Object Number: VRM299A, 299B, 300, 301(A-G), 311

Dimensions: VRM299A (26.0 x 24.7 x 16.7 cm); VRM299 B 26.0 x 24.7 x 16.7 cm); VRM301A (height 133.0 cm; diameter 208.0 cm); VRM311 (128.1 x 41.2 x 12.2 cm)

Material: VRM299A, VRM299B and VRM301A Black Basalt; VRM311 Grey Sandstone

Find Location: Mahisantosh, Dinajpur District, Bangladesh

Date: 13th to 14th Century CE

Islam spread to the Bengal Basin from the 8th Century CE through maritime trade networks. With Muslim communities established, the area was then transformed by rulers who followed Islam, including the independent Bengal Sultanate in the 14th Century CE.

This led to the development of Islamic architecture within the region, particularly the creation of mosques (discussed in Object 18). Whilst many mosques were constructed as new buildings, some reused existing monuments or incorporated decorative elements. This Mihrab is a physical representation of this process of religious transformation.

The depiction of figures is prohibited in the sacred art of Islam, and this has led to experimentation with geometric ornamentation within Islamic architecture. While the outward facing surfaces of stone blocks within this Mihrab were recut with the geometric patterns as well as lotus flowers and lotus buds, some of the blocks on the back still have recognisable human physiques. Originally from Hindu temples, their reuse may have been for several reasons. Many religions have a long history of reusing previous places of worship, and in the Bengal Basin where stone is rare (discussed in Object 11) existing monuments would have been a source of construction materials. Specific places and locations can also remain important for communities, and the reuse of materials may have formed a continuity of sacredness during religious transformations. This may also be reflected in the continued importance of motifs, such as the lotus, which are shared by Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities across South Asia.