There are numerous medieval sites spreading across modern Patan district.
Some of them of which were desecrated by Muhammadan invaders are listed below.
JAMI MASJID (RUDRA MAHALAYA TEMPLE), SIDDHPUR
Siddhpur is a small town situated roughly 30 km to the east of Patan city, Gujarat. It's ancient name was "Shristhal" which means "The sacred place". The town is famous for the ruins of Rudra Mahalaya temple, construction of which started by King Mularaja, founder of Chalukya dynasty and completed by King Siddharaja Narasimha in the year 1140 AD. He also made this place as his new capital giving it a name "Siddhpur".
The temple was dedicated to lord Shiva, a large complex decorated with intricate stone designs and exquisite sculptures. it was one of the largest temple with multistory primary shrine together with several minor shrines. The temple had a large mandapa hall. Consisting or at least 10 other minor shrine encompassing around 250x280 feet rectangular area.
It was desecrated by invading army of Delhi Sultnate under the command of Ulugh Khan (Alps beg), cousin of Allauddin Khilji and Nusrat Khan Jalesari in 1299 AD.
The ruined site was surveyed by Alexander Kinloch Forbes (Rasmala) during 1850s and then in 1880s by Henry Cousens and James Burgess for Archeological Survey of India. They have submitted detail plan and reports to ASI, which works as an authentic source of our information.
The temple pillars and reliefs are carved in very intricate manner implies great splendour of the temple structure. The temple indeed was one of the greatest in medieval Gujarat. Temple Structure was based on typical Maru-Gurjara architecture.
Magnificently carved lofty Torana does tell us its value as only the greatest and largest have this sort of lavish designs.
Part of Torana, defaced, destroyed and derelict.
side view of survived Torana, faces are expunged, not to offend other faith doctrines.
Jama Masjid with Courtyard and tank for ablution by Henry Cousens, ASI, 1880
Sultan
Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat, dismantled remaining portion of the temple in the beginning of 1408 AD and raised a Jama Masjid (Congregational Mosque) out of same ruins. The Masjid was constructed exactly at the same site of RudraMahalaya was based entirely on temple spoils. In 16th century chronicle, Mirat-e-Sikandari, conquest of Siddhpur by Ahmad Shah I is mentioned as victory of Islam on infidels and desecration of a great Hindu shrine glorified as honour. In a ballad on Siddhraja, it is mentioned that the temple was adorned with 8000 images and 1600 carved columns. Incidentally, Ahmad Shah I founded city of Ahmadabad in 1411 AD, there is ample possibility that he had used temple resources in construction of his new city.
Since then, The Hindu temple site was left in disregard while Jama Masjid was continued to
work as a center of main congregation among Muslims in the town.
The smaller shrine at the right is not attached to the mosque structure and has a small gap in between, which works as entrance from west side.
Video of Jami Masjid, Rudra Mahalaya
It seems that this small shrine had its own circular portico although only small part remained. You may also notice Hindu figures and reliefs on the temple wall chipped off by Muhammadans.
Columns of various designs, Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat, James Burgess (1903)
The length of mosque is roughly 70 feet and depth is around 40 feet, entirely supported on Hindu colonnade.
The dome of the mosque is supported by Hindu columns of various designs,
some have vase and foliage design (GhataPallava) and some with various creeping vine patterns, some other have niche for Hindu images and figures
from Hindu mythology which are evidently effaced as an attempt to make
it of neutral origin. These pillars with Hindu motifs need no proof to ascertain their origin.
Iconography of jambs and lintels have been effaced to conceal the true origin of these pillars, in some cases as in this one, columns from different sources and various designed asymmetric to each other are incorporated in same row.
Nandi (Bull) is visible inside mosque facing towards Qibla wall. We can also see the stairs to Mimber (Pulpit).
The Shivlinga found in excavation conducted by Archeological Survey of India, between May, 1979 and April, 1980 at same place.
Another idol head found buried inside mosque.
The exquisitely carved Ceiling had certainly been appropriated from nearby shrine extended roughly upto 35 feet in diameter, The temple comprised of area somewhere around 150x120 feet which was roughly equal to the great Somnatha temple, while entire edifices encompasses area around 230x300 sq feet.
These are carved from inside, gives a false impression of fall ceiling. We have observed such cor-belled roof structure in Shaikh Farid and Muhammad Tahir Dargah at Patan, a typical Hindu architecture appropriated later by Muhammadans. The parts of Hindu temple roofs were carefully salvaged and re-installed again later as a dome of the mosque.
An Inscription in Sanskrit found in the vicinity, kept for display.
Almost all of the sculptures on temple wall are effaced meticulously.
This image of the deity may have survived brutal iconoclasm but weather was no so merciful.
KirtiStambha or Torana, re installed at the site by ASI team.
No Head is intact, such was the abomination for sculptures
Another victim and evidence of iconoclasm filled with hatred
for the temple of such an immense size, the effacement process continued gradually for many centuries, which was common in many other cases.
Front side of the Jama Masjid, is supported by two Hindu shrines at each end. This is Qibla wall which also has an entrance. interestingly, it is a weird design since no mosque has any door/entrance from Qibla. In my opinion, this was originally external projecting structure a buttress behind the Mehrab for offering prayer (typical in the mosques of medieval Gujarat), which might have perished with passage of time.
For example here we can see buttresses behind the Mehrabs in a Muhammadan structure of early Gujarati architecture.
The two shrines at opposite direction are connected with each other through a stone wall of rumbles which also works as Qibla wall (a later addition by Muhammadans). Look closely at Qibla wall, it constitutes of small carved stone pieces appropriated from other part of earlier temple.
The gap between two minor shrines was made as main entrance to Jama Masjid, this doorway is Islamic construction with arches and adorned with inscription on the top.
SHAHI JAMA MASJID, SAMI, GUJARAT
Sami is a small historical town situated at 46 kms west of Patan district. Shahi Jama mosque of Sami was built by Mehmood Mehtab, general of Sultan Ahmad Shah, in 807 Hijari (1405 AD) on the plateform of a razed Hindu temple. Later, Bismillah sadar khan made huge changes in its design in 1281 Hijari (1864 AD) and the traces of early hindu structure had been removed. This Historical mosque is one of the oldest mosque dedicated to Ahlehadees sect.
The structure of mosque is quite old but is completely covered under later constructions. Main dome is covered by corrugated metal sheet. Thus its hard to get complete view of the original edifice.
Even if you look at the roof and dome, capitals are exposed and the pilaster is still visible with little but persistent Hindu iconography.
Inside mosque, there is an Arabic inscription at the top of central Mehrab which gives information of construction. A slab in Persian is also affixed at the right side of the wall which gives detail of subsequent construction and renovation.
Arabic inscription gives detail about its consecration.
However, entire columns are covered with white tiles to hide antiquity, capital brackets are still exposed. The figures on the capital of these pilasters and columns have been removed haphazardly with unskilled hands, a clear sign of appropriation from Hindu temple. In Hindu temples, we generally find pillar brackets adorned with dwarfs.
These stilted pillars too have various carving asymmetric to each other. Here one can discern, a Pillar has octagonal base, while other has square base
Almost all of the chapiter brackets are expunged in very crude way, which perhaps is a recent job executed by local residents to conceal the truth. This might be the case we have discussed in part one, where we had seen large scale renovation and re-constructions in Islamic structure after Babri mosque demolition.
Similar fashion is repeated in columns at right. iconography in Capitals chipped off and as one can see the entire pillar is covered with modern tiles, variation in shape of column bases still visible here.
The pillar capital here looks like vandalized but intentionally chipped off by unskilled locals to conceal any traces of Hindu origin.
There are numerous signs of destruction and appropriation with in the mosque wall. Columns are silent victim of the vandalism brought upon an unfortunate Hindu Structure.
Dome is plain as contrast to other edifices we have observed in vicinity, this was perhaps only construction originally belonged to the mosque.
OLD JAMA MASJID, MUJPUR, GUJARAT
Mujpur or Munjpur is a small village situated at 45 kms south west of Patan. There is an old congregational mosque consecrated by Sultan Zafar Khan (1391-1411), son of Wajih-ul-mulk, the founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty of Gujarat Sultanate. A Persian inscription slab in the building testifies the same. Munjpur was a small stronghold for Islamic forces
In the words of James Burgess, Director General ASI,
"Towards the east side of the village is the old Jami Masjid, which has been constructed, like most of the early mosques, of the materials from older Hindu temples-the figures being chipped off the pillars and lintels, in accordance with the mandates of Muslim iconoclast principles."
"On the north side of the court yard are the remains of a porch or mandapa, which appears to have been part of a temple left in situ, to serve the purpose of an entrance porch to the court yard."
The large central dome of the roof is carved in the usual leaf pattern, aranged in concentric circles. In the apex of it is inserted a cusped rose pendant, such as we find so often in Hindu and Jain domes. The rest of the roof is covered by seven small domes and twelve areas roofs by flat slabs cutting off their corners with others over these. The three Mehrabs are plain, and the Mimbar is provided with seven steps. over the central Mehrabs is a Persian inscription, and built into the wall to the south of it is another, under a small window. On a lintel, in the north end of the mosque is a Sanskrit inscription in three short lines, but very much abraded. "Samvat 1217, Vishaka Sudi 5" Epigraphica India Vol. II, p. 28, no. 9
This indicates that the earlier temple was constructed around 1160 AD.
Design of pillars employed in Old Jama Masjid, Mujpur (Henry Cousens, 1885)
"The perforated stonework that fills the windows- of which there are three in each end and four in the back wall-has been taken from Mandapa of an old Hindu temple, where it would perhaps be used to close in the space between the Kukshasana or ledge on the screen wall and the edge of the drip or lintel under it-occupying the space where the wood an bar lattice work is seen in th view of the Delmal temple. The drip cornice has also belonged to an early temple."
MEHBOOB SHAH DAD DARGAH, MUJPUR, GUJARAT
This site in Mujpur is built on Hindu temple pillars as evident from the facade, is nearby structure of the old Jama mosque.
Grave around Dargah has this weird pillar tombstone, remind us of many other Islamic shrines in Patan.
LIMBOJI MATA TEMPLE, DELMAL, GUJARAT
Delmal is a village situated 35 kms south west of Patan. Delmal is famous for its beautifully carved temples. Limboji Mata temple is one of the oldest structure in the vicinity. The court is 92x58 feet rectangular structure which has one primary shrine and four other smaller shrine in four corners. The primary shrine is devoted to Goddess Limbo ji, but it is comparatively modern construction occupying a much older edifice. The earlier temple was perhaps dedicated to goddess Maheshwari which was destroyed by Islamic iconoclasts and later in 17th century when Muslim rule weakened, local Hindus constructed new temple for Goddess Limboji. The other smaller shrines are comparatively older than the main shrines.
Side view of the temple, quality of later construction is inferior to its predecessors although almost similar architectural design retained.
Information Display available at the site
Temple architecture from left side
Temple design from right
Temple from Back
The famous Trideva sculpture with Sun as primary deity along with Shiva and Vishnu and riding on Garuda.
Torana at Delmal Temple
Earlier temple site of Limbo Ji Mata near to the bank of a tank east of the village.
A structure with dome, evidently of late medieval construction.
Part - 1 can be read here
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudra_Mahalaya_Temple
2. https://www.rvatemples.com/listings/rudra-mahalaya-temple/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhpur
4. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sidhpur
5. https://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2019/01/31/siddhpur-a-town-trapped-in-time
6. https://archive.org/details/photographsofarc00murr/mode/2up?view=theater
7. https://archive.org/details/rsmlhindooannal00forbgoog/mode/2up?view=theater
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mujpur
Author’s note :
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