5/5 Midhun O. 6 years ago on Google
The
small
country
town
of
Kodungallur
is
situated
35
kilometres
south
of
Thrissur.
Kodungallur
situated
on
the
west
coast,
was
once
a
great
port
during
the
time
of
the
Chera
rulers
of
Tamil
Nadu.
It
was
known
to
the
Greeks
as
Muziris
and
is
a
place
immersed
in
rich
history.
Kodungallur
or
Kodungalloor,
surrounded
by
backwaters
and
the
sea
was
also
known
as
Cranganore
and
has
an
illustrious
past,
to
tell.
The
ancient
port
here
at
Kodungallur
was
a
busy
port
in
the
first
century
BC
and
was
the
gateway
for
various
religious
faiths
like
Christianity,
Judaism,
Islam
and
others.
Cargo
vessels
from
West
Asia,
Mediterranean
and
East
Africa
used
to
drop
anchor
at
the
Port
of
Muziris.
St.Thomas,
the
apostle
of
Jesus
Christ
is
believed
to
have
set
foot
in
Kerala
through
the
Muziris
port
and
so
did
the
Islamic
missionaries.
It
is
here
that
India’s
first
church,
St.
Thomas
Church
and
the
first
mosque,
Cheraman
Juma
Masjid,
are
located.
Since
the
15th
century,
the
region
began
to
come
under
the
influence
of
foreign
powers,
starting
with
the
Portuguese,
followed
by
the
Dutch
and
the
British.
Today,
Kodungallur
and
the
surrounding
regions
have
various
representations
from
a
past
that
eventually
had
a
say
in
the
socio-cultural
and
religious
aspects
of
the
region.
You
could
visit
some
of
the
locations
in
Kodungallur
that
still
bear
symbols
of
a
historic
Kodungallur.
Cheraman
Juma
Masjid: This
mosque
located
in
Kodungallur
follows
the
architectural
style
of
Hindu
temples.
Built
in
629
AD
by
Malik
Bin
Deenar,
it
is
considered
as
the
oldest
mosque
in
India
and
the
second
oldest
mosque
in
the
world
to
offer
Jumah
prayers.
The
mosque,
originally
constructed
of
wood,
later
underwent
changes
that
brought
concrete
minarets,
though
the
interiors
remained
wooden.
Inside
the
mosque,
there
is
a
Kerala
oil
lamp
right
at
the
centre,
always
kept
burning.
This
lamp
is
of
great
significance
to
people
of
all
religions
and
people
bring
oil
for
the
lamp
on
auspicious
family
occasions.
Kodungallur Bhagavati
Temple: The
Goddess
Bhagawati
temple
at
Kodungallur
is
very
popular
throughout
Kerala.
The
temple
is
believed
to
have
been
constructed
during
the
reign
of
Chera
King
–
Cheran
Senkuttuvan.
Famous
festival
occasions
here
are
the
Bharani
and
Thalappoli
festivals.
The
Bharani
festival
at
the
Kodungallur
Bhagawati
temple
is
one
of
the
grandest
in
Kerala.
The
month-long
festivities
here
commence
from
the
Bharani
asterism
in
the
month
of
Aquarius
to
7
days
after
the
Bharani
asterism
in
the
month
of
Pisces.
During
this
occasion,
one
can
also
witness
the
largest
congregation
of
oracles,
not
seen
anywhere
else
in
Kerala.
The
social
historian
of
Kerala,
William
Logan
observed
in
1887
that
after
Onam,
the
national
festival
of
Kerala,
Kodungallur
Bharani
was
the
most
important
celebration
in
the
state.
The
Bharani
festival
also
witnesses
the
offering
of
worship
to
the
deity
in
the
innermost
sanctum
by
those
belonging
to
castes
other
than
the
priestly
class.
During
the
festival,
the Chandanapodi
Chartal or
the
application
of
sandal
paste
on
the
deity
is
also
an
important
ceremony.
St.Thomas Church: St.Thomas,
the
apostle
of
Jesus
Christ
is
believed
to
have
landed
in
Kodungallur
in
52
AD.
The
St.Thomas
Church
established
by
him
here
houses
ancient
relics.
Many
a
church
in
West
Asia
considers
him
as
the
father
of
its
faith.
At
Kodungallur,
he
established
the
first
Christian
church
in
India
and
is
the
architect
behind
other
Churches
in
Kerala:
Kottakkavu,
Palayur,
Kollam,
Kokkamangalam,
Niranam
and
Nilackal.
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