Jama Masjid or Masjid-i-Jahan Numa as in Urdu is one of the largest and oldest mosques in India. This mosque was specially built in 1656 AD on the order of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who has the famous Taj Mahal to his fame.
A grand and remarkable example of the Mughal architecture, the Jama Masjid has a huge spacious courtyard which can house about twenty five thousand individuals at a time. The mosque outlooks the Red Fort at the east and is situated at the beginning of the busy streets of Chandni Chowk or Old Delhi.
The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa refers to the mosque that commands a view of the entire world. It took a period of six years and about 5000 odd workers to complete this magnificent structure, which includes three gateways, two minarets, and four towers. A wonderful piece of architecture, this mosque is built on a 10-m platform from the ground level and extends along 1200 sq m in area. Open arched arcades cover the west-facing mosque on three sides. Three domes alternately striped in white and black marble form the roof of the 80-m long and 27-m wide mosque. The domes are lined on either side by two huge 41-m tall minarets containing 130 steps. Red sandstone and white marble stripes are present on these minarets. Four similar minarets also adorn the backside of the mosque.
A flight of 39 stairs on the northern side, and 33 stairs on the southern end lead their way into the courtyard. The main gate or the royal entrance lies on the eastern front has a staircase of 35 steps. These stairs are made up of red sandstone, the primary material used in the ancient times. The royal entrance on the east usually remains closed during most of the week. As the name suggests, this entrance was mainly used by the emperors and members of the royal families. Ancient relics of Prophet Muhammad are entrenched in a marble slab and displayed on a high pulpit at the northern gate of the mosque, so as to enable a splendid view for all around. These include the famous Khuran inscribed on deerskin, the prophet’s sandals, his red beard-hair, his sandals, and footprints. Shops and food stalls used to line these steps once upon a time. A poultry bazaar also used to spring up during the evenings. The eastern gate used to therefore buzz with activities.
By: Abhishek Arora
Posts Tagged ‘Delhi India’
Jama Masjid – Delhi, India
November 17th, 2009Lotus Temple, Delhi India
November 15th, 2009
While in New Delhi, make sure to visit the Lotus temple where a stunning work of modern architecture awaits you. The Bahai House of worship, popularly known as the Lotus Temple resembles a partially open lotus flower surrounded by its leaves and appears as though floating on water. The nine pools representing the floating leaves are surrounded by landscaped walkways, bridges and stairs. The monument is made out of marble and its elegance has attracted millions of visitors since the time it was dedicated to the nation on December 24th, 1986.
The creative mind behind the architecture of this engineering marvel is a young Canadian architect of Iranian decent by the name of Fariburz Sabha. The architect’s choice of the lotus deserves a special mention here. In addition to being the National flower of India, the lotus has a special association with several religions and faiths practiced in India. The lotus is also a symbol of divine birth and purity. Hence the Lotus Temple reflects the glorious culture of India and is in tune with the Bahai faith which believes in the unity of religions.
The Lotus Temple has three layers of nine petals each in its construction. The outermost layer of nine petals is constructed opening outwards and also forms the nine entrances to the outer circular hall. The next layer of nine petals rise above the outer layer and are partially closed. These petals house the central hall. A roof made of glass and steel forms the central portion of the lotus which is open to the sky. This allows natural light into the central hall while also protecting it from the rain.
Unlike several other temples in India, the Lotus Temple draws visitors from all faiths and people from all walks of society are welcome irrespective of their caste, creed or ethnicity. Though it is a temple, you will be surprised to know that there are no priests or idols within the temple and no rituals are performed. The belief of the Bahai teachings lies in embracing the oneness of mankind, religion and God. This is because the Bahai faith raises worship above ritualistic and communal forms.
The main worship centre with its basement belongs to the temple complex, whereas an additional block houses the reception, a library and an administrative section. Audio-visual presentations are played on an hourly basis for the benefit of the customers.
This wonderful work of creativity has found its way into the architectural section of the 1994 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, with a special mention as an outstanding achievement. The architecture has also received various awards and recognitions regularly. The Lotus temple is also a centre for social service as it promotes unity and harmony among people hailing from different ethnic and economic backgrounds.
By: Abhishek Arora
