent him as amin to Bhakkar, where he died
in 1609 A.D. Nami was skilled composer and writer of inscriptions and according to
Blochmann, 'on his travels he was always accompained by sculptors'. A number of inscriptions
left by him in Rajasthan speak of his journey to and back from Iran. One of the inscriptions
of Fathpur-Sikri on Buland Darwaza refers that he had accompanied Akbar throughout his
expedition to Deccan and returned to the capital in 46 llahi year. (Cf. Blochmann, Eng. tr.
of A'in-i Akbari by Abul Fazl, Vol. I, pp. 578-80. See also, H.I. Sadarangani, Persian Poets
of Sind (Karachi, 1956) pp. 28-33.

10. Badauni, Muntakhab-ut Tawarikh, Vol. II, p. 136; Brand and Lowry's edition : Fatehpur-Sikri,
Irfan Habib's article, 'The Economic and Social Setting', Bombay 1987, p. 81.

11. A'in-i Akbari, Vol. I, pp. 87-88; tr. Vol. I, pp. 128, 130; Abu'l Fazl, Akbarnama, Nawal Kishore
edition, Lucknow, pp. 91, 277; Tr. Beveridge, Vol. Ill, Delhi 1973, pp. 245-46, 654.

250

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