Seringapatam 1799: Images

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Tiger Motif

Tipu's adoption of the tiger motif as a personal emblem took several forms. The most obvious examples include the distinctive stylised tiger stripe, commonly referred to as babri, from babr, (meaning 'tiger'); and the decorative tiger head. Examples of the babri motif can still be seen on the inner walls of the Gumbaz mausoleum where there is a complete adornment of the yellow walls with red stripes.
[See: Gumbaz Mausoleum]

The tiger head, on the other hand, is represented in two separate calligraphic representations. The first monogram or cypher is a square design, known as tughra where the seal made up of the name 'Tipu Sultan' in the shape of a tiger's head.

The second example (shown here) is far more ornate and is based upon a style of Arabic calligraphy known as khatt mukabil or khatt ma-kus, meaning a line inverted or reverted.

In this case, the monogram of Tipu is the calligraphic merging of the two words Bismillah, and Muhammed. 'Bismillah' is the name of Allah and is derived from the invocatory verse in the Quran: Bismillah-ir-Rahman-nir-Rahim ('In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful'); while the name of the Prophet Muhammed is written in the khatt mukabil style of calligraphy. To the untrained eye the words are not readily apparent being overlaid with calligraphic curves, scrolls, decorative lines, ascenders and descenders. The calligraphic tiger motif also includes the epithet asad allah ul-ghalib ('the victorious lion of God'); and examples of its use can be found on a banner of Tipu Sultan, as well as on some of his military arms and armaments.

For further discussion see: Buddle, A. et al. Tigers Round The Throne: The Court of Tipu Sultan. (London: 1990); Brittlebank, K. Tipu Sultan's Search For Legitimacy. (Delhi: 1997) pp.140-146 and Figures 1(a) and 1(b); and Moienuddin, M. Sunset at Sriragapatam: after the death of Tipu Sultan. (London: 2000) pp.140-141.