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| iron pillars, Lat Mosque,Dhar,MP en.wikipedi.org |
The iron pillar at the Lat Mosque in Madhya Pradesh remains one of medieval India’s most intriguing metallurgical relics. The mosque itself was built in 1405 CE by Dilawar Khan, founder of the Malwa Sultanate, but the pillar fragments lying in its courtyard are older. Known locally as the “lāṭ” (pillar), the structure survives only in broken sections. It bears no clear dedicatory inscription stating its date or patron, though scholars attribute it tentatively to the Paramara period (12th–13th century). Henry Cousens suggested it may have been erected during the reign of Arjunavarman (c. 1210 CE). In 1531, Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat reportedly attempted to transport the pillar to Gujarat; it fractured during removal and has remained in Dhar since. Emperor Akbar later visited Dhar and left a Persian inscription on it. In the 1980s, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conserved the fragments and mounted them on a platform for public display.
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| Inscription of Chandragupta Maurya Delhi pillar,en.wikipedia.org |
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| Iron pillar,Delhi cisindus.org |
Above image:The corrosion-resistant Iron Pillar in the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Mehrauli, Delhi (picture courtesy: Wikipedia. Weighing more than 6 tons,the height of the pillar, from the top to the bottom of its base, is 7.67 m, 1.12 m of which is below ground.The Sanskrit inscription in Brahmi script on the surface of the pillar suggest that it was erected by “Chandra as a standard of Vishnu at Vishnu Padagiri”(modern day Udayagiri near Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh) and Chandra with the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (r.375 – 414 CE). In 1233 the pillar was shifted to its current location Qutb Complex in Delhi.The Pillar in the compound of LatMasjid, Dhar,though broken is equally tall and like the one in Delhi, is rust-resistant.Obviously the craftsmen used advanced metallurgical techniques...........
The Dhar pillar invites comparison with the celebrated iron pillar in the Qutb Minar Complex, originally erected in the 4th century CE during the Gupta period, most likely under Chandragupta II. Unlike the Dhar pillar, the Delhi pillar remains largely intact and carries a Sanskrit inscription in Gupta Brahmi script praising a king identified with Chandragupta II. Metallurgical studies have shown its high phosphorus content and forge-welded construction, which account for its remarkable resistance to corrosion over more than 1,600 years.
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| Iron pillar, Dhar,en.wikipedia.org |
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| Iron pillar Delhi, en.wikipedia.org |
Both pillars reflect India’s advanced ancient iron-working technology, involving large-scale forge welding and precise heat control. While the Delhi pillar’s provenance and inscription provide clarity, the Dhar pillar remains enigmatic due to the absence of definitive epigraphic evidence. Their presence in mosque complexes—Delhi’s within the Qutb complex and Dhar’s beside the Lat Masjid—illustrates how early Islamic rulers incorporated earlier monumental symbols into new architectural settings.
Together, these pillars stand as enduring symbols of India’s scientific ingenuity and layered historical landscape.
Archaeological Survey of India reports;
Henry Cousens, Archaeological Survey of India Reports;
R. Balasubramaniam, studies on Indian iron pillars; inscriptions at Qutb complex; Central India Gazetteers.
https://cisindus.org/indic-varta-internal.php?vartaid=816
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_pillar_of_Delhi
https://www.esamskriti.com/e/History/Indian-History/IRON-Pillar-of-DHAR--~-Lest-we-forget---1.aspx
K. N. Jayaraman
