What is the original name of Aurangabad?

What is the original name of Aurangabad?

The genesis of the name:

The city of Aurangabad stands on a bank of a small rivulet called Kham in the Dudhna valley that lies between the Lokanwara range on the north and the Satara hills in the south.

The town is situated on the latitude 19.54° north and longitude 75.33° east. In early historic times, a small township named Rajtadaga (King’s Lake) stood on this very site. Lush green Dudhna valley provided a transit passage to the caravan trade in those days connecting North India and Pratishthana (Paithan). This very route continued to keep the wheels of trade and commerce running in medieval times. Several research scholars are interested to know the exact location of Khadki and Rajtadaga in the Dudhna valley. In the present situation of the developed Aurangabad town, it is rather difficult to trace out the remains of Khadki and Rajtadaga.

 Khadki Village:

 A Persian unpublished manuscript dated 1861 AD clearly identifies the exact location of the Khadki village to a location between the present Bhadkal gate and Kala Chabutra of Aurangabad. Khadkeshwar Mandir occupied a prominent place in the Khadki village. Malik Ambar, the Chief Minister of the Nizam Shahi kingdom shifted his capital to ‘Khadki’, which later on became famous as Aurangabad town, at the beginning of the 17th century AD. There is a controversy about its ancient name that is Kataka and/or Rajtadaga. Kataka is a Sanskrit word that means a ‘Capital’ and also an ‘army camp’. One of the inscriptions on the Ajanta caves throws light on the name of the place ‘Katahrada’. A place-name ‘Kataka’ is mentioned on the cooper plates of Pallava queen Charudevi found in the excavation at Nasik. It bears the name of the place as ‘Rajtadaga’. The inscription on the Kanheri caves points out to Rajtadaga a place which is now Aurangabad. If the name of the place Rajtadaga as mentioned in the grant deed of Queen Charudevi, is the same as above then ‘Kataka’ and ‘Rajtadaga’ must have been two different places.

There is no reason to believe why the ‘Kataka’ name is attributed to Khadki. The word ‘Khadaki’ means the rocky place which is very clear by its meaning and it may be that in the following days, Khadki gradually was mispronounced as ‘Katak’. The old Shiva temple at Aurangabad is known as the ‘Khadkeshwar’ temple. Shiva temples are many times recognized with the name of the place in addition to the word ‘Ishwar’ with it. Hence, Khadk + Ishwar = Khadkeshwar was the ancient name of the Shiva temple which still continues. It also supports the theory that the ancient name of Aurangabad was ‘Khadki’. The word ‘Khadki’ may also mean a kind of simple house always located within a group of other houses. The word Khadki is also characterized by being a self-contained house of related families having a single entrance to a large courtyard. Katak was the name of one of the parts of Daulatabad. This has been stated by Ibn-e-Batuta.

Mahanubhav literature in ‘bila-chritra’ refers to ‘KatakaDevagiri’ as the name of the place. When ‘Kataka’ a name to the place was already attributed to Devgiri it was rather impossible to recognize ‘Khadki’ as ‘Katak’. If ‘Katak’ was an army cantonment of Pratishthana (Paithan) then also Deogiri was a more suitable place than an undeveloped and unimportant village that is Khadki. Tabatabi the author of Busatin-us-Salatin recorded that this place was given a suitable name as Khadki. This place was situated on a rocky place spread over many miles. According to Shri GurulilamrutMaswanathCharitra ‘Khadki’ was a small village.

Malik Ambar built his new capital attached to the Khadki village, later on, it became very famous.

Life & Times of Malik AmbarThe Great Founder of Aurangabad

He was originally an Abyssinian slave, and like all other slaves, had probably been sold or transferred from master to master. His last master was Abhangkhan under whom he soon rose to power. Malik Amber imitated the acts and deeds of his master, Abhangkhan, in the game of politics. He was sold to Khwaza Kasim in Baghdad. Khwaza Kasim sold him to Chengiz khan, the Mirak Dabir of Murtaza Nizams’ ah I (1565-86 A.D) at Ahmednagar.

Malik Ambar became a servant of Ibrahim Adils’ ah II, probably after the death of Chengiz Khan. The upright minister, Chengiz Khan was poisoned to death by his royal master whose mind had been prejudiced by the conspirator.

The Abyssinian parents of Malik Ambar sold him as a slave in the market of Baghdad. His master then was Abhang Khan. Later, he was sold to Khwaja Kasim and finally became the Slave of Mirak Dabir who was a noble of the Murtuza Nizam (1565-86 AD) at Ahmed Nagar which is now in Maharashtra (India).

Though he was in his teens, he was brave, intelligent, and a mastermind. Malik Ambar rose gradually into an influential position in the Kingdom of Nizam Shahi of Ahmed Nagar. His master had an army of one thousand slaves - all blacks, of which Malik Ambar was a part. He was an ambitious young man. After his master died, Malik Ambar no longer remained a Slave.

His life took many twists and turns but he succeeded to reach the highest position in the kingdom of Ahmednagar and became a law unto Himself. He successfully fought against the mighty Mughals and his other neighbouring kings.

He and other bold Abyssinians became servants of the Nizam Shah and he became distinguished for courage and ability. When Queen Chand Sultan was put to death in 1009, July 1600, by the swords of some unreflecting Deccanis, and the fort of Ahmadnagar came into the possession of Emperor Akbar, and Bahadur Nizam Shah was made prisoner and confined in the fort of Gwalior, total weakness fell upon the Nizam Shah dynasty, which had been declining since the time of Burhan Shah. None of the effective officers remained in authority, and Malik Ambar and Raja Miyan Deccani raised the standard of power. The first had control from the boundary of Telang to within four kos of Ahmadnagar, while the second had power from the north of Daulatabad to the boundaries of Gujarat and in the south to within six kos of Ahmadnagar. Murtaza Nizam Shah the 2nd, who was the son of Shah ‘Ali, held the fort of Ausa (Owsa of I. G.) and some villages for his expenses. As each of these two leaders wished to conquer the other’s land, they were constantly contending with one another. In the year 1010, 1601-1602, there was a severe battle in the neighbourhood of Nander between Malik' Ambar and M. Irij, the son of ‘Abdu-r-Rahim, the Khan-Khanan, and Malik ‘Ambar was carried off from the field wounded. The Khan-Khanan, who knew his designs, rejoiced and made peace, and Malik ‘Ambar too considered this again and had an interview, and made a treaty with the Khan-Khanan. As he had been often defeated by Raju, he now, with the help of the Khan-Khanan, defeated him and brought Murtaza Nizam Shah into his power and kept him under surveillance in Junair. After that, he led an army against Raju and made him prisoner, and took possession of his country. As in Upper India the contentions of Prince Sultan Selim, the death of Akbar, and the rebellion of Sultan Khusrau quickly followed one another, Malik Ambar was able at his ease to increase his power, and he collected numerous soldiers and took possession of most of the Imperial estates. The Khan-Khanan on account of the necessity of the times had to submit to this. When the power of Jahangir was consolidated, armies were repeatedly appointed. Malik ‘Ambar was sometimes defeated, and sometimes victorious, but did not cease to oppose. Afterwards, when Shah Jahan, the heir-apparent, was sent to the Deccan and all the rulers of the Deccan submitted to him, Malik ‘Ambar made over most of what he had acquired to the imperial vakils and stood firm in the path of obedience.

His last capital was at Daulatabad, a well-known stronghold of Deccan (India). Daulatabad was not sufficient enough for a place for Capital. So he built a beautiful capital near Daulatabad and named it Fatehnagar. The number of locations with beautiful buildings, places, gardens, roads, Water Lake, and underground aqueduct for drinking water constructed by him in addition to seven mosques including Jama Masjid, a Portuguese Church, Pandit Khana, Navkhanda Palace, and Bhadkal Gate.

In military acts and in statesmanship and right judgment he was unique. He had thoroughly mastered the method of qazaqi fighting which in the Deccan is called bargigiri and kept the evil-doers and vagabonds of the country in order. He laboured much in protecting the peasantry and in the advancement of agriculture. Despite all the commotion and turmoil, the Moghuls and the Deccanis were always fighting.

He continually carried on disputes with the ‘Adil Shahis and the Qutb Shahis and was repeatedly victorious. He received money as tribute (n'albandi). In 1035, 1626, he died a natural death at the age of eighty. He was buried in the Rauza of Daulatabad between the shrines of Shah Muntajibu-d-din Zar Bakhsh and Shah Rajui QataI. There is a lofty dome and a wall. Despite all the revolutions, a tract is set apart to the present day as In'am land which supplies lamps and oil.

Contemporary people say that in the distribution of charity and other good works, and in the administration of justice and the relief of the oppressed, he was very strong. He patronized poets. A certain poet has said in praise of him.

Verse.

There was Bilal, the worker of the Apostle of God;

After 1000 years there came Malik 'Ambar.

          {At the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) his Negro companion Bilal (may Allah is pleased with him) was known for his generosity and helping the poor, orphans, and helpless people. Apart from that, he was known for keeping promises. There is a tradition, that Bilal (RA) will be the first man to enter paradise, holding the reins of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) camel.}

HazarosaalNargisapnibenooripe roti hai

Badimushkil se hotahaichamanmeindeedawarpaida

(Allama Iqbal)

It is narrated by thousands of elders since the time of Malik Ambar’s death that when his Janaza (Funeral) was carried from Amrapur to Aurangabad, covering a distance of 80 km, thousands of his followers thronged his funeral procession. Normally the Janazas are carried on the shoulders of people who walk towards the graveyard, but in this case, the people only stood in an extremely long row covering the entire distance of 80 km and the Janaza was simply passed on from shoulder to shoulder without the need of anyone walking. Since Malik Ambar was a great person, his Janaza was first brought to Aurangabad and kept at an elevated Chabutra near Makai Gate in the campus of Government Hospital where thousands of people paid their last visits before his burial. The area of the Nawkhanda was earlier spread up to Makai Gate. The present Government Hospital is built in the old campus of Nawkhanda. Thereafter, the Janaza was taken up to Khuldabad where he was buried in his mausoleum which was already built by himself as the last house.

In those days after observing Malik Ambar’s generosity, justice, and love for the poor people, the poets compared him with Hazrat Bilal. Surprisingly, at the time of Malik Ambar there were many other kings, but, none of them was awarded this title of greatness.

Bhimsen Saxena describes

            During the reign of Sahib Qiran the Second and Nizam-ul-Mulk the Amber Habshi died whose date of birth is contained in the verse:

 

Dar Hazrat Rassol-e-Khuda yak Bilal Bud

Bad azHazarsal Malik Amber aamadeh.

در حضرت رسول خدا یک بلال بود                                         

بعد از ہزار سال ملک عنبر آمدہ                                            

[The exalted Messenger and the Prophet of God had one Bilal (a faithful companion’s name) and after one thousand years came Malik Amber.]

There was Bilal, the worker of the Apostle of God;

After 1000 years there came Malik 'Ambar.

            {At the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) his Negro companion Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) was known for his generosity and helping the poor, orphans, and helpless people. Apart from that, he was known for keeping promises. There is a tradition, that Bilal (RA) will be the first man to enter paradise, holding the reins of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) camel.}

And his date of death has been said by Khwajaqi in these verses:

Farsi  

Tarikh Malik Amber keNamash bad ZIndahDarakhtzulmrazbekhkundachuTarikhwaNalishKhajkiguftke Amber raftaaz o KhushbuweManda.

(The date of death of Malik Amber, whose name will ever remain renowned, dug out the tree of tyranny from its very roots and Khadki puts the said date of death of those words that Amber had left and his the fragrance remains.)

 

Malik Ambar founded Khadki in 1605

According to District Gazetteer Aurangabad,

In his subsequent resistance to the encroachments of the Mughals, Malik Amber availed himself largely of the services of Maratha chiefs, whose power, it may be said, he was the first to develop, and it was under his banner that Shahaji, the father of Shivaji, laid the foundation of Maratha's greatness. But it was no less as a statesman than as a general that Malik Amber stands out conspicuously.

“A sort of accommodation was effected, and the Mughals helped Malik Ambar against his rival Mian Raju, who was defeated and taken prisoner in 1603. Murtaza was removed to Junnar, and Malik Ambar announced himself minister-in-chief of the kingdom and viceroy of Daulatabad. A year or so after the occurrence of these events Malik Ambar founded the city of Khadki, which later became famous as Aurangabad. The minister then determined the country, and levied large armies.”

The first phase of Urban Development of Khadki village under Malik Amber:

Khadki the village represents the continuous ascension of a wave of urbanization that appeared on the medieval Deccan scene. This wave took many twists, turns, and curves which were deposited on the site where Aurangabad stands today. The fortunes of this town were closely linked with the fortunes of the royal houses of the rulers.

Khirki (Aurangabad) the town was the shadow effect of township, art, and architecture of Daulatabad city. Malik Ambar, the great builder, and genius engineer founded this planned town 10 miles away from Daulatabad in the vicinity of Khadki in the Year 1605 AD. Aurangabad was not gradually developed from a rural village Khadki but it was a sudden outburst in the form of a planned town. The concept of a planned city seemed altogether different in those days in comparison with the idea of modern planned towns. The site of the new town was selected after taking into consideration the geographical topography and its religious and social needs were also considered while planning this new city. The safety of a town from its enemy and natural calamities were also the major factors that molded this township. The highest places were selected to build the Nawkhanda citadel and nine palaces for king Burhan Shah II.

Nine palaces consisting of five Zanana Mahals, Diwan-e-Khas, Diwan-e-Aam, Cisterns, and beautiful baths, etc. were built in the year 1616 AD. The art and architecture of the Nawkhanda palaces were far superior to the buildings of Daulatabad, Bijapur and Bidar. The buildings of this town were beautiful and sky-high.

Beauty of the Malik Amber’s Khadki

Described byMirza Sadiq Asfahani

Original Script in Farsi

چاروم روز چوں سپر دوم راہ        :     شہر  کر کی بدید شد ناگاد

شہر عنبر نسیم مشک سرشت           :     آب اوبر وہ آبجوے بہشت

خاک آں بقعہ و مشک او فز بود     :     راستی آں بناء عنبر بود

ہم درد قصر آسماں مانند           :     سایہ برابر و پایہ برا بوند

ساکنانش ملک بہ نیکویی         :    بر زمین آمد آسماں گویی

English Translation

 A seventeenth-century traveller Mirza Sadiq Asfahani when passing through this valley broke his journey in the township then known as Khadki. The architectural beauty of the city’s monuments and the splendid scenery surrounding them impressed him so much that he passionately burst out with a Persian verse. “After fourteen days of travel, I decided to break my journey when suddenly I sighted the city of Khadki. A fragrance loaded breeze was passing over the city built by Malik Ambar. Water in the rivulet was flowing with divine sweetness. This is the city that Malik Ambar has established. The taps of the palaces here reached the sky. The residents of this town looked gentle and urbane from top to toe. The people living in this town praised Ambar for having brought paradise to earth.

 

Seven mosques were built by Malik Ambar at distant places in the town indicating the spread and density of Population in the newly built town. Jama Mosque is the biggest of all and chowk mosque is next to it. Hence the popularity among the masses had developed this town as a cosmopolitan town. Mosques, Pandit Khana (Chita Khana) and Church were built in the town of Khadki which shows his secular attitude towards other sects of the society.

Localities developed by Malik Ambar

While developing the Royal Nawkhanda palaces the New Khadki town was developed in the vicinity of Khadki village. Some new localities are known as Maljipura, Kheljipura, Parsapura, Vithojipura, Junabazar, City Chowk,Sarrafa, Shahgunj, Rajabazar, Nawabpura, Ranmastpura, Nawkhanda and Begampura. Every locality was self-dependent in respect of Bazars, mosques, public baths, cisterns, etc. He had developed various localities consisting of beautiful buildings, roads, cisterns, gardens, and bazaars, etc. He had also developed beautiful buildings, roads, cisterns, gardens, and bazaars.

There was an acute problem of water in the newly built town Khadki (Aurangabad). Hence, he built a huge tank named “Ambari Tanks” by raising a large earthen dam across the river khan and diverted its flow outside the town by the side of Bibi-ka-Maqbara, Makai-gate and Panchakki. The problem of drinking water for a population of two lacks was skillfully solved by cutting a unique underground rock-cut canal 10 miles away in the hillocks of Khadki. Six hundred cisterns were built in the various corners of the town. Each cistern was equal to a well in terms of supplying water.

Buildings:

Malik Ambar was a genius engineer and a skilful architect of the day. He built several buildings and changed the complete features of the village into a beautiful town. He brought skilled labourers, architects, and artists from different parts of India and abroad to urbanize the village.

He used massive black rocky cubes in the construction of his buildings and that is why all the mosques at Aurangabad built by him are popularly named black mosques or ‘Kali Masjid’. The impact of the Bijapuri style of architecture is found everywhere in the construction of buildings at Aurangabad built by Malik Ambar.

Bhadkal Gate:

Bhadkal Gate is also known as BaharkulDarwaja. It is the biggest gate in the Deccan. This gate was used as the entrance gateway of the city situated to the north of the Nawkhanda palaces. A detailed account of Bhadkal gate is given on the pages related to the Fortification of Aurangabad.

Nawkhanda Palace:

The literary meaning of Nawkhanda palace is Nine Apartments. There were nine buildings in the Nawkhanda palace. The Nawkhanda palace was built in the year 1616 AD. There were five Zanana Mahals, a Diwan-e-Aam, a Diwan-e-Khas, a masjid and a kachehri. Each building was provided with a beautiful garden and a cistern. The walls of the central part of the Diwankhana and hammams (hot bath) attached to the building are in a fair state of preservation. The woodwork and the stucco plaster have gone overall. The Diwan-e-aam in a large quadrangular structure was also demolished while constructing the present buildings of Medical College Aurangabad. Out of all buildings of the Nawkhanda complex, nothing remained except one gate called Chhota Bhadkal.

Kali Masjid, Jama Masjid:

Malik Ambar built massive mosques in black stone; hence they are called kali (black) Masjids. The Jama Masjid is the biggest mosque in the Marathwada region. It has fifty polygonal pillars arranged in five rows and connected by a system of regular arches which divide the building into twenty-seven equal compartments, each covered by a domical vault of simple but elegant design. There are nine-pointed arches in the front portion. The first three rows out of five had been built by Malik Ambar in 1612 AD and the remaining two rows had been added by Aurangzeb. The footstall is high and contains various chambers which open on the market side. The sloping cornice is supported by brackets and the parapet wall is neatly perforated. The corner angles contain octagonal shafts, ornamented with discs and carry little domes. The design of the mosque has been done using a very good plan and is solid and more like the building of Bijapur. A spacious court in front of the mosque has open-fronted buildings on three sides for travellers. In the centre of the court, there is a cistern drawing its supply from the Malik Ambar Nahar.

Kali Masjid of Aurangabad:

• There are in all seven Kali Masjids constructed in Khadki (Aurangabad) out of which Jama Masjid is the biggest. Kali Masjids were constructed at the following localities.
• 1.            Kali Masjid at Begampura. Area 50 x 40 ft.
• 2.            Kali Masjid near P.W.D. Office.
• 3.            Kali Masjid, Shah Bazar Area 110 ft. x 90 ft.
• 4.            Kali Masjid at Rengtipura (Nawabpura) Area two acres.
• 5.            Kali Masjid at Shah Bazar Area one acre.
• 6.            Kali Masjid at Chowk Area 120 x 160 ft.
• 7.            Jama Masjid at Aam Khas Maidan Area four acres.

The Chita Khana:

Malik Ambar was very secular in all respects. He also paid attention to the cultural and religious development of other sects of the society and built one Chita khana or Pandit Mahal and a church in Aurangabad. Chita khana was erected as a centre of study for the learned Hindu scholars of the town. Aurangzeb converted it after several years into a MahiBaz Khana or a traveller’s bungalow. In later times it was used as Chori Mahal or Jail. It is a circular building with some rooms all-around opening into a central courtyard. It is now converted into a Municipal town hall.

Christian Church:

There were large numbers of Portuguese Christians in the army of Malik Ambar. A beautiful church was built for them between Nawkhanda and Jama Masjid. Solitary walls were there since some years ago, but now nothing is left on the ground. Ruins of them are hardly traceable in the newly developed huts popularly known as Ghati Mohalla.

Kala Chabutra:

It was a huge platform built with black stones used for public entertainment? Elephant fight was arranged at Kala Chabutra but later on, it was used to execute hanging or death punishment to the prisoners.

Badshah Haweli:

It was a building was popularly known as ‘Sabz Mahal’ (Green Bungalow) situated at Shahgunj. It was used as a guest house by the Governors and distinguished officers. The remains of this building are not traceable now.

The devastation of Khadki Town:

Malik Ambar’s dreamland town Khadki which he built as the capital of Nizam Shahi was demolished, destroyed, and at last burnt for three days continuously by Shahnawaz Khan the General of Jahangir in the year 1621 AD. Emperor Jahangir expressed his opinion in his biography that the splendid town Khadki would again require 20 years to regain its originality. Malik Ambar who loved this town very much rebuilt it within a short span of time but the glory of the town was lost after the death of its Master in the year 1626 AD.

                                                                       Dr Shaikh Ramzan M.A., M.Ed., PhD (History) (Researcher)