0022-1945 Page No:1263

Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 MUSLIM MONUMENTS IN KAYALPATNAM - A STUDY S. MOHAMMED MATHEENA Reg. No. 17221191052005, Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of History, Sadakathullah Appa College, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Tirunelveli, TamilNadu 627-012. Abstract Kayalpatnam, a well known town adjacent to the popular town of Tiruchendur has a rich and ancient history which lends itself for extensive and fruitful research.The Kayalpatnam town has a number of mosques. Prominent among them are kutba periya Palli, Kutba siru palli, Al- Jamiul Azhar, Kaadiriya, Kadal Karai Palli Kuruvithurai Palli, Erattai Kolathu Palli, Appapalli, Maraicar Palli, Kadal Karai Palli (the second mosque in India, first mosque of the town), Karup- Udaiyar Pali, Kattu Mogudom Palli, Mogudoom Palli of Mogudoom street and Yusuf Appa Palli.The Arab settlements in this area have been a favourite topic of study by historian. The Arabs settled in Kayalpatnam as early as Arabs / 633 A.D. The first settlers who were from medina landed here during the period of first Caliph Abubacker (rali) when the first Arab settlers entered kayal, the Pandyan kingdom was ruled by Kadungon. The first Arab settlers chose the Khosmarai area which was called kayal and constructed the first mosques near the sea shore and named it Kadalkaraipalli. Keywords:- Kayalpatnam, Arab, Mosques, Tirunelveli, Masjid. Introduction Kayalpatnam started appearing in the map of ancient India basically as an Arab and other foreigner’s market. The only advantage capitalized was the sea Pearl City to a harbour, with Arba’s trade came Arab religion and with Islam came Islamic literature written both in Arabic and Tamil. Today this city is remarkable for its literary wealth. The significance of the ages old foreign contact was the trade conducted by these citizens in countries like Srilanka, Hong Kong, England and in various towns of India. It is also pointed out that all over the state of Tamil Nadu many events took place and the impact of the happenings was strongly felt in this region under the study up to the end of the seventeenth century. Since eighteenth century the role of ulema Volume XII, Issue X, October/2020 Page No:1263 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 Arabi scholars and schools and increasing number of Madraras and mosques caused the propagation of Islam in this region. In the field of literature, art and architecture in particular and socio-cultural sphere in general Islam has contributed immensely towards enriching the cultural heritage of the people. Mosques, Temples and Churches attract the visitors and these became well known monuments for religious unity among the people. Followers of all religions live peacefully respecting respective religious principles. The Muslims had first flourished on the Malabar coast about the first half of the seventh century1. Both Francis day and sturrock had corroborated this from their accounts2. The Arabs had maintained commercial contects with the east or coromandal coast much before the advent of Islam came to India. Edkins Corroborates that ancient Arabs had conducted commerce in greater esteem and exhibited great interest in developing overseas trade3. During those days the Arab merchants were regularly passing through the east coast on their way to Ceylone. Kayalpatnam (Cail) lies in the southern part of Indian Peninsula on the shore of Bay of Bengal acted as the Nucleus of early Islamic settlement in coromandal Tiruchendur coast. It is a Muslim dominant town situated in Thoothukudi district and earlier it was in Tirunelveli District4. Qail has been identified as the ancient port of Kolkoi mentioned by Ptolemy and probably the same town as recorded in Sung Chinese History as Ko- Ko-Lo and Kuolo. The Principal port of maber, which means passage on ferry that extended from Kulam (Quilon) to Nellawore (Nellore) 5 . With regard to the Muslim settlements in Kayalpatnam. Mehrdad Shokoohy says that in TamilNadu small Muslim communities are present in many villages the position of Kayalpatinam as an entirely Muslim town in South India somewhat unique and no other side in the vicinity is enrich with numerous Islamic monuments6. Monuments in the Kayalpattinam Six of the oldest monuments of Kayalpattinam are located in the old core of the town. These monuments include the Ahamed Nainar Mosque, the complex of the qudirya Mosque or qadirya Kodimarasirunainarpalli and the tomb of Shawaaldin and the two greater and smaller Jamia mosque known as Kutba Periyapalli and kutba Sirupalli. The two other old Mosques in this area are smaller in size but are of considerable importance as monuments. The Magudoompalli Mosque at Mogudoom street and Ahamed Nainar Masjid have been built in the same style as the other old mosques of Kayalpattinam. Volume XII, Issue X, October/2020 Page No:1264 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 The main expansion of the old core of Kayalpattinam town might have taken place between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries as monuments datable to this period are scattered around the town. One of the best examples of the monuments of their period is the Erataikulampalli, or the mosque of the two ponds named after the two ponds which existed until recently outside the building. Two other mosques are the Maraikarpalli and the Appapalli both at the southeast of the town. The old mosques and tombs in Kayalpattinam are not only among the most significant Islamic monuments in South India but also have an important place in the architecture of the Islamic architecture developed on the southern coasts of the subcontinent and provided a link between the architecture of north west India and that of the Islamic for east. There are numerous mosques both large and small. It is said that roughly sixty mosques are here. Mahalara mosque a specimen of wonderful building architecture is found in this place. To praise the pious khaddar Julaaninayagam who came from Persia to rectify the mistakes which made inroads into Islam among the people of TamilNadu and Ceylon, the people of Kayalpattinam constructed Mahalara. It is an Arabic word meaning hall. It resembles the mosque at Baghdad. Indeed it is the synthesis of Indian and Persian architecture. This was constructed in 1871. Its length breadth and height are hundred feet each. It is like a hanging building no pillars, beams or Iron rods to hold this superstructure. This building is as strong as steel. Here one can hear echoing of voice on important days discourses are held on the life history of prophet Muhammed.7 The First Settlement in Kayalpatnam It is believed that the first settlement in Kayalpatnam occurred in 633 A.D. (Hijiri 12). The First settled who were from Mecca and Medina and landed here during the reign of the First Caliph, the successor of our prophet Muhmmad (Sal), Ameerul Momeneen Hazarat seyedna Abubakar Siddeeq (Rali). They built the Kadalkarai Mosque on the Southern side of Kusumari Dargha which was ruined hundred years ago. The authority of these statements needs to be questioned However Shokoohy testified that the eastern side of the town is said to have extended as far as the line of the coast and the oldest mosque of the town that stood near the shore, where remains of its structural elements lay scattered until recently. 8 Volume XII, Issue X, October/2020 Page No:1265 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 The Second Settlement in Kayalpatnam The second settlement took place in 842 A.D. (Hijiri 227). They came from Cairo in Egypt during the tyrannical rule of Abbasi caliph Al-Multhazim (841 A.D) and the beginning of caliph Al-Wadiq’s rule, (842 A.D), under the leadership of Muhammad Khalji (Rah). Big Jamiah mosque (kuthba periya palli) was built by Muhammad Khalji in 843 A.D. (Hijiri 228). Kayal was the name of the place till the advent of Muhammad Khalji. After his arrival, the southern part of Kayal is named as Kahirfathan after the name of his own town “Kahira” in Egypt. Kahirfathan in Arabic is slowly changed into Kayalpatnam in Tamil. Thenorthern part of Kayal is called Old Kayal (Palaiya Kayal and Punnakayal)9 First mosque in Kayalpatnam : Sea Shore (Kadalkarai) Masjid Sea Shore Masjid (Kadal Karai Pillai) was the First Mosque which was built by the Arab traders and Missionaries (mostly Sahabas), who landed at Kayalpatnam in Hijiri 12 A.H (633 A.D) during the lifttime of Hazarat Abu Bakar Siddeeq (Rali). According to professor Dr Kabeer of Calicut University a Mosque was built in Kayalpatnam during the reign of the second Caliph the great ruler of the Arabs and the aliens, Ameerul Momeneen Hazarat Seyedna Umar Farroq (Rali), 13 A.D. & 23 A.H). No doubt that Sea shore (Kadal Karai) mosque was the First Mosque in Kayalpatnam,10 which was situated near the present Kosmarai Dargha. This Mosque was on the south side of Kosmarai Dargha, which was ruined hundred years ago. Second Mosque in Kayalpatnam : Big Jamiah Kutba Periya Masjid Big Jamiah Mosque (Kutba Periya Palli) was built by Muhammad Khalji and his friends in 843 A.D. (Hijiri 228). He was one of the 13 descendants of the First Caliph, Hazarat Sayedna Abu Bakar Siddeeq (Rali) and he is a saintly person. His tomb is in the graveyard of big Jamiah Mosque. His pedigree (family tree) was mentioned on the tom stone. Some of his important descendants were Shaik Ali Nusky Wali (Buried at Magudoom mosque), Omar Wali (Burried at Thaika Sahib Thaika), Muthu Wappa Wali alias Syed Ahamed Sahib (Buried at Periya Muttu Wappa Thaika) and Periya Shaikuna Miskeen Sahib Alim. Still many of his descendants are Volume XII, Issue X, October/2020 Page No:1266 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 living in Kayalpatnam.

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