KAMAL MAULA MASJID
In the west prayer room surrounding
a large courtyard, and the corridors on the three sides, there
still remain pillars of the Hindu style. From these, we can
determine that materials of a Hindu temple were converted into
this building. In fact, looking at the arch-shaped mihrab at the
centre, one may feel that the area between the lines of pillars
in this west main prayer room would be the Hindu temple. Inside
the ceiling and the top of the pillars are the same. It is an
important relic showing that a direct influence of traditional
Hindu workmen and craftsmen of this hilly region of central India
is observed in a mosque, which is the most important building
among Muslim constructions. (Matsuo Ara)
The
antecedent of this architecture was Bhojshara, a school that was
built by Raja Bhoja (reign 1010-1055) of the Paramara Dynasty.
This school worshipped Saraswati, the goddess of the earth. The
well, considered to be relic of that time, still remains near the
mausoleum of Maulana Kaml al-Din. It is called Akkal Kui (well of
knowledge). Also, a few Sanskrit inscriptions have been found. As
an inscription of Islam period, there is one dated in 1392
written with the name of Dilawar Khan Ghori. Mahmud Khilji I worshipped Maulana
Kamal al-Din and he executed a major remodeling to mosque in
1457. A few years ago, the Muslims contended against the Hindus
in this mosque, thus it is not currently used as a mosque. It is
hard to go inside the building. (Naoko Fukami)