India’s first mosque, the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallur, Kerala, has remained a source of fascination as well as an active place of worship for well over a thousand years. Built during Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime. This landmark building is among the most important of India’s historic, architecturally stunning mosques.
Some believe that the mosque is built as early as AD 629 (very close to origins of Islam)! If true, this would make the mosque one of the important archeological build
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Cheraman Juma Masjid
India and the Arabian Peninsula had trade relations going back to thousands of years. Kodungallur was an active sea based trade route to the Arabian Peninsula. Some believe that the ancient urban centre of Muziris mentioned in ancient texts is located somewhere in Kodungallur. The Cheraman mosque is believed to be built by Malik Deenar, one of the earliest Arabic missionary of Islam. It is probably named after Cheraman Perumal, the Chera ruler of the old Kodungallur kingdom.
The original mosque was built in traditional Kerala architectural style and it even has a traditional brass lamp and pond seen in most temples of the time. The ancient oil lamp is kept burning and believed to be over a thousand years old. People from all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering. The lamp and pond is still preserved but the mosque structure has undergone a number of renovations, destroying most of the original style of the structure. Only the front structure has any resemblance to the original structure.
Cheraman mosque was designed and constructed based on the traditional Hindu architectural style of Kerala. Mosques all over the world usually face the direction of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, but Cheraman mosque faces east following the Hindu temple tradition. The main section of the mosque (located at the rear of the structure) consists of the Mihrab (people offer prayer facing this wall), Minbar (the raised platform from where the imam delivers sermons) and a large traditional brass lamp hanging from the ceiling with inscriptions in Malayalam and Arabic. The Minbar is made of rosewood and has multiple steps and is covered in wooden structures with intricate carvings. The Mihrab has a semi-circular arch with white, blue and golden colors. There are ancient wall writings and beautiful woodwork inside the mosque
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Chalakudy Railway Station, about 22 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 28 km
Google map coordinates: 6672+5X Sringapuram, Kodungallur, Kerala
