For other places with the same name, see Big Mosque.
Triplicane Big Mosque (also called Wallajah Mosque) is a mosque located in Triplicane High Road, Triplicane in Chennai, the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Mughal architectural style, the mosque was built in 1795 by the family of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot during 1765. It has a large prayer hall, a tank and a large ground in front. The entire structure is constructed with granite without the use of iron or wood.
Triplicane Big Mosque
Wallajah Mosque
A panoramic view of Biq Mosque; Dome, water tank and the two minarets
The Nawab of Arcot was friendly towards fellow Hindus, appointing a Hindu as his chief personal secretary. A chronogram written in Persian by Raja Makhhan Lal Bahdur Khirat, the Hindu Munshi of the Nawab, is found on the entrance to the prayer hall. The mosque is the largest and one of the oldest in Chennai and is active as a place of worship. It is administered by Prince of Arcot Endowments Trust. Most of the administrative staff of the mosque are Hindus, symbolizing peaceful coexistence between the two religions.
The Nawab of Arcot was a loyal ally of the British who offered him Chepauk Palace where he could house his military and administrative buildings. It is believed that Nawab Muhammad Ali moved to Chepauk, located in Triplicane in 1768. There were around 20,000 Rowther Muslims who moved with him to the city. It was then the largest community of Muslims in South India after Hyderabad. The Nawab had full control of the region and all the cases were resolved under Muslim Law irrespective of the religion of the accused. Historians believe that after the mosque was built, it added to the cultural mix in Triplicane, which had a famous Hindu temple in Parthasarathy Temple and the Portuguese Christian stronghold of San Thome.[1] Big Mosque was built in 1795 by the family of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot during 1765. There is a plaque in Persian written by the private secretary of the Nawab, Rajah Makhan Lal Khirat. The mosque is now administered by Prince of Arcot Endowments Trust.[2] The plaque indicates that the mosque was renovated during the regime of Azam Jah, who modified its minarets and added golden finials to the spires.[3] The Nawabs of Arcot were friendly towards fellow Hindus, appointing a Hindu as chief personal secretary. A significant number of the administrative staff of the mosque are Hindus, which is seen as a symbol of a harmonious mix of cultures.[4]
Architectureedit
Dargah near Wallajah mosqueMuhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot, who built the Biq Mosque
Big Mosque is the largest mosque located in Chennai from the time of its establishment.[5] It is constructed of granite without any iron or wooden additions. There is no fixed architectural style, though the two minarets are characteristic of Mughal architecture. Historians attribute the change of architecture to the arrival of North Indian Muslims who settled there. The mosque houses the image of the Persian scholar Barool. It is believed that he came from Lucknow to educate the Royal family.[2] The chronogram written by Raja Makhhan Lal Bahdur Khirat, the Munshi of the Nawab, is found on the entrance of the prayer hall. There is a large temple tank to the North East of the sanctum and a large ground in front of it. Almost the entire portion of the mosque has an equivalent width of steps leading to it. To the West of the sanctum, the mausoleums of important people associated with the Royal family are located.[3]
Cultureedit
Big Mosque is the largest and considered the principal mosque in the city of Chennai.[6] The mosque is an active place of worship. There is a constant flow of visitors in the mosque as it is located in one of the busiest places in Chennai.[7] The mosque can accommodate thousands of devotees. During the sacred festivals of Bakrid and Ramzan, the devotees overflow, some of them offering prayers from the surrounding grounds. There was a proposal made by the administration to cover the open grounds at least during festive occasions to protect devotees from inclement weather conditions. There were contrasting views put forth by heritage enthusiasts who argued against roofing claiming the openness and the architecture would be hidden by the structure.[8] The grave of Qaid-e-Millat M. Muhammad Ismail Sahib is situated in front of the mosque.[9]
Referencesedit
^Jayewardene-Pillai, Shanti (2007). Imperial Conversations: Indo-Britons and the Architecture of South India. Yoda Press. p. 21. ISBN9788190363426.
^ abJohn, Ekatha Ann (17 January 2014). "Triplicane Big Mosque: Prayer calls to the past". TNN. The Times of India. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
^ abS., Muthiah (2008). Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India, Volume 1. Palaniappa Brothers. p. 125. ISBN9788183794688.
^Kannan, Ramya (12 August 2007). "Links with a royal past". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
^McPherson, Kenneth (2012). 'How Best Do We Survive?': A Modern Political History of the Tamil Muslims. Routledge. p. 39. ISBN9781136198335.
^Ring, Trudy; Salkin, Robert M.; La Boda, Sharon (1994). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania. Taylor & Francis. p. 550. ISBN9781884964046.
^Muthalaly, Shonali; Paitandy, Priyadarshini (25 August 2015). "Triplicane Big Mosque: Prayer calls to the past". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
^S., Muthiah (9 October 2011). "Building in one heritage precinct". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
triplicane, mosque, other, places, with, same, name, mosque, also, called, wallajah, mosque, mosque, located, triplicane, high, road, triplicane, chennai, capital, south, indian, state, tamil, nadu, constructed, mughal, architectural, style, mosque, built, 179. For other places with the same name see Big Mosque Triplicane Big Mosque also called Wallajah Mosque is a mosque located in Triplicane High Road Triplicane in Chennai the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu Constructed in the Mughal architectural style the mosque was built in 1795 by the family of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah the Nawab of Arcot during 1765 It has a large prayer hall a tank and a large ground in front The entire structure is constructed with granite without the use of iron or wood Triplicane Big MosqueWallajah MosqueA panoramic view of Biq Mosque Dome water tank and the two minaretsReligionAffiliationIslamLocationLocationTriplicane Chennai Tamil Nadu IndiaLocation in Tamil Nadu IndiaAdministrationArcot Endowments TrustGeographic coordinates13 04 N 80 16 E 13 06 N 80 27 E 13 06 80 27ArchitectureTypeMosqueStyleMughalCompleted1795SpecificationsDome s 2 gold plated Minaret s 2Minaret height131 ft 40 m tallest The Nawab of Arcot was friendly towards fellow Hindus appointing a Hindu as his chief personal secretary A chronogram written in Persian by Raja Makhhan Lal Bahdur Khirat the Hindu Munshi of the Nawab is found on the entrance to the prayer hall The mosque is the largest and one of the oldest in Chennai and is active as a place of worship It is administered by Prince of Arcot Endowments Trust Most of the administrative staff of the mosque are Hindus symbolizing peaceful coexistence between the two religions Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Culture 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Image of the mosque during a wedding ceremonyThe Nawab of Arcot was a loyal ally of the British who offered him Chepauk Palace where he could house his military and administrative buildings It is believed that Nawab Muhammad Ali moved to Chepauk located in Triplicane in 1768 There were around 20 000 Rowther Muslims who moved with him to the city It was then the largest community of Muslims in South India after Hyderabad The Nawab had full control of the region and all the cases were resolved under Muslim Law irrespective of the religion of the accused Historians believe that after the mosque was built it added to the cultural mix in Triplicane which had a famous Hindu temple in Parthasarathy Temple and the Portuguese Christian stronghold of San Thome 1 Big Mosque was built in 1795 by the family of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah the Nawab of Arcot during 1765 There is a plaque in Persian written by the private secretary of the Nawab Rajah Makhan Lal Khirat The mosque is now administered by Prince of Arcot Endowments Trust 2 The plaque indicates that the mosque was renovated during the regime of Azam Jah who modified its minarets and added golden finials to the spires 3 The Nawabs of Arcot were friendly towards fellow Hindus appointing a Hindu as chief personal secretary A significant number of the administrative staff of the mosque are Hindus which is seen as a symbol of a harmonious mix of cultures 4 Architecture edit nbsp Dargah near Wallajah mosque nbsp Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah the Nawab of Arcot who built the Biq MosqueBig Mosque is the largest mosque located in Chennai from the time of its establishment 5 It is constructed of granite without any iron or wooden additions There is no fixed architectural style though the two minarets are characteristic of Mughal architecture Historians attribute the change of architecture to the arrival of North Indian Muslims who settled there The mosque houses the image of the Persian scholar Barool It is believed that he came from Lucknow to educate the Royal family 2 The chronogram written by Raja Makhhan Lal Bahdur Khirat the Munshi of the Nawab is found on the entrance of the prayer hall There is a large temple tank to the North East of the sanctum and a large ground in front of it Almost the entire portion of the mosque has an equivalent width of steps leading to it To the West of the sanctum the mausoleums of important people associated with the Royal family are located 3 Culture editBig Mosque is the largest and considered the principal mosque in the city of Chennai 6 The mosque is an active place of worship There is a constant flow of visitors in the mosque as it is located in one of the busiest places in Chennai 7 The mosque can accommodate thousands of devotees During the sacred festivals of Bakrid and Ramzan the devotees overflow some of them offering prayers from the surrounding grounds There was a proposal made by the administration to cover the open grounds at least during festive occasions to protect devotees from inclement weather conditions There were contrasting views put forth by heritage enthusiasts who argued against roofing claiming the openness and the architecture would be hidden by the structure 8 The grave of Qaid e Millat M Muhammad Ismail Sahib is situated in front of the mosque 9 References edit Jayewardene Pillai Shanti 2007 Imperial Conversations Indo Britons and the Architecture of South India Yoda Press p 21 ISBN 9788190363426 a b John Ekatha Ann 17 January 2014 Triplicane Big Mosque Prayer calls to the past TNN The Times of India Retrieved 23 November 2015 a b S Muthiah 2008 Madras Chennai A 400 year Record of the First City of Modern India Volume 1 Palaniappa Brothers p 125 ISBN 9788183794688 Kannan Ramya 12 August 2007 Links with a royal past The Hindu Retrieved 23 November 2015 McPherson Kenneth 2012 How Best Do We Survive A Modern Political History of the Tamil Muslims Routledge p 39 ISBN 9781136198335 Ring Trudy Salkin Robert M La Boda Sharon 1994 International Dictionary of Historic Places Asia and Oceania Taylor amp Francis p 550 ISBN 9781884964046 Muthalaly Shonali Paitandy Priyadarshini 25 August 2015 Triplicane Big Mosque Prayer calls to the past The Hindu Retrieved 23 November 2015 S Muthiah 9 October 2011 Building in one heritage precinct The Hindu Retrieved 23 November 2015 https www thehindu com society history and culture who was quaid e millat article18347247 eceExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Triplicane Wallajah Mosque nbsp This article about a mosque or other Islamic place of worship in India is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Triplicane Big Mosque amp oldid 1174954598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
