The Sanskrit Mosque of Aligarh!

The Sanskrit Mosques of Asirgarh and Burhanpur should be UNESCO world heritage sites.

They remain unique in the Islamic world, with Sanskrit verses carved directly into the mihrab of a mosque. They praise Allah, the agent of creation (सृष्टिकरतृ), in the manner of a classical Sanskrit prashasti.

They were erected by the Faruqis of Khandesh, perhaps the most intriguing and forgotten Sultans in India.

Notably, the Faruqis use of Sanskrit here was not an isolated case. In 1907, the historian Hira Lal recorded evidence of Sanskrit manuscripts, transcribed in Persian script, being passed down in Burhanpur’s Muslim families.

https://substack.com/@travelsofsamwise?r=1wlet9

Sam Dalrymple is one of my favourite historians despite a young career. Loved his debut book.