This is the second part in the series on South Indian Mosques. This series will highlight the oldest, most popular Muslim worshipping places in this part of the country.
Cherman Perumal Jumma Masjid – India’s Oldest Mosque
Remember the recent event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Saudi Arabia presented a golden mosque replica to the Saudi King. This gesture brought lots of cheers for King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud.
Do you know what mosque replica did Prime Minister Modi give to the Saudi King? It was the golden replica of India’s oldest mosque the Cherman Jumma Masjid. Going by the history books and Indian archives, this is the oldest mosque still intact and much reverend by all.
Based in Kodungalloor in the Thrissur district of Kerala, one will find nothing unusual about this place of worship for Muslims. But it’s when you go in and chat up with the volunteers and office-bearers that the enormity of its legacy actually hits you.
It is not just the oldest in India and the subcontinent but one built during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammad in 629 AD by an Arab propagator of Islam, Malik Ibn Dinar.
The Story Behind the name
The Cheraman Juma Masjid owes its name to Cheraman Perumal, the last of the Chera kings who ruled Kerala with Kodungalloor as their capital. Legend has it that Perumal experienced an unusual dream of the new moon being split into two halves at the horizon.
His court astrologers could not give him a convincing explanation. Later, it was a group of Arab traders on its way to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which explained to Perumal that this could probably be the miracle performed by the Prophet in Arabia.
This explanation convinced him and he decided to embrace Islam. Though his decision to leave for Mecca was kept a secret, he divided his land and assigned various territories to local chieftains to ensure smooth governance.
At Mecca, he met the Prophet and embraced Islam. He spent some years there and while returning home, fell ill and died at Dhufar in Oman. Before his death, he wrote letters to local rulers of Malabar and handed them to his friends.
One of them, Malik Bin Dinar, who reached Kodungalloor along with his companions, handed over the letters to the ruling chieftains. They were given permission to construct mosques in different places and the mosque at Kodungalloor was the first to be established. It is said that a defunct Buddha vihar was handed over to set up the mosque there. The first mosque in India was thus constructed at Kodungalloor and Malik Bin Dinar himself was the first Ghazi of Cheraman Masjid.
Mosque over the years
It was first renovated or reconstructed sometime in the 11th century AD and later again 300 years ago. Another renovation was done in 1974 when an extension was constructed after demolishing the front portion of the mosque. The ancient part of the mosque was left untouched and is still preserved.
Yet another extension was made in 1994 and another extension was carried out in 2001 when it was decided in principle to reconstruct the mosque in its old form.
The plan now is to demolish the additions made to the original structure after 1974 to accommodate more believers, especially for the congregational Friday prayers, and restore the heritage value of the mosque built in the traditional Kerala architecture style.
Among the most celebrated visitors was former President A P J Abdul Kalam in July 2005. Interestingly, the mosque authorities allow ‘Vidyarambham’ (initiation into the world of letters) for Hindu devotees.
Inside the Cheraman Juma Masjid, burns an oil lamp which is believed to be more than a 1,000 years old. People of all faith bring oil for the lamp as offering, underlining its secular standing in Kerala.
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