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Bengal

List of Masjids in Bengal which was built by destroying Hindu temples

LIST OF HINDU TEMPLES DESTROYED AND CONVERTED TO MOSQUES IN BENGAL BY MUSLIMS

We give below, state-wise and district-wise, the particulars of Muslim monuments which stand on the sites and/or have been built with the materials of Hindu temples, and which we wish to recall as witnesses to the role of Islam as a religion and the character of Muslim rule in medieval India. The list is the result of a preliminary survey. Many more Muslim monuments await examination. Local traditions which have so far been ignored or neglected, have to be tapped on a large scale.
We have tried our best to be exact in respect of locations, names and dates of the monuments mentioned. Even so, some mistakes and confusions may have remained. It is not unoften that different sources provide different dates and names for the same monument. Many Muslim saints are known by several names, which create confusion in identifying their mazars or dargahs. Some districts have been renamed or newly, created and a place which was earlier under one district may have been included in another. We shall be grateful to readers who point out these mistakes so that they can be corrected in our major study. This is only a brief summary.
Sita Ram Goel
It should be kept in mind that the list below doesn’t include all the temples destroyed by Muslims and which were converted to mosques. The below is the list of mosques and Dargahs where evidences exists of having been made after destroying the temples at these locations. In many mosques, Muslim rulers were able to eradicate all signs of temples, and hence not given in below list.
Anyone is free to visit the below list of mosques and see the remnants and materials of Hindu temples used in their construction. Archaeological Survey of India should conduct an excavation of below mosques to find out more about the ancient temples in these locations and possible mass graves around the mosque sites.

I. BANKURA DISTRICT 
Lokpura
1. Mazar of Ghazi Ismail. Converted Venugopala temple.
II. BARISAL DISTRICT 
Kasba
2. Masjid. Temple site.

III. BIRBHUM DISTRICT 
Moregram
3. Mazar of Sayyid Baba. Temple materials used.
Patharchapuri
4. Maza of Data, or Mahbub Sahib. Temple site.
Rajnagar
5. Several Old Masjids. Temple sites.
Sakulipur
6. Jami Masjid. Temple site.
Siyan
7. Dargah of Makhdum Shah (1221). Materials of many temples used.
IV. BOGRA DISTRICT 
Mahasthan
8. Dargah and Masjid of Shah Sultan Mahiswar. Stands on the ruins of a temple.
9. Majid on Siladevi Ghat. Temple materials used.
V. BURDWAN DISTRICT 
Inchalabazar
10. Masjid (1703). Temple site.
Kasba
11. Raja, Masjid. Temple materials used.
Kalna
12. Dargah of Shah Majlis (1491-93). Temple site.
13. ShahI Masjid (1533). Temple site.
Mangalkot
14. Jami Masjid (1523-24). Temple site.
Raikha
15. Talab-wali Masjid. Temple site.

Suata

16. Dargah of Sayyid Shah Shahid Mahmud Bahmani. Buddhist Temple materials site.
17. Masjid (1502-02). Temple site.
VI. CALCUTTA DISTRICT 
Bania Pukur
18. Masjid built for Alaud-Din Alaul Haqq (1342). Temple materials used.
VII. CHATGAON DISTRICT 
19. Dargah of Badr Makhdum. Converted Buddhist Vihara.
VIII. DACCA DISTRICT 
Dacca
20. Tomb of Bibi Pari. Temple materials used.
21. Saif Khan-ki-Masjid. Converted temple.
22. Churihatta Masjid. Temple materials used.
Narayanganj
23. Qadam Rasul Masjid. Temple site.
Rampal
24. Masjid. Converted temple.
25. Dargah of Baba. Adam Shahid (1308). Temple materials used.
Sonargaon
26. Old Masjid. Temple materials used.
IX. DINAJPUR DISTRICT 
Basu-Bihar
27. Two Masjids. On the ruins of a Buddhist Vihara.
Devatala
28. Dargah of Shykh Jalalud-Din Tabrizi, Suhrawardiyyia sufi credited in Muslim histories with the destruction of many, temples. Temple site.
29. Jami Masjid (1463). Vishnu Temple site.
Devikot
30. Dargah and Masjid of Pir Ataullah Shah (1203). Temple materials used.
31. Dargah of Shah Bukhari. Temple materials used.
32. Dargah of Pir Bahaud-Din. Temple materials used.
33. Dargah of Shah Sultan Pir. Temple materials used.

Mahisantosh
34. Dargah and Masjid. On the site of a big Vishnu Temple.
Nekmard
35. Mazar of Nekmard Shah. Temple site.
X. FARIDPUR DISTRICT 
Faridpzir
36. Mazar of Farid Shah. Temple site.
XI. HOOGHLY DISTRICT 
Jangipura
37. Mazar of Shahid Ghazi. Temple materials used.
Pandua
38. Masjid. Temple materials used.
39. Mazar of Shah Safiud-Din. Temple site.
40. Fath Minar. Temple materials used.
Santoshpur
41. Masjid near Molla Pukur (153-310). Temple site.
Satgaon
42. Jami Masjid. Temple materials used.
Tribeni
43. Zafar Khan-ki-Masjid (1298). Temple materials used.
44. Dargah of Zafar Khan. Temple materials used.
45. Masjid (1459). Temple site.
XII. HOWRAH DISTRICT 
Jangalvilas
46. Pir Sahib-ki-Masjid. Converted temple.
XIII. KHULNA DISTRICT 
Masjidkur
47. Shat Gumbaz. Temple materials used.
48. Mazar of Khanja Ali or Khan Jahan. Temple site.
Salkhira
49. Dargah of Mai Champa. Temple materials used.
XIV. MALDA DISTRICT  

Gangarampur

50. Dargah of Shah Ata. Siva Temple site.
51. Masjid on the river bank (1249). Temple site.
Gaur
Muslim city built on the site and with the ruins of LakshmaNavati, Hindu capital destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the twelfth century A.D. Temple materials have been used in the following monuments:
52. Chhoti Sona Masjid.
53. Qadam Rasul Masjid (1530)
54. Tantipara Masjid (1480)
55. Lattan Masjid (1475)
56. Badi Sona Masjid (1526)
57. Dargah of Makhadum Akhi Siraj Chishti, disciple of Nizamud-Din Awliya of Delhi (1347)
58. Darsbari or College of Theology.
59. Astana of Shah Niamatullah.
60. Chamkatti Masjid (1459).
61. Chikka Masjid.
62. Gunmant Masjid. Converted temple.
63. Dakhil Darwaza.
64. Kotwali Darwaza.
65. Firuz Minar.
66. Chandipur Darwaza.
67. Baraduari Masjid.
68. Lukachuri Masjid.
69. Gumti Darwaza.
Malda
70. Jami Masjid (1566). Temple materials used.
71. Sak Mohan Masjid (1427). Temple site.
Pandua
Another Muslim city built with the ruins of Lakshmanavati. Temple materials have been used in the following monuments.
72. Adina Masjid (1368)
73. Yaklakhi Masjid.
74. Chheh Hazari or Dargah of Nur Qutb-i-Alam (1415).
75. Bais Hazari or Khanqah of Jalalud-Din Tabrizi (1244).
76. Sona Masjid.
77. Barn-like Masjid.
78. Qadam Rasul.

XV. MIDNAPUR DISTRICT 
Gagneswar
79. Karambera Garh Masjid (1509). Shiva Temple site.
Hijli
80. Masnad-i-Ala-ki-Masjid. Temple site.
Kesiari
81. Masjid (1622). Mahadeva Temple materials used.
Kharagpur
82. Mazar of Pir Lohani. Temple site.
XVI. MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT 
Chuna Khali
83. Barbak-ki-Masjid. Temple site.
Murshidabad
Temple materials have been used in the following monuments:
84. Katra Masjid.
85. Motijhil Lake Embankments.
86. Sangi Dalan.
87. Mahal Sara.
88. Alivardi Khan-ki-Masjid.
89. Hazarduari Mahal.
Rangamati
90. Dargah on the Rakshasi Danga. Stands on the ruins of a Buddhist Vihara.
XVII. NOAKHALI DISTRICT
Begamganj
91. Bajra Masjid. Converted temple.
XVIII. PABNA DISTRICT 
Balandu
92. Madrasa. Converted Buddhist Vihara.

XIX. RAJSHAHI DISTRICT 
Bhaturia
93. Masjid. Shiva Temple materials used.
Kumarpura
94. Mazar of Mukarram Shah. Converted temple.
Kusumbha
95. Old Masjid (1490-93). Constructed entirely of temple materials.
XX. RANGPUR DISTRICT 
Kamatpur
96. Bada Dargah of Shah Ismail Ghazi. Temple site.
97. Idgah on a mound one mile away. Temple materials used.
XXI. SYLHET DISTRICT 
Baniyachung
98. Famous Masjid. Temple site.
Sylhet
99. Masjid of Shah Jalal. Temple site.
100. Mazars of Shah Jalal and many of his disciples. Temple sites.
XXII. 24-PARGANAS DISTRICT 
Barasat
101. Mazar of Pir Ekdil Sahib. Temple site.
Berchampa
102. Dargah of Pir Gorachand. Temple site.

EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE THAT IN BENGAL THE ABOVE MENTIONED MOSQUES AND DARGAHS WERE CONSTRUCTED BY DESTROYING HINDU TEMPLES. BUT IN MANY OTHER CASES MUSLIMS SUCCEEDED IN REMOVING ALL TRACES OF TEMPLES FROM THE MOSQUES. IN SUCH CASES ONLY AN EXCAVATION BY ASI WILL REVEAL THE DESTROYED TEMPLES.
WHILE MUSLIMS ASK FOR REBUILDING THE ILLEGAL MOSQUE IN AYODHYA, WHY SHOULD NOT HINDUS DEMAND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE DESTROYED TEMPLES IN INDIA?

Siddheshvara temple West Bengal, lying in ruins

The town Barakar is know for its Siddheshvara Temple, an early (9C) Hindu religious structure of the Orissan style with a prominent shikhara. It later served as inspiration for other temples, devoted to Ganesh, Durga and Panchanana, built in the 16C.

The Siddheshvara temple, seems to be the oldest and was built around 8th-9th century. It is amongst the oldest rekh-deul temples in West Bengal. The temples have Shivalingams and deity of Ganesha and Durga. Many stone deity of Lord Vishnu have been discovered in the complex. “The object of worship”, Beglar writes, “is a figure of a fish lying flat, serving as an argha to five lingam holes cut in it”. I found 5 shiva lingams, surrounded by a sort of parapet created with modern cement. The purpose of the parapet is obvious – copious amounts of water are poured on the lingams as part of worship and the water has to be directed towards an outlet in the floor. No doubt locals, who have kept the temple active, have done this for their own convenience. Outside the temple are two decayed but identifiable stone “nandi” bulls, Lord Shiva’s mount.

Siddheshvara Temple at Barakar, Burdwan district taken by J.D.Beglar in 1872-73. Beglar wrote, “Barakar…contains several very interesting ancient remains, in excellent preservation”. Temple number 5, “…consists of a cell and an antarala, or vestibule. It does not appear to have ever had a mahamandapa in front. The object of worship is a lingam, placed in a great argha, 4 feet 7 inches in diameter. Besides this there are lying, in and out, statues and fragments, among which may be reckoned, Ganeca, a 4-armed female, a 4-armed male holding a sword and a trident in two hands, and some nondescript fragments.”

J.D. Beglar, Report of a tour through the Bengal Provinces…in 1872-73 (A.S.I. vol. VIII, Calcutta, 1878), p. 151-3 The temple was built in the ninth century however the adjacent mandapa is a modern addition.

Standing adjacent to Siddheshvara temple is significantly different from the other 3 extant temples in architectural style. The shikhara or tower, in this case, is much lower. At the top of the four corners of the shikhara are four animal figurines, facing outward. While it is difficult to say exactly what these are because they have significantly decayed, I have a feeling that these are lions. Four lions facing the four corners is something we see on top of the Kailasa temple in Ellora as well, although what purpose they serve, I do not know. The shikhara itself is much more profusely decorated, and although the stone has decayed, it is is still possible to make out that rich carvings are in a whole different class altogether. The carvings appear to depict Puranas scenes though several kirtimukhas are also present. The shikhara is topped by a very large amalaka or disc, which is topped by what appears to be a very plain stone cylinder. Beglar writes that the temple may have had a metal trishula, Lord Shiva’s trident, on top at one point. Above the entrance to the sanctum, there is a sculpture of Lord Shiva, seated in the lotus position with a snake on his right. He is flanked by two other figures, one female, and one male. Decayed sculptures of Shiva with his consort appear between each of the animal figures on the shikhara.

Siddheshvara is also the only temple to have a mandapa, although this seems to have been added later on. This is immediately apparent from the fact that the mandapa contains windows with keystone arches, which are clearly colonial. But Beglar had found one further clue, and that is that the mandapa, in this case, seemed to be covering the mouldings on the front of the temple. Even in 1872, the mandapa was devoid of a roof, and today, a makeshift bamboo structure is used, covered by waterproof material when needed.

Inside the sanctum, there is a simple lingam which is now surrounded by modern cement, probably to direct the flow of water which is poured on the lingam, to the gutter in the floor. Beglar had found several other figurines lying outside the temple, including a Ganesha, a four-armed female and a four-armed male holding a sword and trident. These have been ruined so much that it is impossible to identify them.

After the Muslim conquest of Bengal ancient stone temple of Lord Shiva Siddhesvara original Lord Shiva Lingam has been stolen or destroyed , half portioned of the temple was being destroy. Temple Siddheshvara of Barakar, Burdwan district is surviving for existence due to lack of Government and local people care and ignorance.

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Hindu Deities of Zafar Khan Ghazi Masjid

Article by Nayandeep

One must understand how important it is to know of the atrocities committed on Hindu civilization during the past by invading hordes of barbarians from Arabia. Without this knowledge we might remain ignorant and end up celebrating those who were responsible for the cruelty on our ancestors. The paradox stares at us, as many of our leaders end up sending Chadhars to the graves of Sufi extremists who presided over the mass murder of Hindu population. We fail to notice and learn the history behind the  defaced Gods and Goddesses in our ancestral temples and in those temples converted into mosques.

One such prime example is the Ghazi Zafar Khan Mosque near Calcutta in the town of Tribeni. It was a meeting point of three rivers Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati. For the uninitiated ones the title Ghazi is given to an Islamic warrior who has slaughtered and destroyed the kaffirs. In this case it was an area and people around Tribeni who were slaughtered and the Vishnu temple located there which was converted to a Masjid.

Said to be built in 1298 AD in Tribeni Bengal, Ghazi Zafar Khan Mosque is regarded as the oldest mosque in the eastern India. Circumstances in which the mosque was constructed are aptly demonstrated in its dedicatory inscription, which was translated by H.Balochman a British officer who translated the inscription on Zafar  Khan’s tomb, it  clearly states “Khan the lion of lions has appeared by conquering the towns of India in every expedition and by restoring the decayed religious institutions. And he has destroyed the obdurate among the infidels with his sword and spear and lavished the treasures of his wealth in helping miserable”.

On a close inspection of the mosque one can clearly see the distinct Hindu architecture in the form of various Deities and lord Vishnu’s Dashavatar (ten forms) on the stone slab inside the mosque. The doorways of Zafar Khan’s tomb strongly resemble Hindu Vaishnava architecture. Many of the figures on the walls have their faces disfigured in order to hide the truth that the mosque is actually a Hindu temple.
A British officer D.Money of the Bengal civil services who had met with the Khadims(servents) of Ghazi Zafar Khan’s muesoleum in the year 1847 scanned some of the documents given to him by the Khadims, the documents clearly stated that Zafar Mohamed Khan along with his nephew shah Sufi came from western India to slay the infidels (Hindus) of Bengal and turn them to Islam. It mentions that Zafar Khan fought and converted local ruler Man Nirapati to Islam. It was the second battle with the ruler Budheb that the all conquering Ghazi met his fate by having his head chopped off and his torso buried in Tribeni.

There are many versions and folklore regarding this man Ghazi Khan and his mosque, in some folklore he is presented as a slayer of Hindus. In versions penned by Islamic historians he is however portrayed as a benevolent man who distributed his wealth to the poor.

While the folklore and different versions may contradict themselves but the fact on the ground remains that the once famous temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is now used as a mosque.
The truth is that the ancient Hindu temples which were a rallying point for the local population and centers of great architecture and learning were destroyed and taken over by Muslim invaders to finish off the oldest and the greatest civilization in the world. So we have to ponder over what keeps this civilization still alive in the face of destruction done centuries ago and the present disdain being heaped upon us by democratic governments.

The answer to this lies in the spirit of our illustrious ancestors who fought to defend our temples and our glorious heritage. Never has been invaders successful in conquering our nation and our temples, great wars were fought to reclaim our temples and restart worship of our Gods.

The same spirit now runs in the countless Dharmik warriors who dream of reclaiming our temples. All Hindu temples will no doubt be liberated from the encroachers and the due worship of Hindu Gods will be reinstated.

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Image Credits: double-dolphin.blogspot.in