The Architectural Vision of
Hazrat Inayat Khan and the Sufi Message
By Murshid David Murray
Below are three articles thoughtfully researched and written by architect and Sufi Murshid, David Murray, The Sufi Circle of Canada.
David Murray writes: Three buildings that were associated with the life and Message of
Hazrat Inayat Khan – the unbuilt 1929 l’Universel in Suresnes by architect
Piet Kramer, the 1970 Dargah of Inayat Khan by architect Mau Khan in
the Nizamuddin neighbourhood of New Delhi and the 1990 l’Universel in
Suresnes.
Hazrat Inayat Khan's Architectural Visions
- Building a Sufi Temple: Hazrat Inayat Khan's Vision for a Sufi Temple
- The Dargah of Hazrat Inayat Khan: Nizamuddin, New Delhi
Remembering Architect Mau Khan - The Story of l’Universel: In the Garden of Fazal Manzil
Building a Sufi Temple at Fazal Manzil
Hazrat Inayat Khan’s Vision for a Temple Universel
In 1921 Hazrat Inayat Khan began developing his thoughts on how to
give material expression to a ‘Church of All’ called, at the time, the
Temple Universelle in Paris.
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The Dargah of Hazrat Inayat Khan
Nizamuddin, New Delhi
Remembering Architect Mau Khan
Hazrat Inayat Khan was very interested in geometrical symbolism, as was
told to me by his son Murshid Hidayat over our years at the Lake O’Hara
retreats, especially the 5-sided pentagram. This is a universal symbol of
the human form – a symbol of Divine form manifested, a symbol of
balance and harmony.
Architect Mau Khan has incorporated the pentagon into all the metal and marble screens in the Dargah as a tribute to Inayat Khan’s vision and to this universal geometrical symbol.“The 5-pointed star suggests perfectly kindled divine light.” (Page 242, Complete Works of Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan 1925 II)
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The Story of l’Universel in the Garden of Fazal Manzil
L’Universel, also known as Le Mémorial de Noor, in the garden of Fazal
Manzil, a pavilion dedicated to the memory of Inayat Khan’s eldest
daughter Noor, was constructed in 1990 and was commissioned by Pir
Vilayat and designed by architect Hervé Baley.
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