Twilight of the Sultanate c16.s1.47

c16.s1.47

Another mosque belonging to the reign of Ibrāhīm Sharqī was built by two governors of Jaunpur, Maliks Khālis and Mukhlis, who have given their names to it. The Jhanjhı̄i Masjid was also built by Ibrāhīm in honour of Hazrat Sa‘id Sadr Jahān Ajmali.³⁰ The former is a plain structure, but the latter, though badly mutilated, was very similar in design to the Atālā mosque as is indicated by its propylon screens. The Lāl Darwāzā Masjid, so called because of its vermilion-painted gate, was built by Mahmūd Shāh (1440-52) and the Jama‘ Masjid by Husain Shāh (1452-78). Both these are more or less based on the design of the Atālā Masjid, although the latter edifice is more imposing than the former. The architect of the Lāl Darwāzā mosque is said to have been a Hindu, named Kamaū, the son of Visadru, and it is likely that the architect of the Atālā Masjid was also a Hindu.³¹ Thus the architecture of Jaunpur had all the beauty and grace of the Hindu art employed to the best advantage in the construction of their mosques.³² The massive propylon gives the facade almost the look of a south Indian temple, and constitutes the most distinctive element of the style. The peculiarities of this style—the best blending of the Hindu and the Muslim—extended into other important cities of Jaunpur kingdom like Kalpi, Varanasi, Ghāzipur and Āzamgarh.