Adina Mosque

Coordinates: 25°09′08″N 88°09′53″E / 25.1523°N 88.1647°E / 25.1523; 88.1647
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Adina Mosque
আদিনা মসজিদ
Exterior façade of the mosque
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
DistrictMalda
ProvinceWest Bengal
Location
LocationPandua
CountryIndia
Adina Mosque is located in West Bengal
Adina Mosque
Shown within West Bengal
Adina Mosque is located in India
Adina Mosque
Adina Mosque (India)
Geographic coordinates25°09′08″N 88°09′53″E / 25.1523°N 88.1647°E / 25.1523; 88.1647
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleIslamic
Groundbreaking1373
Completed1375

The Adina Mosque (N-WB-81

Malda District, West Bengal, India. It was the largest structure of its kind in the Indian subcontinent and was built during the Bengal Sultanate as a royal mosque by Sikandar Shah, who is also buried inside. The mosque is situated in Pandua
, a former royal capital.

The vast architecture is associated with the hypostyle of the Umayyad Mosque, which was used during the introduction of Islam in new areas. The early Bengal Sultanate harbored imperial ambitions after having defeated the Delhi Sultanate twice in 1353 and 1359. The Adina Mosque was commissioned in 1373. Its construction reused materials from pre-Islamic Hindu and Buddhist structures.[2]

Design

The central mihrab of the mosque

The design of the mosque incorporated

pillars and 387 domed bays. The interior of the courtyard is a continuous façade of 92 arches surmounted by a parapet, beyond which the domes of the bays can be seen.[2] The interior elevated platform, which was the gallery of the Sultan and his officials, still exists. The Sultan's tomb chamber is attached with the western wall.[3][6]

History

Panoramic view of Adina Masjid

Medieval Bengal

the second Sultan of the

Caliph of the faithful".[8] The Sultan was buried in a tomb chamber attached to the wall facing the direction of Mecca
.

The mosque was located in the historic city of Pandua, a former capital of the Bengal Sultanate. Pandua was a thriving and cosmopolitan trading center during the period of the sultanate.

Colonial India

The mosque was damaged by earthquakes in the 19th century. It fell into disuse. Much of Pandua also became part of the wilderness.

Independent India

Activists from Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishva Hindu Parishad have claimed that the mosque was built by demolishing an "Adinath Temple", and hence must be restored to the Hindus.[9]

Gallery

  • Arches and columns in the interior of Adina Mosque. The elevated platform was the royal gallery where the Sultan prayed.
    Arches and columns in the interior of Adina Mosque. The elevated platform was the royal gallery where the Sultan prayed.
  • Central prayer hall in the mosque
    Central prayer hall in the mosque
  • A Ganesha idol carving on the stone wall
    A Ganesha idol carving on the stone wall
  • Tomb of Sultan Sikandar Shah
    Tomb of Sultan Sikandar Shah
  • Detailed arabesque
    Detailed arabesque
  • The building seen through a peep hole
    The building seen through a peep hole
  • Corner of the building
    Corner of the building
  • Arches inside the mosque
    Arches inside the mosque
  • A column from Adina Mosque, now in the British Museum
    A column from Adina Mosque, now in the British Museum

See also

References

  1. ^ "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of National Importance". West Bengal. Archaeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. ^
    ProQuest 304044113
    .
  3. ^ – via Google Books.
  4. – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b electricpulp.com. "BENGAL – Encyclopaedia Iranica".
  6. ^ Datta, Rangan (13 October 2022). "Beauty in ruins: Tracing the history of Pandua's glorious past". The Telegraph. My Kolkata. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  7. .
  8. ^ "Adina Mosque". Banglapedia.
  9. ^ "A Journey through India's Major Shrines and Controversies". Outlook India. Retrieved 18 March 2024.