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Bada Imambara is a famous monument of Lucknow
that has historical, cultural and heritage importance. Bada Imambara
complex was commissioned by the then Nawab of Awadh, Asaf -ud-Daula
in the year 1784. The complex also includes the large Asfi mosque,
the Bhul-Bhulayah (the labyrinth) and a summer palace with running
water.
It is important to know that Imambara are actually the replicas of
tombs dedicated to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his family members.
His family members are known as Ahl-ul-Bait. Imams are the religious
heads of Shiite Islam who are connected to Prophet by blood. Most of
the original tombs are located in different towns of Iraq and some
in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Although all the Muslims love Prophet and
his family members, Shiite Muslims have a special zeal for them.
Imambara have a special place in the hearts of Shiite Muslims and is
the seat of most of the meetings, gatherings and Azadari
congregation. Bada Imambara is also the venue for annual Mohharum
gathering that is staged to commemorate and lament the martyr hood
of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
Like its junior cousin Chota Imambara, Bada Imambara was also built
under the 'Food For Work' program initiated by the then Nawab of
Awadh named Asad-ud-Daula. The primary objective in embarking on
this grandiose project was to provide employment for people in the
region who were devastated by persistent famines. The chronicles of
History maintain that the famine continued for over a decade and the
construction of the building continued for this time.
The architecture of Bada Imambara reflects the era when the
ornamented Mughal design was on its pinnacle. In fact, it is the
last puritan Indo-Islamic architecture and doesn't incorporate any
European elements such as use of iron and spires. The sanctum of
Imambara consists of a large vaulted central chamber containing the
tomb of Asaf-ud-Daula. The hall that is 170 feet long and 55 feet
wide stands 50 feet from the ground. It is interesting to note that
it has no beams supporting the ceiling. In fact Bada Imambara is one
of the largest arched constructions of its kind in the world.
There are as many as eight surrounding chambers built to different
roof heights, permitting the space above these to be reconstructed
as a three-dimensional labyrinth with passages interconnecting with
each other through 489 identical doorways. This part of the
building, known as is a popular attraction, and often the whole
complex may be referred to as the Bhul-Bhulayah. It is possibly the
only existing maze in India and came about unintentionally to
support the weight of the building, constructed on marshy land. |
