Mosques designed and constructed in Dravidian architecture.

[bornmoron]

One midnight in 2007, Kombai S. Anwar, a film-maker, was woken up by a youth from Keezhakarai in Ramanathapuram district, asking him whether he could help save a 19{+t}{+h}century mosque.

The Keezhakarai mosque was built to resemble a temple mandapam, and the local Jamat had decided to demolish it, so that no claim can be made that the mosque was a temple.

But youth in the town were against the demolition. Anwar roped in Raja Mohamed, a former curator of the Government Museum, to establish the fact that the mosque was actually built in Dravidian architecture and has nothing to do with any temple.

“Subsequently, the mosque was renovated. They did not use sand-blasting which has defaced and destroyed many temples,” said Anwar.

Yaathum , a documentary, is Anwar’s effort to trace his Tamil Muslim roots. It has incorporated many such historical incidents, to convey the message that the advent of Islam in the State was part of the spice trade and imbibed local tradition and culture.

Kombai, ensconced itself in the foots of Western Ghats in Theni district, is the native town of Anwar and the film begins with the procession of Lord Vishnu, passing a mosque without silencing the music of nagaswaram and the beats of thavil.

The film, to be released on November 13, had its origins in the debate he had with the late writer Sujatha, who wrote about the persecution and killing of Vaishnavites in the wake of Muslim conquest.

In Madurai, a Muslim family built a fence around the yaga kundam in Puttu Koil, where one of the thiruvilaiyadals of Lord Siva worked as a coolie carrying sand to strengthen the banks of river in return for pittu.

If the mosques in Keezhakarai and Kayalpattinam are designed like a temple mandapam, the structure above the temple mandapam of puttu koil bore designs of a mosque.

The contributions of Muslim Tamil scholars were also well captured in the film. Besides the existing forms, Muslim scholars with their exposure to Arabian and Persian literature introduced new forms in Tamil.

Journey to trace Tamil Muslim roots - The Hindu

It would be pleasure to see these kinda old architectures which we never knew,,,Any local from that place can get some more pics... 

oldest mosque in Kilakarai india | Beautiful Mosques Gallery around the world 

 

[Trichy]

Aryan's??? ha ha ha..! the south Indians are mostly converted to other religions due to force not by will... In Hinduism is not a religion its just a way or practice... Santha Darma is the oldest and the first exist on this world long long ago before the history or civilization of many born and dead in this world. only stupids only say its imposed on the people.. its just a way of practice for many more centuries before and it continuous to go strong..!

The one and only Religion (as termed by others) that never intend to conversion or forced to adopted in the entire world... any have guts to oppose it???