Cheraman Juma Masjid, Historic mosque in Kodungallur, India
Cheraman Juma Masjid is a mosque in Thrissur district, Kerala, located in Kodungallur and notable for its Kerala-style construction with wooden elements and numerous oil lamps inside. The complex includes several structures, among them a columned prayer hall and a courtyard surrounded by corridors.
The building was established in the seventh century by Malik Bin Dinar and has served as a place for communal prayer ever since. After destruction by Portuguese forces in the early sixteenth century, it was rebuilt a few decades later.
The building takes its name from a regional king who made a religious decision, setting an example of exchange between different faiths. Visitors today notice the open attitude toward guests of other religions who visit nearby temples and vice versa.
The mosque sits along the road between Paravur and Kodungallur and is accessible to visitors who should wear respectful clothing. Renovations in the nineteen eighties expanded the complex with additional corridors and rooms.
Regional traditions link the foundation to a king who adopted a new religion after observing a lunar phenomenon. His journey to distant lands and subsequent return are seen as the starting point for the creation of this prayer house.
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