Travelogue S31 - Kerala 01- Islam in India, the oldest mosque in India

sajannair (67)in GEMS • 5 years ago (edited)

An ancient Mosque built during the time of Prophet Mohammed(PUBH) in God’s own country ! Sounds incredible and yet its true. The Cheraman Jumma Masjid was built in 629 AD.

Kerala the province where its located is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world. We both had a chance to visit this place both individually and as a couple many times . We will look to bring the best of this place to you. Discover it's unbelievable beauty and charm together.

However before we go on to celebrate let's start with a bit of history. History that is perhaps even stunning to many who live in India.

As per popular imagination and misinformation, middle east has often been seen as the hub of Islamic civilization throughout history. However this is a fairly new phenomena of the modern world, prevalent since the 18th century. Today’s geo-political situations, oil and media focus has created an association of Islam predominantly middle-eastern. Today if an average Joe /Jane from the western part of the world is asked to think of a Muslim he/she is likely to imagine an Arab.

However nothing could be far from the truth. The largest chunk of Muslims worldwide lived in what was once the Indian Subcontinent. Today they are three countries. If we see them from the west they are Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Parts of modern day Afghanistan and Iran too would be part of that chunk. From time to time many Persian empires extended into the Indian subcontinent as well as many Indian sub-continental empires expanded into central and middle eastern Asia. Today over 600 million Muslims out of 1.8 billion worldwide live in these three countries.

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While its true that Islam started in the middle east, it found true expression when it came to the subcontinent. Islamic civilizations in other parts of the world are simply no match for cultural richness and sophistication in terms of the work left behind by subsequent Islamic civilizations in the subcontinent in the form of Architecture, Literature, Philosophy, Art, Culture, Music and Dance. Even as late as the 15-16th century the Islamic empire in the Indian subcontinent was the richest in the world! The whole sordid saga of British colonization started with them wanting to pocket some these riches.

In fact the greatest monument of Islamic architecture and one of the seven wonders in the world the Taj Mahal, is located in India.

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The most famous diamond in the world Kohinoor which the Queen of England wears on her crown is a product if this very rich Islamic civilization.

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Yup! Talk about getting a girl a nice big Rock !

In India as per popular imagination once again people think Islam came via invaders from the west. While that is true to most of India. The south Of India especially Kerala has a very interesting tale to tell. Three of the oldest Mosques in the world are located in India. They are Palaiya Jumma Palli in Tamil Nadu, The Barwada Mosque in Gujrat and Cheraman-Jumma Mosque in Kerala. The currently under excavation unnamed Ramjapur Masjid in Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh is also pretty old.

However the Cheraman Jumma Masjid is special since it was built by Malik Bin Dinar a Persian Scholar and Philosopher who was also a close aid to the Prophet himself. The mosque was built on the express wishes of the Prophet himself. The mosque as per the plaque on the gate was built in 629 AD. Three years before the Prophet’s death. Thus this makes it one of the oldest and few mosques in the world built as per Prophet Mohammed’s ( PBUH) express wishes.,Which then the local King who had converted to Islam at the Prophet’s feet himself passed as an order.

The Cheramaan Juma Mosque is a mosque in Thrissur District in Kerala. The date makes it the oldest mosque in India which is till in use.The mosque was constructed in Kerala style with hanging lamps, making the historicity of its date claims more convincing.

The mosque was completely destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. But was rebuilt once gain on top of the ruins.

According to some legends, Cheraman Perumal the king witnessed the splitting of the moon, a supernatural event mentioned in the Quran as a miracle performed by the Prophet. The bewildered King confirmed with his astrologers that the incident had taken place, but didn't know what to make of it. Arab merchants who had arrived at a Malabar port, a bustling global marketplace, sought audience with the King to have his permission to visit Ceylon. In conversation with them, the King learnt about Muhammad, made his son the regent of his kingdom and traveled back with the Arab merchants to meet the man himself

You can reach the Mosque from the airport via cab. The area is also full of hotels and restaurants. So finding accommodation and food will not be a problem.

Map airport to Mosque.png The food is Yum.Meat and Parotta. A local delicacy to die for !

I reached the place around 11.00 Am . The place was relatively empty. I had a chance to spend good time in the premises. The entry is free as most places of worship. There is a small entry fee of INR 5/ 80 Cents for the museum.

This is the interesting part. The Mosque was created over a pre-existing temple. This is one of the best examples of religious harmony in the world. The old temple and its wares and traditions have been preserved in the mosque. In fact it served as a place where both Hindus and Muslims visit.

There is small replica of the ancient temple built inside the museum. The items of worship are still preserved in the temple.

Actual replica of the temple. Replica of the Mosque
Unusual Visitor Wall These are over 1500 years old
The spiritual person who wore this probably lived 1700 years ago !

The temple once upon a time used to serve as a place of worship for local Hindus. The hanging lamp from that time still exists and burns. The legend is that the lamp has not been allowed go off for thousands of years.

The place is also famous for its ritual of Vidyarambham. Which means beginning of knowledge. Children before they are sent for studies are blessed by the goddess of knowledge. This is usually done by the temple priest. Here however the same ritual is conducted by the Imam of the mosque. Who traces the mystical alphabets to a child tongue in an invocation to the Hindu goddess Saraswati.

This structure is usually used to drain the milk and offerings off the deity in temples Yes! those coconuts are from before 629 AD. Probably the oldest coconuts on the planet today.
That Key is as long as my leg. At least 3 FEET long. Wonder what it opened. I could not get a reference shot for the size since it's inside a glass case.

The mosque also has a temple priest who is elected from Hindu Brahmans every 12 years as per tradition. This is a unique arrangement you will probably not see anywhere else in the world.

The temple pond serves the same purpose even to this day

The place was quiet and serene. Something you would expect from a place with strong spiritual vibes. The mosque probably does not feature high as a place of pilgrimage. But as a powerhouse of spiritual energy and vibes, the presence can be felt very powerfully.

The museum is also a great place to learn about the mosque and its history. The mosque also has a madrassa. An Islamic school. They mostly focus on STEM subjects.

A computer science class in progress

They also have a small medical service that caters to the local population.

There is a small graveyard in the premises.

Like i said Kerala is called God's own country for a reason. People don't need to go to a location to witness scenic beauty. Natural beauty is just scattered around carelessly. Around 4-5 kilometres from the mosque is river connected to the backwaters. It's called Kannoli Puza.