1489 CE
Ascension to the Throne
Nizam Khan ascends the throne as Sultan Sikandar Shah at age 31, after the death of his
father Bahlul Lodi. He immediately begins consolidating power and asserting his Islamic
credentials, partly driven by challenges to his legitimacy due to his Hindu mother.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi; Makhzan-i-Afghani
c. 1490 CE
Destruction of Krishna Janmasthan Temple, Mathura
One of Sikandar Lodi's first and most devastating acts. He personally ordered the complete
destruction of the ancient Krishna Janmasthan (birthplace) temple at Mathura —
one of the
holiest sites in Hinduism. The stone idols from the temple were given to butchers to use
as meat-weights, an act of calculated humiliation. Mosques and bazaars were
constructed
opposite the bathing steps of the Yamuna, and Hindus were banned from bathing in the
sacred river.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi by Abdullah; ASI Report by Cunningham (1882-83)
c. 1490–1495 CE
Systematic Bans on Hindu Religious Practices
Implements sweeping restrictions on Hindu life: bans on Hindu bathing at holy
rivers,
prohibition of traditional head-shaving (a fundamental ritual in Hinduism),
banning non-Muslim religious processions. Barbers are ordered not to shave the
beards and heads of Hindus as part of religious ceremonies.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi; Tarikh-i-Ferishta
c. 1490s CE
Reimposition of Jizya Tax
Sikandar Lodi re-imposes the Jizya — a discriminatory poll-tax on non-Muslims —
along with the pilgrim tax on Hindus visiting their own sacred sites. This
creates
a dual burden: Hindus must pay for the "privilege" of being non-Muslim while also paying
to practice their own faith. Sharia courts are established even in small villages to
enforce compliance.
📖 Tarikh-i-Ferishta; Multiple chronicles
c. 1494 CE
Temples Destroyed at Mandrail
After capturing the fortress of Mandrail (in present-day Madhya Pradesh),
Sikandar Lodi orders the destruction of Hindu temples within and around the
fortress.
Mosques are constructed in their place, as documented by Ferishta and the Tarikh-i-Daudi.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi; Tarikh-i-Ferishta
c. 1495–1500 CE
Execution of a Brahmin
A Bengali Brahmin scholar, when brought before Sikandar Lodi, states that both
Hinduism and Islam are equally valid paths to God. Under pressure from the
ulama (Islamic scholars), Sikandar Lodi agrees to have the Brahmin
executed for this statement. This event is documented by multiple chroniclers
who considered it an act of religious justice.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi; Waqi'at-i-Mushtaqa by Mushtaqi
c. 1498–1500 CE
Destruction of Temples at Utgir & Narwar
Sikandar Lodi's forces demolish Hindu temples at Utgir (present-day Madhya
Pradesh)
and Narwar. The pattern is consistent: temples are razed, mosques are built
atop
the ruins, and Hindu religious life is systematically suppressed in each conquered territory.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi; Historical references in ASI reports
c. 1500 CE
Attempted Destruction of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Sikandar Lodi attempts to destroy the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi —
one of the most sacred Shiva temples in Hinduism. While the extent of the damage
is debated among historians, multiple sources confirm the attempt and partial
desecration of this holy site.
📖 Referenced in multiple chronicles; Quora historical analysis citing
primary sources
c. 1500–1505 CE
Destruction of Temples at Nagarkot
The famous Hindu temples at Nagarkot (present-day Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) —
including the ancient Jwalamukhi temple complex — face destruction or desecration
under Sikandar Lodi's orders. He forbids the construction of new Hindu temples
throughout his domain.
📖 Tarikh-i-Daudi; Testbook.com historical references
1504 CE
Foundation of Agra
Sikandar Lodi founds Agra and shifts his capital there from Delhi. While textbooks
celebrate this as an administrative achievement, the city's establishment coincides
with continued religious persecution in the new capital and surrounding regions.
📖 Multiple historical sources
c. 1505–1510 CE
Imposition of Theocratic State
Sikandar Lodi transforms the Delhi Sultanate into what historians describe as a
theocratic state. Sharia law is imposed on the entire population,
including Hindus. Women are banned from visiting Muslim saints' mausoleums.
The annual procession of the spear of Salar Masud is prohibited. Every aspect of
public life is brought under strict Islamic orthodoxy.
📖 Tarikh-i-Ferishta; Wikipedia synthesis of multiple sources
c. 1510–1517 CE
Continued Persecution Until Death
Sikandar Lodi maintains his policies of religious persecution until his death.
There is no documented evidence of him softening his stance against Hindus
in his later years. His son Ibrahim Lodi would inherit a sultanate built
on religious oppression — and would be the last Lodi sultan, defeated by Babur at
the Battle of Panipat in 1526.
📖 Multiple primary and secondary sources
21 Nov 1517 CE
Death of Sikandar Lodi
Sikandar Lodi dies in Agra at approximately 59 years of age, after 28 years of rule.
He is buried in what is now the Lodi Gardens in Delhi. His tomb — ironically incorporating
Hindu architectural elements like chhatris — stands as a monument to a ruler
who
spent his life destroying the very civilization whose aesthetics he borrowed.
📖 Multiple historical sources; ASI documentation
