This is the eighth in the series on South Indian Mosques/ Dargah’s. This series will highlight the oldest, most popular worshipping places of Islam in this part of the country.
Have you been to Chennai? And if yes, you will inevitably not miss to pass through at one time or the other across the famous Anna Salai (earlier called as Mount Road). From the oldest shopping mall of the country to cinemas to oldest post office of south India, all of them are lined up on this road. Importantly, south India’s leading two major English dailies – The Hindu and Indian Express offices are located on this road. Above all it is also the host of the landmark called the Thousand Lights.
What is this Thousand Lights? Why is it popular? Thousand Lights is a mosque and the area around it is termed as Thousand Lights. It is an important junction connecting major centres of Chennai city. The location has a very big advantage for the people so that they can easily reach this place from any part of Chennai city. Nungambakkam and Teynampet are the areas that are near to the mosque.
History
The Thousand Lights Mosque spread over an area of three acres is one of the largest mosques in India and is situated on Anna Salai Road. Built by Nawab Umdat-ul-Umra in 1810, the mosque bears a story behind its name. It is said that 1000 lights needed to be lit in order to illuminate the assembly hall and hence it was named Thousand Lights Mosque. It is also believed that the lights were lit by the Indian National Congress to mark their first visit to Madras.
There is an interesting story behind the name of the mosque. It is said that 1000 lamps needed to be lit in order to illuminate the assembly hall. From this, it derived its name, Thousands Lights Mosque. The Thousand Lights Mosque, a multi-domed mosque.
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Architecture & Style of Mosque
The mosque is popular for a number of reasons, such as its name, its architecture and its historical and religious importance. It is a medieval architectural style building. It has an exhilarating structure, with multi domes and spearing minarets. The average height of the minarets is around 64 feet above the ground. Another mosque was added in 1981, with two tall minarets and five inward curving domes showing modern West Asian influence.
The mosque has been built in medieval architectural style and has multiple domes and spearing minarets which are approximately 64 metres tall. Another mosque with two tall minarets and five inward curving domes which depict the western Asian influence was added in 1981.
Besides, the mosque is adorned with the quotes from the holy book of Muslims, the Quran. There is a main hall at the ground floor that is used to offer prayers by men, while there is a separate room for women. There are two rooms on the second floor which are known as Bargah and represent the sanctuary. The Thousand Lights Mosque holds great importance for the Shiite Muslims and is a pilgrimage site for them.
Culmination of Shiite & Shia?
The Thousand Lights Mosque is a pilgrimage site for the Shiite Muslims and it is situated at a place which used to be the standing place for them during the month of Muharram. It witnesses a large crowd during the annual muharram festival. The mosque is also home of Chief Shia Ghazi Moulana Ghulam Mahadi Khan of Tamil Nadu. The Thousand Lights Mosque also has a Shia burial ground is inside.
In early 19th century, the place where the mosque presently stands used to be the assembly place of the Shiite Muslims, during the month of Muharram. Later, the assembly hall was built, following which the mosque was constructed. It is believed that the Shias who live in the Thousand Lights neighbourhood and Royapettah are the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (“the People of the House”).
The total area of the land, which was donated by Nawab Wallajah, occupied by the Thousand Lights Mosque is 3 acres. The descendent of the Wallajah faily made the hall in 1810, the family owned much of the property in the area for the Shia Muslims to assemble at Moharram.
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