Islamic Architecture of Deccan (With Special Emphasis on Rayalaseema Region)

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Mosques and tombs in Deccan, especially at Rayalaseema are most celebrated and intriguing of India's Islamic Monuments. No survey of Islamic Architecture would be no complete without these, and yet not work has ever before considered in its entirety or in its context. In this book, Rangachar Vasantha combines the most thorough study ever made of these magnificent monuments with an original investigation.
The social and artistic ingenuities of the Adil Shahis, Qutb Shahis and Mughals brought a fresh breeze into this region and gave a new life to Islamic art in Deccan specially Rayalaseema region and revitalized it into fresh activities, which were undreamed of in the preceding ages. The most outstanding examples are Siddhi Masood Khan mosque at Adoni and Baqshi Chabumiya mosque at Amarapuram, each one is unique in itself, true to the architectural tradition of the past.
The first part of the book scans the geographical, historical and religious background in which the Islamic Monuments and its Architecture progressed in Deccan and later in the Rayalaseema region. The second part brings the monuments (mosques, tombs and dargahs) into focus with a rich examination of its architectural and geometrical patterns with their esoteric and philosophical values, analyzing it in relation to the Adil Shahi, Qutb Shahi and Mughal tradition within which it was created.
Copiously illustrated with colour plates, plans and maps, this is an essential book for anyone interested in Islamic art and architecture and is the perfect guide to the enthralling monuments of Rayalaseema.

Dr. (Mrs.) R. Vasantha has been working as Professor in the Depart ment of History at Sri Krishna devaraya University, Anantapur, India since 1983. In 1995 she was selected as a DAAD fellow and was attached to the Orientalisches. Seminar Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat, Freiburg, Germany. In 2000, she was a CWIT fellow and carried her research at The Institute for Advanced Studies in Art and Humanities, Edinburgh. In 1970-1973, she was an UGC fellow at the University of Mysore. She has been awarded Senior Fellowship from the Department of Culture, HRD, Government of India. for the project, Study of monuments and sculptures through the image technique a new approach" 2001-2003.
Among Prof. Vasantha's most important publications are: The Narayana Suami Temple at Melkote-a Historical and Archaeological study (Government of Karnataka, 1992); Penugonda Fort-A Defence Capital of the Vijayanagara Empire-History: Art and Culture (Delhi, 1999); Nava-Narasimha Temples at Ahobilam-A Sociological and Archaeological study (Tirupati, 2000) and Symmetry and Proportion in Indian Västu and Silpa (Co-author P. Purushotama Reddy) Her research articles are published in various International Journals.
Dr. M.A. Mannan Basha teaches History at the Government Junior College, Anantapur.

The study of the Islamic Architecture of Deccan with special reference to Rayalaseema in the perspective of the historical and religious background is of great value to have a better picture and give a total dimension to the continuation of the art tradition, in Deccan, in the late medieval period. In the beginning of the 15th century A.D. Adil Shahi's in their zeal to capture the Rayalaseema region also brought their architectural style. We find in Rayalaseema, beautiful mosques and tombs built in high order, by the superb quality of their workmanship. The construction, stone work and domes of the buildings very much resembles the Bijapur workmanship and construction pattern.
I greatly acknowledge the help and suggestions rendered by Janab Murshed Peer Saheb, Retired Urdu Munshi, Adoni, Sri S. Khaja Hussain Saheb, Ex-President, District Wakf Committee, Anantapur, Sri Y. Md. Osman Shaheen, Municipal Engineer, Tadapatri, in completing the monograph. My heart felt thanks to Sri B.L. Bansal, Sharada Publishing House, Delhi who has taken lot of trouble and personal interest in publishing of this book.

Islam is the third great monotheistic religion to have sprung from the Semitic peoples. It was established in the seventh century of the Christian era by the prophet Mohammed who died at Medina in 632 A.D. By the end of the century the religion had spread to the western mediterranean and into central Asia. Thereafter Islamic rulers and their peoples created various distinctive styles of building with many important common characteristics. These styles, now generally known as Islamic, are also, variously called Moslem (or Muslim) and Mohammedan, Sarsenic and Moorish. The several individual styles are generally identified by the name of a ruling dynasty. (e.g. Ummayad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Seljuk, Mughal, Ottoman etc.)

The Moslem faith flourished principally in the countries of southern Asia and North Africa, and in consequence many of the characteristics common to the various Islamic styles reveal a strong regional individuality. The map on page 2 attempts to illustrate the historical and geographical relationship between the more productive of the Moslem dynasties. In modern (but necessarily approximate) terms the following countries were governed by Islamic rulers and largely populated by Islamic people during the periods indicated.