Imambara Hussaini Mahal-Forgotten & Now Called As Pani Mahal

Shadow of Hussaini Mahal In Water Surrounding It @ Bijapur 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Pani Mahal is one of the most prominent monuments of Bijapur. Most people consider it as a palatial palace built by an Adil Shahi ruler. However, their belief is not in accordance with the historical facts. During Adilshahi period Pani Mahal was not erected like other famous palaces such as Farukh Mahal, Champa Mahal, Solathambi Mahal, Gagan Mahal, Anand Mahal etc.  It was built as an Imambara to observe Muharram ceremonies and known as Hussaini Mahal. After the fall of Adilshahi dynasty, people forgot its original name due to discontinuation of Muharram rituals during the Mughal rule under Aurangzeb. They started calling it as Pani Mahal owing to presence of water surrounding it. Some people even call it as (Bijapur ki Boumbvi(Navel of Bijapur).It is unfortunate that no efforts have so far been made to correct the historical wrong done to Hussain Mahal. There is no mention of Pani Mahal in any contemporary historical account. Hussaini Mahal however figures  the works of Mulla Nusrati titled Ali Namah, the Tawarikh-e-Haft Kursi of Asad Khan Lari and his successors, and a chronogram the  Bosateenus Salateen  of Mirza Muhammad Ibrahim Zubairi.

History reveals that during the period of  Ali Adil Shah II, it was decided to earmark a place in the center of the outer walls of the fort to hold Muharram ceremonies. Later, Hussaini Mahal came to existence in the eastern wall of the fort and it was used to hold gatherings to remember the martyrs of karbala from 1^st to 10^th of Muharram. The date of the construction the religious structure originates from three Persian couplets composed by the ruler himself with the pen name of shahi under the title 

Tarikh-e Sharf Bruz in his  Kuliyat-a poetical composition. By applying Abjad system, the couplets give the year of construction as 1669-70 AD. In the entire history of Bijapur,names of the palaces erected by the rulers denote topics like leisure, wealth, pleasure justice, welfare, sky and grandeur. Hussaini Mahal is an exception because it has been named after the king of the martyrs. Hussaini Mahal has engraved epigraphs, motifs on doors, depiction of Cyprus tress, Alams, fruits and creepers, indicating the inclination of the structure towards Muharram related rituals. Hussaini Mahal has no majestic entrance but has three large arches. No Durbar (Hall of audience) or royal apartments are attached to it. There is an urgent need to conduct research on Hussaini Mahal as to how Majalis and Azadari was observed during the regime of Ali Adil Shah who had openly declared his Imami faith. Hussainis should also urge the government to create awareness about Hussaini Mahal and initiate steps to   request people of Bijapur to stop calling it as Pani Mahal.(References available on request. Photo Courtesy-Google Images)