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XVIII. Akbar's “House of Worship”, or 'Ibādat-khāna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Extract

One of the most famous institutions of Akbar was the 'Ibādat-khāna, or “House of Worship”, which he caused to be erected early in 1575, immediately after his return from the successful siege of Patna. The building no longer exists above ground, although it is just possible that its foundations may be still traceable, if searched for in the right locality. The two suggestions published concerning its situation, which will be noticed near the end of this paper, are both inadmissible, as will appear from perusal of the texts which I proceed to quote from Badāonī, the abaḳāt-i-Alcbarī, and the Akbarnāma, all contemporary authorities.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1917

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References

page 716 note 1 On one occasion Akbar invited a few Ulamā to hold a debate against Abu-l-Fazl “at the house near the Anūptalāo tank”. That house seems to have been distinct from the 'Ibādat-khāna. At any rate there is no evidence that the two names refer to the one building.

page 716 note 2 Muntakhabu-t tawārīkh, tr. Lowe, , ii, 203–5Google Scholar, with corrections as on p. vii.

page 718 note 1 Ibid., vol. iii, tr. Haig, , pp. 73–4Google Scholar, biography No. xxii. Only one fasciculus of the version of vol. iii appears to have been published. The spelling of Sirhind varies. Some authors write Sarhind or Sahrind. Raverty regarded the last-named form as the correct one.

page 719 note 1 abaḳāt-i-Akbarī, in Elliot, & Dowson, , v, 391.Google Scholar

page 720 note 1 The rendering “verandahs” is not legitimate.

page 720 note 2 Akbarnāmah, tr. Beveridge, H., vol. iii, pp. 157–9.Google Scholar Mr. Beveridge has been good enough to lend me paged proofs of his third volume so far as available. The volume has not yet been published.

page 721 note 1 Latīf, , Agra, p. 187.Google Scholar Mr. Havell has theories about the supposed symbolism of the richly sculptured column.

page 722 note 1 Monserrate, , Commentarius, pp. 632–4.Google Scholar