HERITAGE

Ajay Kashyap on Jama Masjid, Delhi

The Jama Masjid is one of the most magnificent monuments of Delhi continues to draw admiration for its clean lines, symmetry and sheer size.

Construction of the Jama Masjid started in 1650 and ended after six years - an astonishing feat when compared to the efforts of today's monolithic development agencies with all their modern equipment and techniques.

Six thousand men worked to put together this architectural delight.  At a daily wage of two paise labour cost Rs 10 lakh. Four types of stone were used - hard marble imported from Persia, soft marble, black marble and Redstone brought from Rajasthan.

The white marble pillars of the mosque are made from single blocks of stone.

The structure of the Jama Masjid is in itself an architectural masterpiece. Its major featured include three round domes (gumbaj) flanked by a minar on either side, a huge courtyard, a central pond and three magnificent gates.

The three domes magnify the sound of the Imam (without any echo) while praying. The main dome has a diameter of 40 feet while the other two are 30 feet each. The imam's position is in the center of the central dome, at the head of the congregation. The walls of the mosque have carved inscriptions in Kufi from the Holy Book. From the ceiling of this dome hangs a chandelier with solid gold buffs - gifted by kind Faisal Saudi Arabia on his visit to the Masjid.

Two minars, each 170 feet high, tower above the Masjid Namazis gathered in the central courtyard and covered corridors which run along the courtyard. The northern flank was reserved for women and the elevated balcony for the sole use of women from the royal household. An underground tunnel connecting the Red Fort with the Jama Masjid was constructed to enable women from the royal family to reach the Masjid in purdah. A marble staircase at the end of the tunnel took them to their reserved balcony on the elevated level.

The Jama Masjid has three gates. To the east is the Shahi or royal gate. This gate is larger than the other two and boasts of the original wooden door. The other two gates are equally imposing. Today the Shahi gate is opened only for Friday prayers and major congregations.

The huge enclosed courtyard can accommodate over 25,000 Namazis making the Jama Masjid one of the largest mosques in the country.

Three white marble pedestals are placed in the mosque - one below the dome and the other two at equal distances down the courtyard. These were originally meant for relaying the utterances of the Imam.

In the centre of the courtyard is a small manmade pond for performing wuzu before prayers. The facility has now been augmented by running water alongside the wall.

Four white marble pillars were later erected in the four corners of the pond by Lord Curzon. Also located in the courtyard is a sundial (the angle is now broken) and a world map, both of which are engraved  white marble.

A covered corridor with arches and pillars runs all along the interior of the courtyard. There are five arches on the north side of the domes each signifying a principle of Islam - kalma, namaz, zakat, roza and Haj. The five arches on the southern side signify the (5 daily prayers).

However, the most intriguing attraction of the Jama Masjid are the holy relics (which) can be viewed on special request which is liberally acceded to. There are two chapters (Paras) of the Holy Book written in Kufi on deerskin. The authorship of one of these is attributed to the grandson of the Prophet while the other is written by his son.

The second relic is a footprint (of the Holy Prophet) engraved on a piece of stone. The stone was broken in half but has been rejoined.

The third relic is a single strand of golden hair said to be from the Prophet's beard - one of the only three strands existing today (The other two are in Hazratbal in Kashmir and Istanbul, Turkey)

The fourth relic is the Prophet's camel skin sandal. These relics were reported to have been brought to India by Taimur the lame, and were ... moved to the Masjid during Shah Jahan.  

(Source: The Times of India, 28 September, 1997)