Khanqah-e-Moula (Kashmiri: خانٛقاهِ معلىٰ), also known as Shah-e-Hamadan Masjid and Khanqah, is a mosque located in the Old City of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Situated on the right bank of the river Jhelum between the Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal bridges, it was first built in 1395 CE, commissioned by Sultan Sikendar in memory of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, after destroying an ancient Kalleshwari temple. It is held to be the first Khanqah—mosques associated with specific saints—in the Kashmir valley. It is one of the best examples of Kashmiri wooden architecture, and is decorated with papier mache.[1]
The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar Butshikan in 1395 CE in memory of the Islamic preacher Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, the central figure involved in the widespread conversion to Islam in Kashmir. Also known as Shah-e-Hamadan (the King of Hamadan), the preacher came to Kashmir from the city of Hamadan, Persia in the 14th century. He is credited for the spread of Islam in Kashmir. In 1480 AD, the shrine was destroyed in a fire. The then ruler, Sultan Hassan Shah, expanded its premises and rebuilt it. In 1731 CE, the Khanqah was again destroyed by fire and then rebuilt by Abdul Barkat Khan.
Background
Sketch of Shah Hamadan mosque dating back to 1906
The current mosque structure was constructed above near the walls of an ancient temple dedicated to Hindu goddess Kali and a sacred Hindu site,[2] It is believed by some that Sayyid Ali Hamdani had the temple of Kali wall erected between empty land and built the present mosque.[3][4] and that a spring dedicated to Kali is still inside the mosque. The railing at the back of the mosque complex leads to a bright orange marking on the stone just below that suggests to the foundation belonging to the destructed Kali Shri temple.[5] Local Hindus were involved in various communal disputes and repeated altercations by 1942, agitating for the right to build a covered shrine adjacent to the Muslim shrine,[6] which eventually led to a boycott of Muslim-owned shops by Kashmiri Hindus.[7]
The mosque's interior has intricate woodwork and is richly decorated with papier-maché, seen above in 2007; the wooden structure makes it prone to fires, the latest such incident occurring in 2017
However, others have questioned the validity of such claims, and believe it to be a revisionist attempt to re-cast history as traditional Kashmiri Hindu historians, such as Kalhana, Jonaraja and Shuk Bhatt make no mention of the existence of any temple at the site of the structure. The counterclaim stemming from the fact that a Hindu religious site also exists adjacent to the shrine and the historians have suggested that the two sites have in fact always been adjacent to one another,[8] their proximity being representative of communal tolerance.[9] Kashmiri Hindus have also historically held the Khanqah in high reverence.[10]
Archaeologist R.C. Kak in Ancient Monuments of Kashmir[11] and historian P. N. K. Bamzai in Culture and Political History of Kashmir while writing about the Khanqah, do not altogether mention anything about the possibility of the existence of a temple where the present structure stands.[12] Historian Ashiq Husain Bhat further argues that re-purposing of Hindu shrines into Muslim ones wouldn't have been unusual, given that the overwhelming majority of Kashmiris converted to Islam, and a similar conversion of the site into a church would occur were Kashmiris to convert en masse to Christianity.[8] The construction of Muslim shrines at Hindu sites has also been interpreted by some as an attempt by Kashmiri Muslim to maintain links to their Hindu past.[13]
Adjacent Kali Shri Shrine
Toward the River Jhelum, there is a wall marked with Sindoor (or Sindooram, a traditional vermilion red or orange-red colored cosmetic powder from India, usually worn by married women along the parting of their hair) but not a temple and water oozes at a place, which Kashmiri Hindus say is dedicated to goddess Kali.[8][6]
Sign of Hindu goddess Kali Temple symbolised by Saffron Marks on the mosque structure where Hindus offer prayers
Saleem Beg, a member of INTACH, states that the holy place of Hindus and the Khanqah co-existed together.[8]
Fire of 2017
On 15 November 2017, a fire broke out in the shrine which damaged the spire of the building. Fire tenders were brought on the scene and they managed to arrest the spread of the fire which prevented any further damage to the building.[14]
Restoration work was immediately started[15] and on 30 March 2018, a refurbished crown was successfully installed on the spire of the shrine.[16]
^Kaw, M. K. (2004). Kashmir and Its People: Studies in the Evolution of Kashmiri Society. APH Publishing. ISBN9788176485371.
^Koul, Mohan Lal (1 January 1999). Kashmir, Wail of a Valley. Gyan Sagar Publications. ISBN9788186987384.
^Alkazi, Feisal (1 May 2014). Srinagar: An Architectural Legacy. Roli Books Private Limited. ISBN9789351940517.
^ abRai, Mridu (2004). Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights, and the History of Kashmir. Hurst. ISBN9781850656616.
^Khan, Ghulam Hassan (1980). Freedom movement in Kashmir, 1931-1940. Light & Life Publishers.
^ abcd"Maha Kali temple co-exists with Khanqah". Rising Kashmir. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
^Iqbal, S. M.; Nirash, K. L. (1978). The Culture of Kashmir. Marwah Publications.
^Rabbani, G. M. (1986). Kashmir, social and cultural history. Anmol Publications.
^Kak, R.C. (2002). Ancient monuments of Kashmir (1st [reprint] ed.). Srinagar-190001, Kashmir: Gulshan Publishers. pp. 77–79. ISBN81-86714-60-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^Bamzai, P.N.K. (1994). Culture and Political History of Kashmir (1st ed.). New Delhi-110002: M.D. Publications. pp. 326–27, 536–40. ISBN81-85880-33-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^"Khankah-e-Moula shrine damaged in Srinagar fire". 15 November 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^"Latest News From Kashmir, Breaking News, Current Headlines, Kashmir News Online | Greater Kashmir". Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^"Khankah-e-Maulla gets refurbished crown". 31 March 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khanqah-e-Moula.
January 07, 2023
khanqah, moula, kashmiri, خان, قاه, معلى, also, known, shah, hamadan, masjid, khanqah, mosque, located, city, srinagar, jammu, kashmir, india, situated, right, bank, river, jhelum, between, fateh, kadal, zaina, kadal, bridges, first, built, 1395, commissioned,. Khanqah e Moula Kashmiri خان قاه معلى also known as Shah e Hamadan Masjid and Khanqah is a mosque located in the Old City of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir India Situated on the right bank of the river Jhelum between the Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal bridges it was first built in 1395 CE commissioned by Sultan Sikendar in memory of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani after destroying an ancient Kalleshwari temple It is held to be the first Khanqah mosques associated with specific saints in the Kashmir valley It is one of the best examples of Kashmiri wooden architecture and is decorated with papier mache 1 Khanqah e Mu allaخانقاہ معلی The Khanqah on the banks of JhelumReligionAffiliationSunni IslamDistrictSrinagarRegionKashmir ValleyEcclesiastical or organizational statusActiveStatusActiveLocationLocationFateh Kadal SrinagarStateJammu and KashmirCountryIndiaShown within Jammu and KashmirGeographic coordinates34 05 28 N 74 48 28 E 34 091248 N 74 807771 E 34 091248 74 807771 Coordinates 34 05 28 N 74 48 28 E 34 091248 N 74 807771 E 34 091248 74 807771ArchitectureFounderSultan SikandarCompleted1395 CE Rebuilt 1732 CESpecificationsHeight max 38mDome s 1 turret Minaret s None Contents 1 Construction 2 Background 2 1 Adjacent Kali Shri Shrine 2 2 Fire of 2017 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksConstruction EditThe mosque was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar Butshikan in 1395 CE in memory of the Islamic preacher Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani the central figure involved in the widespread conversion to Islam in Kashmir Also known as Shah e Hamadan the King of Hamadan the preacher came to Kashmir from the city of Hamadan Persia in the 14th century He is credited for the spread of Islam in Kashmir In 1480 AD the shrine was destroyed in a fire The then ruler Sultan Hassan Shah expanded its premises and rebuilt it In 1731 CE the Khanqah was again destroyed by fire and then rebuilt by Abdul Barkat Khan Background Edit Sketch of Shah Hamadan mosque dating back to 1906 The current mosque structure was constructed above near the walls of an ancient temple dedicated to Hindu goddess Kali and a sacred Hindu site 2 It is believed by some that Sayyid Ali Hamdani had the temple of Kali wall erected between empty land and built the present mosque 3 4 and that a spring dedicated to Kali is still inside the mosque The railing at the back of the mosque complex leads to a bright orange marking on the stone just below that suggests to the foundation belonging to the destructed Kali Shri temple 5 Local Hindus were involved in various communal disputes and repeated altercations by 1942 agitating for the right to build a covered shrine adjacent to the Muslim shrine 6 which eventually led to a boycott of Muslim owned shops by Kashmiri Hindus 7 The mosque s interior has intricate woodwork and is richly decorated with papier mache seen above in 2007 the wooden structure makes it prone to fires the latest such incident occurring in 2017 However others have questioned the validity of such claims and believe it to be a revisionist attempt to re cast history as traditional Kashmiri Hindu historians such as Kalhana Jonaraja and Shuk Bhatt make no mention of the existence of any temple at the site of the structure The counterclaim stemming from the fact that a Hindu religious site also exists adjacent to the shrine and the historians have suggested that the two sites have in fact always been adjacent to one another 8 their proximity being representative of communal tolerance 9 Kashmiri Hindus have also historically held the Khanqah in high reverence 10 Archaeologist R C Kak in Ancient Monuments of Kashmir 11 and historian P N K Bamzai in Culture and Political History of Kashmir while writing about the Khanqah do not altogether mention anything about the possibility of the existence of a temple where the present structure stands 12 Historian Ashiq Husain Bhat further argues that re purposing of Hindu shrines into Muslim ones wouldn t have been unusual given that the overwhelming majority of Kashmiris converted to Islam and a similar conversion of the site into a church would occur were Kashmiris to convert en masse to Christianity 8 The construction of Muslim shrines at Hindu sites has also been interpreted by some as an attempt by Kashmiri Muslim to maintain links to their Hindu past 13 Adjacent Kali Shri Shrine Edit Toward the River Jhelum there is a wall marked with Sindoor or Sindooram a traditional vermilion red or orange red colored cosmetic powder from India usually worn by married women along the parting of their hair but not a temple and water oozes at a place which Kashmiri Hindus say is dedicated to goddess Kali 8 6 Sign of Hindu goddess Kali Temple symbolised by Saffron Marks on the mosque structure where Hindus offer prayers Saleem Beg a member of INTACH states that the holy place of Hindus and the Khanqah co existed together 8 Fire of 2017 Edit On 15 November 2017 a fire broke out in the shrine which damaged the spire of the building Fire tenders were brought on the scene and they managed to arrest the spread of the fire which prevented any further damage to the building 14 Restoration work was immediately started 15 and on 30 March 2018 a refurbished crown was successfully installed on the spire of the shrine 16 See also EditJamia Masjid Srinagar Hazratbal Shrine References Edit Khanqah Kalla Krishan Lal 1997 Eminent Personalities of Kashmir Discovery Publishing House ISBN 9788171413454 Kaw M K 2004 Kashmir and Its People Studies in the Evolution of Kashmiri Society APH Publishing ISBN 9788176485371 Koul Mohan Lal 1 January 1999 Kashmir Wail of a Valley Gyan Sagar Publications ISBN 9788186987384 Alkazi Feisal 1 May 2014 Srinagar An Architectural Legacy Roli Books Private Limited ISBN 9789351940517 a b Rai Mridu 2004 Hindu Rulers Muslim Subjects Islam Rights and the History of Kashmir Hurst ISBN 9781850656616 Khan Ghulam Hassan 1980 Freedom movement in Kashmir 1931 1940 Light amp Life Publishers a b c d Maha Kali temple co exists with Khanqah Rising Kashmir Retrieved 15 January 2019 Iqbal S M Nirash K L 1978 The Culture of Kashmir Marwah Publications Rabbani G M 1986 Kashmir social and cultural history Anmol Publications Kak R C 2002 Ancient monuments of Kashmir 1st reprint ed Srinagar 190001 Kashmir Gulshan Publishers pp 77 79 ISBN 81 86714 60 X a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link Bamzai P N K 1994 Culture and Political History of Kashmir 1st ed New Delhi 110002 M D Publications pp 326 27 536 40 ISBN 81 85880 33 6 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link Central Asiatic Journal O Harrassowitz 2010 Khankah e Moula shrine damaged in Srinagar fire 15 November 2017 Retrieved 5 May 2019 Latest News From Kashmir Breaking News Current Headlines Kashmir News Online Greater Kashmir Retrieved 5 May 2019 Khankah e Maulla gets refurbished crown 31 March 2018 Retrieved 5 May 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khanqah e Moula Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Khanqah e Moula amp oldid 1128096025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
