Early Bahamani Architecture

On Monday I attended a super lecture on Early Bahamani Architecture (1350-1450) given by an Indian art and architecture professor from Greece. I was amazed by the details she had gathered during her visits to the Deccan, especially the border areas between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra. She had taken photos of monuments in Bidar, Gulbarga and other adjoining towns. I especially loved the Takht Mahal (c.1450), Bidar. The professor had an intriguing theory that the throne, which was arguably at the center of a large room, was placed on the axis of two doorways, both of which overlooked lotus ponds. The professor felt that this was potential evidence that Muslim and Hindu ideas were comfortably exchanged in everyday life there. The ponds are references to lotus ponds of Indian gods and is reminiscent of the images of Gaja Lakshmi. This may be one of the few direct structural references in Muslim architecture to Hindu mythology and customs. I was also very impressed with the professor herself who was very clear in her ideas and speech, and very open to questions.