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Early Mosque architecture in Kerala
The mosque architecture of Kerala exhibit none of the features of the Arabic style nor those of the Indo-Islamic architectures of the imperial or provincial school in north India. The reason for this is not far to seek. The work of mosque construction was done by the local artisans under instructions of the Muslim religious heads who wanted to erect the places of worship. The models for places of worship were only temples or the theatre halls (koothambalam) and these models are to be adapted for the new situations. The early mosques in Kerala consequently resembles the traditional building of the region. In plan the mosque comprises of a large prayer hall with a mihrab on the western wall and covered verandah all around. Generally it has a tall basement similar to the adhistana of the Brahmanical temple and often the columns are treated with square and octagonal section as in mandapa pillars. The walls are made of laterite blocks. The arch form is seen only in one exceptional case for the mosque at Ponnani and nowhere else in the early ten mosques of the land. Wood was used extensively in superstructure for the construction of ceiling and roof. The roof in many cases is covered with sheets of copper incorporating fenials in the ridge, completing the form of temple sikhara with the stupi. At Tanur the Jama Masjid even has a gate built in the manner of temple gopuram, covered with copper sheeting. This mosque itself is a three storeyed building with tiled roof crowned by five fenials.
The pulpit in the mosque present the best example of wood carvings associated
with Islamic architecture of Kerala. The Jama Masjid at Beypore and Mithqal
Mosque at Kozhikode have the pulpit (mimbar) built by the ship masters of the
Arab vessels.
All other construction work was done by the same local craftsmen who were
building the temples and residences. The Arabic tradition of simplicity of plan
had perhaps combined itself with the indigenous construction techniques giving
rise to the unique style of mosque architecture, not found anywhere else in the
world. In contrast the Indo-Islamic architecture drew its inspiration from the
Turkish and Persian traditions and created highly ornamental style in the north
India. The typical Kerala mosques are seen at Kollampalli, near Kollam,
Panthalayani near Koilandy, Kozhikode, Thanur, Ponnani and Kasargode as well as
in most old Muslim settlements. The austere architectural features of the old
mosques are however in the process of being replaced in recent times. The use of
arcuated forms, domes and minar-minarets of the imperial school of Indo-Islamic
architecture are being projected as the visible symbols of Islamic culture. The
Jama Masjid at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram is the classic example of this new
trend. Similar structures are coming up all over Kerala in the modification of
old mosques during the last decades.
Adapted from Kerala OnLine