Adaptation and Continuity: Islamic Royal Architecture Rooted in Sanatan Traditions

Indo-Islamic royal architecture in India emerged not as a rupture but as a continuous evolution, blending Islamic innovations with pre-existing Sanatan traditions rooted in Vastu Shastra. This study reveals that spatial planning, structural forms, and symbolic expressions—such as courtyards, axial symmetry, water systems, and garden layouts—remained consistent across eras, while Islamic elements like domes, arches, minarets, and calligraphy were integrated as aesthetic transformations rather than replacements. Through comparative analysis of Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and the Red Fort Complex, the research demonstrates that architectural synthesis created a hybrid yet continuous tradition, reflecting cultural integration and reinterpretation to express new political and religious identities. This challenges traditional narratives of architectural history in India, positioning it as a layered continuum rather than a series of disjointed developments.

Acharya Pt Dr Avdhesh Kumarr. (2026). Adaptation and Continuity: Islamic Royal Architecture Rooted in Sanatan Traditions. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.19495960