Jama Masjid, Burhanpur
Mosque in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jama Masjid is a Sunni Friday mosque, located in Burhanpur, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.[1] The mosque is a Monument of National Importance.[2][better source needed]
| Jama Masjid | |
|---|---|
19th-century photograph of the mosque, by Henry Cousens | |
Location of the mosque in Madhya Pradesh | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Friday mosque | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 21°18′59″N 76°13′56″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Indo-Islamic |
| Founder | Adil Shah IV of the Faruqi dynasty |
| Groundbreaking | 1588 |
| Completed | 1590 |
| Specifications | |
| Minaret | Two |
| Materials | Black stone |
Official name | Jama Masjid, Burhanpur |
History
According to the Sanskrit and Arabic inscriptions within the mosque, the mosque can be dated from the 16th century. It was commissioned by Adil Shah IV, a son of Mubarakh Shah of the Faruqi dynasty. The mosque was built as the royal congregational mosque of Burhanpur, located within the centre of the city.[3] Construction of the mosque began in 1588 CE. Repairs to the mosque were made by the Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb during their reigns.[1][a]
Architecture

The mosque has an open courtyard, with the prayer hall towards the west. The prayer hall is flat-roofed, and has fifteen arched openings on the façade. The main attraction of the mosque are its symmetrical pillars made of special black stone, which was brought from a very far place.[where?] The stones were so bulky and heavy that its transportation was costed the king in rate of gold.[clarification needed] The pillars were designed in such a fashion that four pillars combined and, when locked at the centre of the meeting point at top, they covered the complete top area and form roof by themselves.[clarification needed] The pillars do not obstruct the visibility of the imam standing at the Qibla from the extreme outer façade. A parapet, composed of battlements, runs along the roof. The façade is flanked by two five-storied minarets.[3]
Interior
The prayer hall is five bays deep. The mosque has fifteen mihrabs.[3] Over the central mihrab is an Arabic inscription. Over the southern mihrab is a bilingual inscription, with Arabic text on top and Sanskrit text at the bottom. The inscription mentions the inauguration date as 10th of “pausha” [day], “samvat” [month], 1646 “saka” [year], hence, on 5 January 1590 CE.[4][5][6] In 1601 an additional inscription was added, in Persian.[5]
Gallery
- Main entrance
- Decorative entrance façade
- Four arc shape pillars with midpoint lock at roof top centre
- Photo of translated inscription, engraved on the mosque wall
- Pillar alignment from Qibla to extreme outer entrance façade
- Engraved writing detailing the mosque history
- Big Tasbeeh of old Moghul era in the mosque
- Minaret and front courtyard
- Qibla sculpture in detail