Thazhathangady
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The Juma Masjid mosque
Jaikrishnan Nair, April 7, 2024: The Times of India
From: Jaikrishnan Nair, April 7, 2024: The Times of India
From: Jaikrishnan Nair, April 7, 2024: The Times of India
Juma Masjid at Thazhathangady, 3km from Kottayam town in Kerala, is one of India’s oldest mosques. Set on the banks of Meenachil river, along Kottayam-Kumarakom road, it is said to be around 1,300 years old and is valued for its architectural beauty.
Thazhathangady is the commercial hub of old Kottayam and is also known for communal amity. It has a church and a temple near the mosque from the same era. Masjid authorities say the church was founded by Malik Bin Dinar, who came to Kerala along with his companions for Islamic missionary activities.
The mosque is a two-storey mansion with an overall area of 4,200 sq feet. Its interior is divided into two sections, Akampalli and Purampalli. The design ensures easy air circulation for a cool atmosphere inside even in extremely hot weather.
Noted historian M G Sasibhooshan, who has researched the mosque, explained why it does not have a minar: “Old mosques in Kerala do not have minars. It may be due to the landscape here. The old mosques in Sumatra, Java and Malaysia also do not have minars,” he said.
Sasibhooshan said the mosque was built with the help of the then king of Thekkumkoor who wanted to promote trade in the region. “Kottayam was his capital. He brought Muslims, Christians and Gaud Saraswat Brahmins to Thazhathangady. He provided timber and money to Muslims for constructing the mosque.”
Another remarkable feature of the mosque is the ‘mukkutty saaksha’, a unique lock system with triple latches on the door to the main prayer hall. According to Sasibhooshan, the mosque has double walls and there is a secret passage between them through which a person can walk. “It would have been built anticipating attacks due to trade rivalry. The passage might have been connected to the nearby Meenachil river.” However, there is no instance of an attack in the mosque’s history.
Women are allowed inside the mosque except in the holy month of Ramzan. Shafiq Falil Mannani, Imam of the mosque, said women are allowed to have a look at the interior of the church also: “We only insist that the sanctity of the place and personal hygiene be maintained.”
Past the mosque’s main entrance is a 2,000-litre tank carved out of a single rock. It is filled with water from a well outside. Worshippers and other visitors are allowed in only after washing hands and feet with this water. The Imam said the mosque committee ensures the old style of construction is maintained and preserved. Repainting and maintenance work are done strictly based on the directions of the archaeological department, he said. “The satisfaction one gets while praying inside this mosque is beyond words. While Muslims pray, other visitors find delight in the ambience and coolness of the mosque.”
Though the mosque was all set to get heritage status, the committee felt that would close the door on religious activities, turning the edifice into a museum.
