A plausible motive for Charminar

Hyderabad:  Mir Momin, an Iranian who was the architect of Charminar and its surroundings, could well have taken a leaf out of the ancient Indian towns where solitary structures were built in the centre of the city. There is no evidence of erecting square pavilions in the city centers of any country. It was in practice in the ancient towns of India.

Charminar built in the year 1591 AD is also called ‘Arc de triomphe of the East. In spite of various popular beliefs and legends, the motive behind the construction of the solitary structure of Charminar, as the first building of the newly-laid city, remains somewhat obscure. Relevant references from ancient vaastu sastra “Maya Mata” point to different types of pavilions recommended for various purposes suitable for gods, Brahmins, kings, vaisyas and sudras. These pavilions were erected in front of shrines, villages, towns etc. 

In villages and towns, these pavilions were built at strategic points. They were erected at the cardinal points for the audiences from where they could view military reviews and negotiations. There are sixteen types of pavilions, each square in plan, appropriate for gods, brahmins and kings. They are called meruka, vijaya, siddha, padmaka, bhadraka, sive, veda, alankrita, darbha, kausika, kuladharina, sukhanga, saukhyaka, garbha, malya, malyadbhuta. The ‘Alankrita’ type of pavilion is suitable to be installed in the center of a settlement, such as village or town. The junction of crossroads of a town used to be called ‘alankrita,’ as per the ancient texts.

There is an ancient pavilion in the center of Sarvail Village of Yadadri in Bonagiri District about 60 kms from Hyderabad. This shows that the tradition of erecting square pavilions in the center of the village or town was in vogue centuries back. There is an argument that Charminar was constructed to eradicate the obnoxious disease, ‘plague,’ which frequently took its toll in the city. There was a belief in ancient days that the erection of a pavilion at the center of the town (Bramhastana) will take care of the welfare of the city dwellers.  Though the rulers in those days were Muslims, they kept in mind the sentiments of the majority Hindus and might have spurred them to construct the “Alankrita” type of pavilion, “Charminar.” 
BY Buchi Reddy Avala