Mehrauli inscription praises the Gupta emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya's achievements. The iron pillar of Chandragupta dates from the late fourth to early fifth century A.D. It is situated in the Qutb Mosque's courtyard. It is thought to have had the emblem of the mythical bird Garuda, the Guptas' symbol, at the top, but it is now missing. This article discusses the features of Mehrauli Inscription / Garuda Pillar, which will be useful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation.

Mehrauli Inscription / Garuda Pillar - Background

• The Mehrauli Iron Pillar was originally located on a hill near the Beas River and was transported to Delhi by a Delhi king.
• This pillar attributes the victory of the Vanga Countries to Chandragupta, who fought alone against a confederacy of opponents gathered against him.
• It also praises him for defeating the Vakatkas in a battle that spanned Sindhu's seven mouths.
• The Mahrauli Iron Pillar is a historical landmark that entices visitors with its intriguing iron structure that has not corroded since its creation over 1600 years ago.
• Despite being exposed to the elements, the Iron Pillar remains robust, serving as a great illustration of ancient India's scientific and engineering progress.
• Archaeologists and materials scientists are still working to answer one of the world's oldest riddles.
• Iron Pillar, which rises magnificently at a height of 24 feet, is located within the Qutub Complex, which also houses the famed Qutub Minar. It is located in the Qutb Complex, in front of the Quwwatul Mosque.
• It contains verses composed in the Sanskrit language, in shardulvikridita metre.

Iron Pillar

Mahrauli Inscription / Garuda Pillar - History

• According to academics, the Mehrauli Iron Pillar was built during the early Gupta dynasty (320-495 AD). This conclusion is based on the workmanship style and inscription on the pillar, as well as the language.
• Scholars have discovered the name "Chandra" in the third stanza of the inscription on the Iron pillar, which signifies kings of the Gupta Dynasty.
• The king is identified as Chandragupta II (375-415 CE) who was the son of King Samudragupta.
• Chandragupta-II of the Gupta dynasty named this pillar Vishnupada in honor of Lord Vishnu.
• According to one popular theory, the Iron Pillar was erected on top of a hill in Madhya Pradesh called Udaygiri, from which King Iltutmish (1210-36 AD) carried it to Delhi following his triumph.
• According to some experts, King Anangpal II, Tomar King, lifted the Delhi Iron Pillar and installed it in the main shrine at Lal Kot in New Delhi around 1050 AD.
• When King Prithviraj Chauhan, Anangpal's grandson, was defeated by the Muhammad Ghori army in 1191, Qutb-ud-din Aibak erected the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque at Lal Kot.
• The pillar was then relocated from its original site in front of the mosque to its current location.

Mehrauli Inscription / Garuda Pillar - Features

• Mehrauli's Iron Pillar stands at a height of 7.2 metres. It rests on a 48-centimetre-diameter intricately carved foundation that weighs 6.5 tonnes.
• The pillar's summit is embellished with carvings. It also includes a deep hole that is claimed to be the foundation where Hindu Lord Garuda's statue was placed. Inscriptions are engraved onto an iron pillar.
• The most intriguing aspect of Iron pillar architecture is that it has not rusted in over 1600 years of exposure to the elements.
• Some of the inscriptions on the iron pillars hint to its origin. However, the original place where it was created is still being investigated.
• At roughly 400 cm from the present ground level of the pillar, there is a conspicuous depression in the centre of the otherwise smooth Iron Pillar.
• It is reported that the devastation was caused by the close-range fire of cannonballs.

Mehrauli Inscription

Conclusion

The Mehrauli iron pillar, also known as the Delhi iron pillar or Lohe ki Lat, is located within the Qutb complex. It was constructed in the fourth or fifth centuries CE and moved to this position 800 years later during the Delhi Sultanate period. The Pillar is remarkable for its rusty state, despite being made of 99% iron and having been built in the 5th century CE, giving it a lifespan of roughly 1600 years. It is thought to have featured the insignia of the mythological bird Garuda, the Guptas' symbol, at the top, but it is now lost.