Iron pillar of Delhi, Victory column in Qutb complex, South Delhi district, India.
The iron pillar of Delhi is a freestanding iron column in the Qutb Minar complex of South Delhi, rising over seven meters and weighing more than six tons. At its top it bears an inscription in Sanskrit and a decorative capital that once likely supported a statue or emblem.
An inscription on the column names King Chandra, whom scholars identify with Chandragupta II, a ruler of the Gupta Empire in the fourth century. Later the pillar was brought here and placed in the courtyard of the first major mosque of Northern India.
Believers and visitors often approach the column with reverence, some trying to stand with their back against it and clasp their hands around it, a gesture thought to bring good fortune. This practice has persisted across generations and shows the living connection between worship and folk tradition at this site.
The column stands freely accessible in the courtyard and can be viewed from all sides, though touching is no longer permitted. The area is usually well attended, so a quiet moment in the early morning or late afternoon is advisable.
The metal has resisted the monsoon climate for more than a millennium and a half without rusting, a phenomenon scientists attribute to a thin protective layer of phosphate compounds. This natural patina developed through the forging technique and the composition of the iron used.
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