Masjid-i-Ala

Masjid-i-Ala Juma masjid
Religion
District	Mandya
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Mosque
Location
Location	Srirangapatna, Karnataka, India
location in Karnataka
Territory	Srirangapatna
Administration	Juma Masjid committee
Geographic coordinates	12.414°N 76.704°E / 12.414; 76.704
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Style	Islamic
Minaret(s)	2

Masjid-i-Ala (also called Jama Masjid) is a mosque located inside the Srirangapatna Fort in Srirangapatna in Mandya District in Karnataka. It was built in 1786–87, during the rule of Tipu Sultan.

History

Srirangapatna fort is believed to have been built by Timmanna Nayaka, a ruler of Vijayanagar Empire in 1454 CE. The fort was taken up by Wodeyars in 1495, Nawab of Arcot, Peshwas and the Marathas subsequently.^[1] During the rule of Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1734–66), the kingdom became a strong military force and came under the control of the military general Hyder Ali, the father of Tipu Sultan.^[2] During 1782, Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali took the reign of the fort and built fortifications. Tipu was invaded many times by the British forces.^[1]

Tipu Sultan built the mosque during 1786-87 close to his palace.^[3][4] The mosque has three inscriptions that mentions the nine names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The inscriptions also mention the way Tipu Sultan as the builder of the mosque. In modern times, the mosque is maintained and administered by the Bangalore Circle of Archaeological Survey of India. The mosque has a Madrasa and a cloister for rooms.^[5]

Hindu right wing groups have made claims that the mosque was built over a hanuman temple. Inscriptions on the mosque written in Persian, however state that Tipu as the builder of the Mosque.

Architecture

The mosque is located close to the Bangalore Gate and has two minarets. The mosque is built over an elevated platform. The mosque has three inscriptions that mentions the nine names of Muhammad.

Madrasa inside the mosque

The mosque has two tall minarets which are separated by three octagonal stages. There are galleried balconies that separate each stage of the minaret. There are turnip-shaped domes on the top of the minarets. There is a large rectangular prayer hall inside the mosque with a flat roof supported by foiled arches. There is a series of arched openings in the minarets as well as the walls of the rectangular terrace.^[3] The mosque has two stories and unlike other mosques, it does not have a dome. There is an old clock installed during the early 20th century. A Madrasa is operated from the mosque, where learning of Islam is imparted.^[6] In modern times, the mosque is maintained and administered by the Bangalore Circle of Archaeological Survey of India. The mosque has a Madrasa and a cloister for rooms.

Wars

After several unsuccessful attempts, British forces under the command of Colonel Wellesly, made an attack on 4 May 1799 under the covers. The forces had 2,494 British officers and 1 lakh Maratha cavalry and Nizams soldiers totaling to a force of more than 2 and half lakh which attached less than 20 thousand soldiers in the fort who defended bravely, had it not been to Mir Sadaq they would have repelled the invaders successfully. The minister mixed dung and water in the gun powder ^[2] Tipu was killed in the battle and the English had a treaty with the Wodeyar queen.^[1][7][8]

Controversy

Jamia Mosque Seringapatam Controversy

^[9]

There were demands from Hindu groups, that Puja, or Hindu Worship of Hamuman or Anjenya be permitted at Jamia Masjid, as it was claimed the structure was originally a temple, and that Tipu Sultan had forcibly removed the Hindu deities and converted it into a mosque. The evidence pointed out is the report in the 1935, Annual Report of the Mysore Archeological Department, published by the Mysore Government. Further, the motifs on the granite pillars had Hindu deities and Hindu iconography, and emblem of the Hoysala empire was also present. According to the 1935 report, a Muslim fakir had made a young Tippu promise him that the Temple would be converted into a mosque after he had taken power over Mysore, and on assuming power Tippu had made good his promise. ^{[10][11][12][9]}

Notes

1. Verma, Amrit (2003). Forts of India. New Delhi: The Director, Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 91–93. ISBN 81-230-1002-8.
2. Tovey, Winifred (14 February 2013). Cor Blimey! Where 'Ave You Come From?. M-Y Books Distribution. pp. 29–32. ISBN 9780956535948.
3. Desai, Dr. Ziyaud-din (1966). Mosques of India. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 39. ISBN 81-230-1001-X.
4. "Don't name university after Tipu: Writer". The New Indian Express. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
5. "Juma Masjid (Masjid-E-Ala), Srirangapatna". Archeological Survey of India. 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
6. "Places nearby". Sriranganathaswamy temple, Srirangapatna, Hindu Religious Institutions & Charitable Endowment Department, Government of Karnataka. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
7. Sampath, Vikram (2008). Splendours of Royal Mysore. Rupa Publications. p. 54. ISBN 9788129115355.
8. "Ring and sword of Tipu Sultan". British Museum. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
9. "Annual Report". Mysore Archaeological Department: 61. 1935. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
10. "Row over Jamia Mosque in Srirangapatna". 13 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
11. "Karnataka: 'During Tipu Sultan rule Hanuman temple was converted into Jamia mosque in Srirangapatna'". Times Now. TN National Desk. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
12. "Karnataka on alert as Hindu activists insist to perform 'puja' in Jamia masjid". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

References

• Thompson, Rev. E. W. (1990) [1923]. The last siege of Seringapatam. Mysore City: Wesleyan Mission. ISBN 8120606027.

External links