2025-05-31 Sat

The Mehrauli Iron Pillar is situated in the midst of the remains of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, recognized as the oldest mosque in North India. The mosque was constructed in 1193 CE by Qutubuddin Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi’s Mamluk dynasty. It is located in the Qutb complex at Mehrauli in Delhi. This remarkable iron structure, which is approximately 1,600 years old, exemplifies the exceptional knowledge and craftsmanship of ancient #Indian ironsmiths.

The Iron Pillar weighs 6.5 tonnes and stands at a height of 7.3 meters. It features a slightly tapering shaft, crowned with an ornate abacus that was once topped by an animal capital, possibly the legendary bird Garuda, regarded as the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. An inscription in #Sanskrit and Gupta Brahmi script can be found on its shaft, and archaeologists date this inscription to the 4th century CE.

As stated in the inscription, the pillar was erected by King Chandra to commemorate his victories and was dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Scholars have identified King Chandra with #Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire, who reigned from 375 to 415 CE and significantly expanded the Gupta Empire, encompassing territories from the #Indus #River in the west to #Bengal in the east, the #Himalayas in the north, and the #Narmada River in the south.

Notably, this was not the original location of the pillar. It is believed to have been initially erected in Udayagiri, Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh). According to prevalent legend, the pillar was transported to Delhi by Sultan #Iltutmish of the Mamluk Dynasty after his conquest of Vidisha in the 13th century. He is said to have brought it to his capital, Delhi, as a trophy of victory. Another narrative credits the relocation of the pillar to Anangapal, a Tomar Rajput King who is credited with the founding of Delhi in the 11th century. It is said that he brought the pillar to his capital city, Lal Kot, in the Mehrauli region to enhance a Vishnu temple.

The Iron Pillar of Delhi was manufactured using a technique known as 'forge welding,' and the iron used in its construction was not entirely pure. Archeo-metallurgist R. Balasubramaniam notes that the non-corrosive properties of the pillar are primarily attributable to the presence of #phosphorus in the iron. This combination of phosphorus, iron, and #oxygen from the air contributes to the formation of a thin protective passive coating on the surface.

On October 17, 1987, India Post issued a set of four commemorative stamps in honor of the India-89 International Stamp #exhibition, featuring prominent landmarks of Delhi. Among these, one stamp depicted the Iron Pillar of Delhi, with a face value of 60 paise.