literature casestudy of mosques in kerala

1. LITERATURE CASESTUDY ON
MOSQUES IN KERALA
SUBMITTED BY: ASHITHA THARIAN & LAKSHMI RAVI CHANDU KOLUSU
AR3052 TRADITIONAL KERALA ARCHITECTURE

2. INTRODUCTION:
• The mosque architecture of Kerala exhibit none of the features of the Arabic style nor those of
the 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 the
Muslim religious heads who wanted to erect the places of worship.
• The models for places of worship were only temples or the theatre halls (koothambalam) and
these models are to be adapted for the new situations.
• The early mosques in Kerala consequently resembles the traditional building of the region.

3. 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.

4. ESSENTIAL
PARTS OF A
MOSQUE

5. LITERATURE CASE STUDIES:
I. MOSQUES IN KUTTICHARA
II. CHERAMAN MOSQUE KODUNGALLOOR

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• Kuttichira, a Muslim settlement in Calicut stands as an icon of a glorious
past with rare antiquity brought about by the flourishing trade relations
of the city during the medieval period.
• The unique mosques and large residences of Kuttichira are repositories of
knowledge 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 and
construction techniques.
• The settlement pattern and unique built forms of Kuttichira are an
outcome of social, economical and religious needs of the Muslim trading
community which subsist there.
• The society was bound by caste, occupation beliefs and customs which
resulted in unique architectural features.
• The self-sustained settlement had definite pattern of spaces to meet its
commercial, social, religious and residential needs.

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• Kuttichira, existing example for the time immemorial relationship
between 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 family
life by marrying native Nair ladies.
• Hence the local rulers and the traders always maintained a firm friendship
same as the Hindus and Muslims of the time.
• It was these Arab traders who brought Islam religion to Kerala. This
friendship made the rulers to donate land to build Mosque in the
Kuttichira locality.
• It must be the only Muslim worship centre which was built in a land
contributed by a Hindu emperor.
• Notable mosques in kuttichara region:
1) Muchundi mosque
2) Mishkal mosque
3) Jamapalli mosque

8. 1)MICHUNDI MOSQUE:
• Muchundi Mosque, build in 13th century, is
the oldest Mosque in the city.
• The mosque has an interesting history which
throws light into the religious amity which
prevailed during 13th century.
• The property for building the mosque was
donated by the king.
• There is a stone slab in the mosque that
narrates this story.
• It is inscribed in the ancient Malayalam script,
Vattezhuthu.

9. 1)MICHUNDI MOSQUE:
• The entire structure stands on a 1.5 m high
plinth.
• The double-tiered roof with a decorated
gable, the floral wood work on the ceiling,
the intricate work on the pillars and the
carvings of animals are all reminiscent of
temple architecture and speak volumes
about the Hindu influence.
• Inscriptions from the Holy Koran can also
be seen.
• Inside the mosque, there is a semi-circular
mihrab.

10. 2) MISHKAL MOSQUE:
• Mishkal Mosque, the four-storied mosque situated in
Kuttichira, has a history of more than 650 years.
• The credit for constructing such a huge mosque with
extensive use of timber goes to an Arab trader and ship
owner, Nakhooda Mishkal and the mosque is named after
him.
• The mosque was initially five storied, and it was reduced to a
four-storied structure following a Portuguese attack in 1510.
• The damages made during the Portuguese attack are still
visible here.
• The mosque is a fine example of the communal harmony that
existed in the place, because it was the ruler of Kozhikode,
the Zamorin, who donated wood to repair the damage
following the Portuguese attack.

11. 2) MISHKAL MOSQUE:
• This imposing wooden mosque is simply
breathtaking. The outer paving with Italian
tiles, 47 doors, 24 pillars decorated with
carvings that support the entire structure,
the big prayer hall capable of
accommodating about 300 people and so
on are some of the features that make this
mosque truly remarkable.
• Unlike other mosques, this one lacks
copulas and minarets.

12. 2) MISHKAL MOSQUE:
• The noticeable resemblance to traditional
temple architecture is reflected in the intricate
carvings on the walls and ceilings and in the
gopuram-style arches at the entrance.
• Square and rectangular tanks, a few yards
away from the famous Kuttichira pond, can be
seen attached to the mosque.
• The area inside the mosque is well-ventilated
with mihrab-style doors. During its
renovation, a wooden mimbar, with intricate
motifs, was added to the structure.

13. 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.

14. 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 in
Kerala.
• 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 structure
with wood panellings on top.

15. CASE STUDY 02
CHERAMAN MOSQUE
KODUNGALLOOR

16. HISTORY:
• The “oral tradition” of Cheraman is encountered in an Arabic document written in Malabar
called Qissat Shakarwati Farmad.
• The legend can be summarised as follows:
1. King Cheraman Perumal witnessed splitting of the moon and saw Prophet Muhammad in a
dream 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.

17. CHERAMAN MOSQUE
Structure of old Cheraman Masjid New renovated Cheraman Masjid

18. 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.

19. DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC FEATURES IN THE MOSQUE:
ARABIC WALL INSCRIPTIONS BELL METAL LAMB

21. INSIDE OF OLD PULPIT OLD BELL METAL LAMB

22. OLD DEAD BODY CARRIER CHILDREN OLD DEAD BODY CARRIER ADULTS

23. OLD WOODEN DOOR OLD POND BEHIND THE MOSQUE

24. OLD PULPIT PILLAR OF OLD PULPIT

25. MIHRAB AND PULPIT ROOF OF OLD PULPIT

26. ROOF OF OLD STRUCTURE TRUSS MEMBERS OF OLD STRUCTURE

27. SWORD – USED BY JUMA KHATHUBA UPSTAIR OF OLD STRUCTURE

28. THANK YOU