List of Masjids in Kerala which was built by destroying Hindu temples
LIST OF MOSQUES IN KERALA WHICH WERE BUILT AFTER DEMOLISHING THE HINDU TEMPLES
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 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
Kollam
1. Jami Masjid. Temple materials used. Palghat
2. Fort built by Tipu Sultan. Temple materials used.
IN KERALA HUNDREDS OF TEMPLES WERE DESTROYED BY MUSLIMS AND MANY CONVERTED TO MOSQUES. MUCH RESEARCH IS YET TO BE DONE IN THIS FIELD AS MARXISTS HISTORIANS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN ELIMINATING RECORDS OF SUCH DESTRUCTION. ABOVE TWO MUSLIM STRUCTURES WERE CONSTRUCTED BY DESTROYING HINDU TEMPLES. WHILE MUSLIMS ASK FOR REBUILDING THE ILLEGAL MOSQUE IN AYODHYA, WHY SHOULD NOT HINDUS DEMAND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE DESTROYED TEMPLES IN INDIA?
Tirunavaya in Kerala is a very sacred place for the Hindus from ancient times. It is known for its ancient Hindu temples. The river Bharathapuzha at Tirunavaya has a special sanctity and relevance, because it flows between the temple of god Vishnu (Nava Mukunda) on its right bank and temples of Brahma and Siva on its left. In this sacred place of Tirunavaya, there used to be a vibrant cultural & spiritual river festival since ancient times called Maghamaka Mahotsavam, that took place every 12 years. It happened on the banks of holy Bharathpuzha. Maghamaka Mohatosava is Kerala’s oldest and most spectacular spiritual gathering whose history goes back by thousands of years. It is believed that various forms of martial art and intellectual contests, cultural festivals, Hindu ritual ceremonies and folk art performances were held at this beautiful festival.
The Maghamaka Mahotsavam is held in the month of Magha (January – February) when the Jupiter is in Aries,Sun & Moon are in Capricorn, or Jupiter is in Taurus and Sun in Capricorn. It is believed that a holy dip in Bharatha river will help to cleanse the inner selves, wash out the evils and open up the path of righteous living. Maghamaka snanams are also believed to have curative effects for the chronic ill-health. It is believed with great devotion that during the Maghamaka period, Brahma, Shiva and Narayana, are all present in the river.
Unfortunately, in our turbulent history, the last Māghamaka festival was held in 1755 CE. It came to an end with the conquest of Kōzhikōde by the Sultān of Mysōre, Ḥaidar ʿAlī (1766 CE) and the subsequent Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) with the English East India Company. But the good news is that, this ancient festival of Maghamaka Mahotsavam which was once organised by the Chola and Chera, & other Kingdoms, now stands revived after a gap of 253 years from 2019 onwards by the initiative of Ugra Narasimha Charitable Trust along with Oral History Research Foundation. The festival will now be a yearly event and shall cause a revival of Dharma.
This festival aims to revive the region’s rich cultural heritage and promote the ‘trimurty sangama’ villages Thirunavaya and Thavanur into a nationally known pilgrimage site.
Revival of Maghamaka Mahotsavam in 2019
The Ugra Narasimha Charitable Trust in association with Oral History Research Foundation revived this beautiful ancient festival and held it from 21st to 23rd January, 2019 in the Navamukunda temple in Malappuram, Kerala, on the banks of Bharathapuzha at the place called Trimurti Sangama. The main attractions of the year’s program were Sanyasi Sangamam, Nila Aarthi, Nila Pooja, Nila Snanam, National History Seminar, Union of Royal Families & Royals, Samuha Agnihotrayajnam, Mahamangalya Homam, Hindu Religious & Cultural Conference, honouring the memory and distinguished career of Achyutha Pisharodi (the famous Sanskrit grammarian, astrologer, astronomer and mathematician).
Swami Chidanandapuri ji of Advaitashram also released the book ‘Destroyed Temples of Kerala Vol 1 (Malayalam)’ on 23 Jan 2019 during the festival. The book reveals the history of 25 destroyed Hindu temples of Kerala.
The festival was inaugurated by the representatives of various royal families of Kerala on 21st of January, 2019. In total,126 Sanyasis and 2 Mathathipathis attended the rituals apart from other dignitaries. Various highlights of this beautiful cultural gathering in pictures are mentioned below –
Agnihotra Homam by 108 WomenSadhus from all over India being welcomed at the Mahotsavam
Inauguration of the seminars on Day 2 by Shri KK Muhammad , former Regional Director of Archaeological Survey of India and main speech by Shri Anil Vallothol, Vice Chancellor of Malayalam University
Rituals being performed on the banks of BharathapuzhaSpeech by Acharya MR Rajesh of Kashyapashram on the importance of Vedas and UpasanaSwamy Chidanandapuri of Advaitashram releasing the book Destroyed Temples of Kerala
This year too, this ancient river festival of Kerala was successfully conducted in the ancient villages of Thavanur and Tirunavaya in Malappuram Kerala. The festival were conducted on three days from 10th to 12th Jan, 2020.
The MahaRudra Yajna and DwiShata Chandi Yajna was conducted with Shri Ramesh Natarajan ji and his wife Smt Gayatri Nayatarajan ji of GRD Iyer Gurukul as Acharyas. More than 100 ritwiks from across the world and Bharat joined the yajnas.
Yajnashala
On 13 Jan 2020, the Sanyasis and Sadhus conducted Nila aarti and Nila Puja (worship of Bharatapuzha). Since the waters during this auspicious time are considered as having presence of all the rivers, many Sadhus also took a ceremonial dip in the river. The Sanyasis who assembled during the event were addressed by Swami Chidananda Puri ji of Advaitashram.
The festival which was stopped in 1766 AD due to invasion of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan thus stands revived. It is hoped that it shall get bigger with time and regain its ancient status. It is believed by the dharmikas that wherever Devas and nature are honored, it brings spiritual progress and material prosperity to that region and all those who have contributed , supported and have become part of the worship. Honoring the ancient traditions will eventually cause the revival of Dharma in the region.
Traditions are a critical foundation of our culture, a culture that is based on truth, duty, love and respect for all. They help form the structure and basis of our families and our society. It is the traditions, their meanings and values, which shape who we are today and who we are likely to become tomorrow. Once we ignore the meaning of our traditions, we get into the danger of damaging our identity. So, it is beautiful and significant to preserve our unique traditions which are based on honoring the entire nature.
Strange times we live in. We see Tipu Sultan immortalized and festivals arranged by the elected governments in his name. Many historians however claim that Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan was a communal fanatic who conducted a jihad in Karnataka and Kerala by destroying several temples, forceful conversion of Hindus and butchered those who refused to convert to Islam.
The letters from Tipu to his Generals illustrate religious fanaticism of the Sultan. Renowned historian and statesman Sardar K M Panicker had translated these letters and were published in Bhashaposhini 1099 Chingam vol. I
Letter – 6 : Sent to Ziyad Abdullah on 1790 January 18th:
“With the help of Muhammad and blessings of God, we have inducted nearly all non-believers into Islam. Few people are left unconverted at the border of the Kochi Kingdom. I have decided to convert them also as Mohammedans soon. I consider this as a religious War.”
There is an argument that Tipu Sultan was a secular who funded the renovation of some temples. Showing the temple in the fort, they ask, had Tipu been an iconoclast wouldn’t he be demolishing the temple in his headquarters first? Tipu kept Brahmins as advisers. They ask why he did not convert these Brahmins if he was an Anti-Hindu?
What is the truth in this? Tipu blindly believed in astrology. The palace Astrologists were Brahmins. Since the temple in Srirangapatnam Fort belonged to them, Tipu did not demolish at the temple. Astrologers attributed the continuous defeats met by Tipu to the demolition of temples and suggested the renovation of temples as the only remedial measure. His donations to the temples were a result of this advice.
There is also a reason for him not changing the religion of the palace astrologists. The astrologists of Srirangapatnam fort were traditional brahmins. Tipu’s father Hyderali was a faujdar in Dindigul when he treacherously captured the throne of Mysore. In June 1759 Hyder could install his aide Kunde Rao by replacing Nanje Rao, the only remaining minister of the puppet King of Mysore. In 1761 June, Hyder captured power by ousting Kunde Rao. So technically he was not the King. Since the customs and ways of the palace have been formally recognised to keep the power intact, the palace Astrologers were spared from being subjected to religious conversion.
Mohemmadan army under Hyder first entered Malabar to collect the 12 lakhs rupees they had to obtain as per the war treaty signed with the Samoothiri of Calicut. In those days, Kannur was known as the land of Moplahs. The Moplah soldiers of Ali Raja, of Kannur, had already joined the Mysore Army. Like Tipu, Hyder’s raids also were also driven by the religious hatred to annihilate Hindus. Hyder Ali and the Moplah’s killed numerous Hindus. He organised his jihad in Malabar by plundering and torching the temples. His son Tipu continued this Jihad of his father and the atrocities and destruction rivaled that of Hyder Ali.
Tipu was in Ponnani, while Hyder Ali died on December 7th, 1782. Being a hardcore Islamist, he decided to convert Kerala into an Islamic country and annex it to Mysore. Brutally, he started over his jihad from where Hyder Ali stopped.
The story of Tipu Sultan is one of genocide, destruction of Hindu temples and pure evil . Recounting just one incident is enough to reflect his cruelty and barbarism. Around 2000 Hindus had sought refuge in the Kuttipuram fort of the Kadathanattu Raja inorder to save themselves from the Muslim invaders. Tipu Sultan threatened them to be killed unless they converted to Islam. Many converted out of fear and they were forcefully fed cow meat.
More than 3000 Hindu temples were destroyed during the invasion of Tipu Sultan and subsequent Moplah riots. Hundreds of such ruins exists even today, where the Vigrahas can be seen with their hands, legs and head cutoff. These temples are mute witnesses to the genocide and terror that Hindu society had to suffer from religious extremists and marauders. In 2018 was started the efforts to document such ruins and revive such temples. Any support towards the efforts can be made via https://reclaimtemples.com//fundraisers/
Courtesy: Destroyed temples of Kerala Volume 1, Introduction. Author: Tirur Dinesh
Cheriyamundam is a village in Malappuram district of Kerala where the Hindus are only 11.83% of the population as per the 2011 Census of Bharat. The economically backward situation of Hindus is compounded by pervasive and aggressive display of Islamic extremism in the locality by organisations and individuals who follow the doctrine propagated by ISIS. The result being that the Hindu community is forced to restrict their religious rights and freedom of worship.
Cheriyamundam Vaniyanur Siva temple was destroyed by Muslim rioters in 1921 Moplah riots. The land belonging to the temple was taken over and the whole temple was demolished in due course by Jihadis.
However no amount of desecration could affect the divinity of the Presiding Deity of the temple. The Jihadis of the locality were terrified when calamities started happening in their lifes, on their families and loved ones. An instance very vivid in the minds of the locals is when Jihadis slaughtered a cow in Vaniyanur temple site and served the beef during the marriage . The bride turned mad the next day and started crawling on ground like snakes. Terrified Jihadis it is said did a small Puja as a penance, and has abandoned the site and took care not to defile it again.
As part of the #ReclaimTemples project, the temple is now being reconstructed. The project is embraced by the people of the locality who have come together to resurrect their temple and restart worship of Lord Siva. A new vigour and confidence has descended on HinduSamaj of the region, as the very thought of reviving a destroyed Hindu temple after close to one century inspires them.
The revival was started on first week of January 2018. Swamy Bharati Maharaj, Managing Trustee of Bharat KshethraBhumi SamrakshanaVedhi lighted a lamp and marked restart of the Pujas at the Siva temple on 11 Jan 2018.
However the temple was ransacked again on 11 Jan night and the lamps, Pooja items were dumped in nearby well. The temple was also desecrated. However contrary to what the attackers must have imagined, the Hindu community of the region showed remarkable courage and thousands visited the site next day 12 Jan and took pledge to rebuild temple at any cost.
A committee was formed to oversee construction of temple and also a MathruSamithi was formed to oversee administration of temple. DevaPrashnam a ritual marking the rebuilding the temple was conducted on 5 Feb 2018. The Temple architect and Chief Priest visited temple and have designed plans for reconstruction of temple.
First a temporary office cum store room was constructed in the temple site. This enables the safe keep of Pooja items as well as construction tools.
As advised by the Thanthri and the temple architect the first step was cleaning the well of the temple. It was also foretold that the temple idols were broken down and dumped into the well long ago.
Parts of temple which was destroyed and dumped into well
Piles of stones near the well are recovered from inside the well. Reveals the mindset of those who destroyed the temple
The excavation of the well was a hard task as the person had to make sure that they dont damage any idols which was to be recovered from the well. Also huge stones and temple pillars were being found in the well. Some of them weighing few tones were difficult to be taken out using manual labour. And at many such instances the excavation process slowed as devotees found difficult to remove the stones from well. Ultimately crane had to be brought to take out the huge stones.
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And as the temple architect had predicted, an idol of Goddess was recovered from the well. The idol from its characters belonged to the Chola era and the character was that of a benevolent Goddess. The recovery of the Goddess idol caused a rethink over the temple architecture as now, the architect has to design a sanctum for the Goddess aswell in addition to Lord Shiva.
Broken idol of Goddess which was recovered from temple well
It was also decided to complete excavation till bedrock of the well, in hope that more such idols will be discovered. The excavation of the well is almost complete and next stage is the construction of the temporary abodes for Lord Shiva and the Goddess.
The updates on revival of Cheriyamundam Vaniyanur Siva temple can be tracked via
Cheriyamundam Siva temple in Malappuram Kerala was destroyed during 1921 Mappilah riots, it remained in neglect for decades.
Jihadis once slaughtered cow in temple site and dumped the beef waste during a wedding. The bride turned mad in few days as if cursed.#ReclaimTemplespic.twitter.com/ALrzj642Rj
The reconstruction of the temple is made possible only due to support given by Hindus from across the world.
You can join the reconstruction of the temple by supporting the fundraiser via ket.to/kl001
Ultimate objective of the #ReclaimTemples project is to ensure the survival of HinduDharma and rebuild 300 Hindu temples in Malappuram by year 2021. These temples were destroyed during Tipu invasion and various Moplah riots ever since.
We have to act before its too late. The Hindus in Malappuram are courageous and will fight till their last breath. What they lack in is only resources to fight an enemy equipped with slush funds from Middle East and other Jihadi havens.
Lets join hands to protect HinduDharma and strengthen it, thereby prevent Kerala from becoming another Kashmir.
