LITERATURE CASESTUDY ON MOSQUES IN KERALA

SUBMITTED BY: ASHITHA THARIAN & LAKSHMI RAVI CHANDU KOLUSU

AR3052 TRADITIONAL KERALA ARCHITECTURE

INTRODUCTION:

• The mosque architecture of Kerala exhibit none of the features of the Arabic style nor those ofthe Indo-Islamic architectures of the imperial or provincial school in north India.

• The reason for this is not far to seek.

• The work of mosque construction was done by the local artisans under instructions of theMuslim religious heads who wanted to erect the places of worship.

• The models for places of worship were only temples or the theatre halls (koothambalam) andthese models are to be adapted for the new situations.

• The early mosques in Kerala consequently resembles the traditional building of the region.

ESSENTIAL PARTS OF A MOSQUE:

• In plan the mosque comprises of a large prayer hall with a mihrab on the western wall and covered verandah all around.

• Generally it has a tall basement similar to the adhistana of the Brahmanical temple and often the columns are treated with square and octagonal section as in mandapa pillars.

• The walls are made of laterite blocks. The arch form is seen only in one exceptional case for the mosque at Ponnani and nowhere else in the early ten mosques of the land.

• Wood was used extensively in superstructure for the construction of ceiling and roof.

• The roof in many cases is covered with sheets of copper incorporating fenials in the ridge, completing the form of temple sikhara with the stupi.

• At Tanur the Jama Masjid even has a gate built in the manner of temple gopuram, covered with copper sheeting. This mosque itself is a three storeyed building with tiled roof crowned by five fenials.

ESSENTIAL PARTS OF A

MOSQUE

LITERATURE CASE STUDIES:

I. MOSQUES IN KUTTICHARA

II. CHERAMAN MOSQUE KODUNGALLOOR

KUTTICHARA

• Kuttichira, a Muslim settlement in Calicut stands as an icon of a gloriouspast with rare antiquity brought about by the flourishing trade relationsof the city during the medieval period.

• The unique mosques and large residences of Kuttichira are repositories ofknowledge and information for architects and art historians.

• This is a pioneering study of a Muslim Heritage settlement –Kuttichira,Calicut in its ethno-history, settlement planning, architecture andconstruction techniques.

• The settlement pattern and unique built forms of Kuttichira are anoutcome of social, economical and religious needs of the Muslim tradingcommunity which subsist there.

• The society was bound by caste, occupation beliefs and customs whichresulted in unique architectural features.

• The self-sustained settlement had definite pattern of spaces to meet itscommercial, social, religious and residential needs.

KUTTICHARA

• Kuttichira, existing example for the time immemorial relationshipbetween two religions.

• Zamorin (Samoodiri), the hereditary Hindu royal title of the place,provided free land for the traders to build houses and for leading a familylife by marrying native Nair ladies.

• Hence the local rulers and the traders always maintained a firm friendshipsame as the Hindus and Muslims of the time.

• It was these Arab traders who brought Islam religion to Kerala. Thisfriendship made the rulers to donate land to build Mosque in theKuttichira locality.

• It must be the only Muslim worship centre which was built in a landcontributed by a Hindu emperor.

• Notable mosques in kuttichara region:

1) Muchundi mosque

2) Mishkal mosque

3) Jamapalli mosque

1)MICHUNDI MOSQUE:

• Muchundi Mosque, build in 13th century, isthe oldest Mosque in the city.

• The mosque has an interesting history whichthrows light into the religious amity whichprevailed during 13th century.

• The property for building the mosque wasdonated by the king.

• There is a stone slab in the mosque thatnarrates this story.

• It is inscribed in the ancient Malayalam script,Vattezhuthu.

1)MICHUNDI MOSQUE:

• The entire structure stands on a 1.5 m highplinth.

• The double-tiered roof with a decoratedgable, the floral wood work on the ceiling,the intricate work on the pillars and thecarvings of animals are all reminiscent oftemple architecture and speak volumesabout the Hindu influence.

• Inscriptions from the Holy Koran can alsobe seen.

• Inside the mosque, there is a semi-circularmihrab.

2) MISHKAL MOSQUE:

• Mishkal Mosque, the four-storied mosque situated inKuttichira, has a history of more than 650 years.

• The credit for constructing such a huge mosque withextensive use of timber goes to an Arab trader and shipowner, Nakhooda Mishkal and the mosque is named afterhim.

• The mosque was initially five storied, and it was reduced to afour-storied structure following a Portuguese attack in 1510.

• The damages made during the Portuguese attack are stillvisible here.

• The mosque is a fine example of the communal harmony thatexisted in the place, because it was the ruler of Kozhikode,the Zamorin, who donated wood to repair the damagefollowing the Portuguese attack.

2) MISHKAL MOSQUE:

• This imposing wooden mosque is simplybreathtaking. The outer paving with Italiantiles, 47 doors, 24 pillars decorated withcarvings that support the entire structure,the big prayer hall capable ofaccommodating about 300 people and soon are some of the features that make thismosque truly remarkable.

• Unlike other mosques, this one lackscopulas and minarets.

2) MISHKAL MOSQUE:

• The noticeable resemblance to traditionaltemple architecture is reflected in the intricatecarvings on the walls and ceilings and in thegopuram-style arches at the entrance.

• Square and rectangular tanks, a few yardsaway from the famous Kuttichira pond, can beseen attached to the mosque.

• The area inside the mosque is well-ventilatedwith mihrab-style doors. During itsrenovation, a wooden mimbar, with intricatemotifs, was added to the structure.

2) MISHKAL MOSQUE: Kuttichira pond

• Kuttichira pond was made 250 years after Mishkal Mosque was build.

• It was a pit formed by taking soil for the construction of the Mosque, now a water storage body and is used as a public pond by locals and the water body is getting polluted due to the same reason.

3) JAMAPALLI MOSQUE:

• JamaPalli is situated midway between Mishkal mosque and Muchundipalli.

• This 14th-century structure has the largest floor area compared to that of the other mosques inKerala.

• It can accommodate about 1000 people at a time.

• Extensive use of wood is involved in the construction of the mosque and it has a circular structurewith wood panellings on top.

CASE STUDY 02

CHERAMAN MOSQUE KODUNGALLOOR

HISTORY:

• The “oral tradition” of Cheraman is encountered in an Arabic document written in Malabarcalled Qissat Shakarwati Farmad.

• The legend can be summarised as follows:

1. King Cheraman Perumal witnessed splitting of the moon and saw Prophet Muhammad in adream wherein Prophet confirmed it was his deed

2. He asked his Arab visitors to construct for him a ship to visit Mecca

3. He visited Mecca, met the prophet and converted to Islam.

4. He died in Aden(Yemen) before he could reach back Kerala.

5. The Muslims constructed his tomb.

4. His followers built mosques at all the major towns of Kerala.

CHERAMAN MOSQUE

Structure of old Cheraman Masjid New renovated Cheraman Masjid

OLDEST MOSQUE IN KERALA

• It is believed that the mosque was first renovated or reconstructed sometime in the 11th Century AD and later again 300 years ago.

• The last renovation was done in 1974 when, as a result of increase in the population of the believers, an extension was constructed demolishing the front part of the mosque.

• The ancient part of the mosque including the sanctum sanctorum was left untouched and is still preserved.

• Another extension was made in 1994 to accommodate the ever increasing number of believers.

• When yet another extension to the mosque was needed in 2001 it was decided to reconstruct this in the model of the old mosque.

DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC FEATURES IN THE MOSQUE:

ARABIC WALL INSCRIPTIONS BELL METAL LAMB

INSIDE OF OLD PULPIT OLD BELL METAL LAMB

OLD DEAD BODY CARRIER CHILDREN OLD DEAD BODY CARRIER ADULTS

OLD WOODEN DOOR OLD POND BEHIND THE MOSQUE

OLD PULPIT PILLAR OF OLD PULPIT

MIHRAB AND PULPIT ROOF OF OLD PULPIT

ROOF OF OLD STRUCTURE TRUSS MEMBERS OF OLD STRUCTURE

SWORD – USED BY JUMA KHATHUBA UPSTAIR OF OLD STRUCTURE

THANK YOU