Historical Hazrat Manik Ibn Dinar Juma Mosque at Barkur

There are hardly any better places in coastal Karnataka at one stretch, where one can visit innumerable temples and shrines within a range of walking distance, offer prayers in an artistic historical church, and visit a mosque known to have its origin to the early Mohammedan era, elsewhere than at our Barkur.

In other words, Barkur is an age old home to all faiths and mostly first in the undivided Districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi to have historical houses of worship of all major faiths of the world – whether it is Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity or Islam. Even to this day, in spite of the tremendous diversity in culture, faith and practices, Barkur still has that underlying harmony which binds all Barkurians together. Of course my knowledge and experience is quite elementary to focus on the religious holiness of even few of such divine structures but sincerely feel, Manik Dinar Mosque near Chinnapalli ferry, rather just close to the famous Friday market rightly deserves more attention than what it gets at present.

Census may have different statistics but in my observation, Muslim population in today’s Barkur may not have crossed a couple of hundreds, but the community must be feeling proud and elated to offer their daily and Friday grand prayers in one of the ancient Mosques in India, founded by a holy man from Arabia Saint Hazrat Manik Deenar of Travancore Kerala, who personally visited Barkur in 646 A.D.  It was after Barkur, the Saint moved to south Mangalore and then to Kasargod to find suitable, but small places to offer prayers.

I feel it appropriate to bring to the notice of our readers that, the second oldest Mosque of the world, Cheraman Perimal Juma Masjid, is in India – in Kodungallur, (refer Bahrain Tribune published on 09/08/2006) believed to be built in 629 AD, by Malik Bin Deenar and his companion Malik Bin Habib, constructed during the life time of Prophet Mohammed – (570 – 634 AD). The first Juma mosque in the world is the Prophet’s mosque in Medina, in Saudi Arabia which is also his memorial tomb. Interestingly, unlike other mosques, in Kerala, which face westward to Mecca, this is the only mosque that faces eastward.

Yes, Islam was introduced first in India by Arab traders in the 7^th Century who had business interests and trade links to Kerala in particular and Western coast in general.  As described in the historical records in Barkuronline.com, Barkur was one of the natural major harbors of the Western coast and developing to be a business centre by that time, to cater the needs of visiting traders from Malabar and South and South East Asia, Africa and residing merchants, a masjid was a necessity.

What is interesting to note here is, over a period of time, it has had miraculous healing powers, hence devotees used to visit in large numbers. Its location, I mean proximity to water transport on the banks of tributary of river Sita, substantiate a fact that, old Barkur and its commercial activities centralized around this place, being an all season port. Later other side of the river too, presently known as Kukkuday, Harady, Honnala, Kemmannu etc. were preferred by the community to satiate their special interest in marine business and to an extent commercial crops like Coconut plantations. We were also heard some hearsay stories of miracles taking place as an ancient hand written holy Quran well preserved for centuries can be seen over here. There are also references to this Mosque as the Sultans of Bijapur Bahmani kings and later Mysore Kings Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan sanctioned grants and contribution for its maintenance.

Today, in Barkur, one can find most Muslim settlements near Kattale Basadi area, old ferry and at and around the two mosques. Earlier, they were popular merchants in timber and coconut and related products, ferry contractors, manufacturers and dealers in fire crackers and transporters. By the passage of time, many grown to be civil contractors, earned name in service fields and many migrated to larger cities and Gulf. Among others, people remember with reverence the contribution of legendary Budan Basha Sahib and ex Rotarian Kasim Saheb for their generosity and social concern.

It was in the years 1991–92, local Muslim community leaders, with the help of generous devotees, took initiative to renovate the mosque. Usman Sahib, Ismail Sahib, and B. Amir Basha is taking active interest to maintain this holy shrine and preserve it as a distinguished feature and an important relic of historical Barkur.

On behalf of Barkuronline.com Team & ICYM Barkur Ex-Member’s Association,

P. Archibald Furtado, 19^th August, 2009. 

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