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view of tomb of Mariam-Zamani
Mariam Zamani is believed to be daughter of Raja
Bharmal Kachhwaha of Ambar (Amer) or
modern Jaipur. She married Akbar in 1562 A.D. and
gave birth to Salim (Jehangir) in 1569 at Fatehpur
Sikri. Her Rajput name is not known and in Mughal
history she is addressed by the title of 'Mariam
Zamani' (compassionate to the world) which was
conferred upon her by Akbar on the eve of Salim's
birth. She died at Agra in 1623 and stylistically
her tomb seems to have been built by Jehangir.
The
tomb of Mariam Zamani is located very close to the
tomb of Akbar within the compound of Christian
Missionary Society. This locality was founded by
Sikandar Lodi and hence it received its name
from him. The building was originally a barahdari
which was later on converted by the Mughals into a
tomb. For this, little alterations were made by the
Mughals. A crypt (tahkhanah) was dug below the
central compartment and it was made approachable by
a board flight of red stone stairs. The remains of
Mariam-Zamani was placed here. A cenotaph was placed
in the central compartment just above the mortuary
chamber and it was protected by red stone jalied
balustrade on all sides. But the most important
change was the reconstruction of the four facades of
the building in accordance with the prevalent Mughal
architectural style.
GENERAL PLAN
The
tomb of Mariam-Zamani is situated in the centre of a
spacious garden. The building is square in plan i.e.
146 on the side and rests on a plinth which is
approached by stairs on the northern and southern
sides. The tomb has two through corridors running
from east-west and north-south which divides the
tomb into nine sections. Those in the centre of
east, west, north and south sides are oblong in
shape and the centre ones are square in shape. These
are further subdivided into smaller compartments.
Brick and mortar has been used for construction
here. Within the tomb building piers have been used
to support the broad arches and vaulted ceilings.
The central section of the tomb which is directly
above the main mortuary chamber, contains the second
grave of Mariam Zamani. Two stairways provided on
the southern side of the main tomb building leads to
the terrace. In the centre of the terrace is a brick
masonry platform with a white marble cenotaph. This
white marble cenotaph on the terrace is the third
grave of Mariam Zamani.
In
the centre of each side of the building is an
massive arch set in a rectangular frame and flanked
by three smaller arches and a set of double arches
one over the other at the corners of the building.
The upper rooms (duchhatti) at the corners of the
building is approachable by stairways. On the
terrace there are four massive cupolas in the four
corners and four chhaparkhats in the middle of each
side. The four cupolas stand on a square platform
and is made of red sandstone. Beautiful brackets can
be seen just below the chajja which have both
ornamental as well as functional purpose. The dome
of the cupolas is crowned by an inverted lotus or
padmakosha. The chhaparkhats are rectangular in plan
with eight pillars and a cluster of brackets just
below the chajja which are very similar to the
corner cupolas. |
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