ABOUT

Muhyuddin Andavar Mosque (Tamil: முஹ்யுத்தீன் ஆண்டவர் பள்ளிவாசல் - Muḥyuddīn Āndavar Pallivāsal, Arabic: مسجد سيد محي الدين - Masjid Sayyid Muhyu-d Din, English: Saint Muhyuddin Mosque) is the only congregational mosque in the town of Thiruppanandal in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is administered according to the Sunni-Hanafi school of jurisprudence. It is part of a complex that houses a mausoleum, a cemetery, and a number of shops that are rented out to generate income for the running of the mosque. Mosque Architecture The mosque follows the architecture of South Indian mosques that were built or re-built in the 20th century with some notable exceptions. Externally, the mosque is fronted by two minarets. Curiously there is no dome. To the right is the traditional pool used for Wudu and a side entrance to the graveyard. Internally, the mosque is two storeys high. The ground floor houses the inner prayer hall where the Congregational prayers are performed. It is surrounded by a cloister and an outer prayer hall where town meetings, religious discourses, wedding ceremonies, and dhikr gatherings are held. Another unique aspect of the mosque is the absence of a physical Minbar or pulpit. Instead, there is a hidden passageway from the Mihrab or prayer niche that leads to a balcony that extends out. The Khatib or prayer leader delivers the Khutba or sermon from here.