Parts of a Mosque PDF

# Parts of a Mosque * Minaret, tower attached to the mosque; where the muezzin calls the Muslim people to prayer. * Iwan, also ivan or liwan, large vaulted portal opening onto the central courtyard of a mosque. * Mimbar, also minbar, pulpit from which the imam delivers his sermons. * Qibla, also qi...

# Parts of a Mosque * Minaret, tower attached to the mosque; where the muezzin calls the Muslim people to prayer. * Iwan, also ivan or liwan, large vaulted portal opening onto the central courtyard of a mosque. * Mimbar, also minbar, pulpit from which the imam delivers his sermons. * Qibla, also qiblah, wall in a mosque in which the mihrab (niche or decorative panel) is set, oriented to Mecca. # Madrasa A teaching mosque. # Idgah "Place of (community) prayer"; A great open praying area with nothing but a qibla wall and a mihrab. # Jami The congregational or Friday mosque; used for the main weekly service; usually larger than a masjid and provided with a minbar. # Masjid General term for a mosque; also a mosque used for daily prayer by individuals or small groups; has a mihrab (niche) but no minbar (pulpit). # Mosque * Also masjid or musjid. * Muslim building or place of public worship. * Jami masjid, Friday mosque; a congregational mosque for public prayer on Fridays. * Ulu Jami, a Friday mosque having a sahn (central courtyard of a mosque) for large congregations. * Madrasa, teaching mosque. # Muqarnas Muqarnas in the entrance gate to the Shah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. # Features * Squinches, supports under the dome. * Muqarnas, "stalactite" decoration of icicle-like elements hanging from the ceiling. * Glazed tiles on interior and exterior surfaces. The image is a diagram with two sections, both featuring domed structures, supported in different ways. The section on the left is titled *Pendentives*; the section on the right is titled *Squinches*. <start_of_image> Diagrams show that pendentives are triangular supports under the dome that sit on four arches that create a square base for the dome. Diagrams show that squinches are small arched niches that sit above each arch on the square base for the dome. # Islamic Architecture * Also Muslim, Muhammadan or Saracenic architecture. * Mosque as a distinct building type. * Domes, tunnel vaults, round and horseshoe arches, and rich surface decorations (calligraphy and floral motifs in a geometric framework). The image is a diagram of a horseshoe arch. # Gopuram Grand entrance towers typical of South Indian temples, adorned with elaborate sculptures and bright colors. Function: Mark the temple's boundaries and invite worshippers into sacred space. The image shows a gopuram, a tall, elaborately decorated tower, on the top of which is a small figure. # Sikhara and Vimana The towering spire above a Hindu temple sanctum symbolizes Mount Meru and acts as a visual axis connecting heaven and earth. The image shows two diagrams of Sikhara and Vimana. # Parts of a Hindu * **Lingnam**, a phallus, the symbol of the god Shiva in Hindu architecture. * **Garbha griha**, womb chamber; the dark innermost sanctuary where the statue of the deity is placed. * **Amalaka**, bulbous stone finial of a shikhara. * **Sikhara**, tower usually tapered convexly and capped by an amalaka * **Gopuram**, monumentally, usually ornate gateway tower. * **Mandapa**, large, porch-like hall and used for religious dancing and music. The image shows a diagram of a Hindu temple with labeled features. # Hinduism Structures # Core Principles of Hinduism - relating Architecture Hindu architecture is intrinsically tied to religious and philosophical doctrines, such as the Vastu Shastra (traditional Indian system of architecture) and symbolism rooted in Hindu cosmology. Key principles include: 1. Divine Geometry: Temples are often designed based on precise mathematical and geometrical principles, aligning with cosmic order. 2. Sacred Symbolism: Structures represent divine forms, such as Mount Meru (the cosmic mountain), and include motifs like the lotus and kalasha (sacred pot). 3. Ritual Functionality: Designs accommodate rituals, processions, and offerings, ensuring the integration of spiritual and practical purposes. 4. Connection with Nature: Temples and sacred sites harmonize with their natural surroundings to reflect the unity between the divine and the natural world. # Hindu Temples * Symbol of the purusa or primordial man. * Mandala - generic name for any plan or chart which symbolically represents the cosmos (magic diagram of the cosmos). The image shows three mandalas: - The first mandala is comprised of a square with a circle inside with a four-point star inside that circle, all with yellow, orange and red tones - The second mandala is comprised of a square with a circle inside with a four-point star inside that circle and then another square with a circle inside that smaller square, all with yellow, orange and red tones - The third mandala is comprised of a square with a circle inside that has a four-point star inside, all with red, orange and yellow tones # The Trimurti of Hinduism * **Vishnu**: The Preserver * **Brahma**: The Creator * **Shiva**: The Destroyer The image shows depictions of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva # Hinduism Belief in a Supreme Being and adherence to certain concepts such as Truth, dharma, karma, reincarnation, and belief in the authority of the Vedas (sacred scriptures). Trimurti: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver or protector), and Shiva (the destroyer) # Chaitya Hall, Karli, 100 AD The image shows a plan and elevation of the Chaitya Hall at Karli. # Pagoda Pagodas evolved from stupas, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. Their multi-tiered structures symbolize the path to enlightenment. Features: Vertical emphasis, intricate carvings, and adaptation to local aesthetics. The image is of a pagoda, a multi-tiered tower with a curved roof that features an elaborate design. # Dagoba The image shows another plan and elevation of the Chaitya Hall at Karli. # Mandira Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. * A Hindu temple. * **Rath**, a monolithic, freestanding Hindu temple cut out of solid rock. * **Vimana**, sanctuary of a Hindu temple in which a deity is enshrined. * Shaivite temples (for Shiva) face east. * Vaishnavite (for Vishnu) temples face west. The image shows a gopuram (gateway tower) of a Hindu temple and the temple itself featuring a Shiva statue. # Other Buddhist Structures * **Vihara**, monastery often excavated from solid rock. monastic complexes designed to house monks and provide communal spaces for study and meditation * **Chaitya**, shrine carved out of solid rock on a hillside; form of an aisled basilica with a stupa at one end. * **Wat**, Buddhist monastery or temple in Thailand or Cambodia. * **Gompa**, Tibetan Buddhist monastery or nunnery. The image shows a plan of a Chaitya shrine including a stupa at one end. # Stambha Also lats; a freestanding memorial pillar bearing carved inscriptions, religious emblems, or a statue The image is a drawing of a Stambha featuring an embellished pillar adorned with decorative carvings. # Parts of a Buddhist Stupa * **Torana**, elaborately carved, ceremonial gateway in Indian Buddhist and Hindu architecture with two or three lintels between two posts. * **Vedika**, railing enclosing the stupa. * **Chattri**, umbrella-shaped finial symbolizing dignity, composed of a stone disc on a vertical pole. * **Medhi**, a shallow berm ringing the base of the hemispherical mound. The image is a plan and elevation of a Buddhist stupa featuring a square base with a dome on top of it. # Stupa Dhamek Stupa. * A Buddhist memorial mound to enshrine a relic of Buddha. * Ceylon, dagoba; Tibet and Nepal, chorten. * Dome-shaped mound on a platform, crowned by a chattri, surrounded by an ambulatory (stone vedika), with four toranas. The image shows a Stupa which is a large, dome-shaped monument with a square base. # Mandala The image shows eight different mandalas from various sources. # Core principles of Buddhist architecture Buddhist architecture reflects core Buddhist teachings and concepts such as the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, impermanence, and meditation. These principles translate into designs that: 1. Encourage Spiritual Practice: Spaces are designed for meditation, rituals, and community gatherings. 2. Symbolize Cosmology: Many structures embody the Buddhist understanding of the cosmos, often represented by Mount Meru and the concept of a mandala (Cosmology is the scientific study of the origin, evolution, structure, and eventual fate of the universe. Mount Meru is the center of the universe and home to deities, often depicted in Buddhist cosmology as part of a detailed map of the cosmos. Mandala symbolizes the cosmos and the interconnectedness of all beings and phenomena) 3. Foster Serenity: Materials, design elements, and spatial arrangements aim to evoke tranquility and detachment from worldly concerns. 4. Incorporate Nature: Harmony with the natural environment is integral, reinforcing the interconnectedness of all life. # Buddhism Believing that if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering. # Hamams Hamams, or traditional Islamic bathhouses, are an integral part of Islamic architecture due to their cultural, social, and religious significance. Their presence in Islamic architecture is tied to practical needs, spiritual practices, and community values. In Islam, physical cleanliness is a core aspect of worship and daily life. Ritual cleansing, such as ghusl (full-body purification) and wudu (ablution), is required before prayer The image shows the interior of a traditional Islamic Bathhouse <start_of_image> The image shows a wall of a building with several arches over a garden. <start_of_image> Cities along the Silk Road used these building to house travelers. # Diwan-i-Kas * Diwan-i-Kas, Hall of Private Audience, divided by overhanging mouldings called chajja. * Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Public Audience. # The Great Mosque Jama Masjid (The Great Mosque), one of the biggest in India; at the centre of the court is the tomb of Shaikh Salim, a Sufi saint. The image is of the Jama Masjid, a large mosque, with many people praying inside of it. The image shows the exterior of a large fort-like building # Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri (City of Victory), the capital of the Mughal Empire; built by Emperor Akbar. # Taj Mahal Taj Mahal, Agra, India. (Most renowned example of Mughal architecture.) The image shows an aerial view of the Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum in India. # Humayun's tomb Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi, India. (Forerunner of Taj Mahal, oldest of the Mughal monuments.) The image is of Humayun's Tomb, a red stone mausoleum in India, with a long, straight path leading up to it. # Burial tombs for Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal * "Crown Palace" * Built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. * Placed on a chahar bagh, a platform at the end of a walled garden divided by canals. * The marble facade is decorated with floral motifs and a type of inlay called pietra dura (using cut, fitted, and polished colored stones to create images). * The image shows a close-up of a grand arch # Mughal Architecture Or Indo-Islamic; blended traditions from India and Islam. (Mughal Period, golden age of Islamic architecture in northern India.) # Muqarnas Muqarnas (مقّرنس in Arabic), sometimes referred to as "honeycomb work" or "stalactite vaulting," is a distinctive and highly intricate form of architectural decoration used in Islamic architecture. It appears as a three-dimensional ornamentation that looks like cascading niches or intricate cellular patterns. * The Image shows a close-up of Muqarnas inside a building with intricate patterns. # Palace Fortress of Alhambra, Granada, Spain. # Moorish Architecture * Islamic architecture of North Africa (regions of Spain under Moorish domination). * Building of large mosques and elaborate fortress-palaces. * Structural systems and decorations adapted from classical antiquity and combined with Islamic architecture. # Ka'ba * Also Ka'aba or Ka'abah. * "House of God" * Small cubical stone building in the courtyard of the Great Mosque at Mecca. * Contains a sacred black stone. * Objective of their pilgrimage. * The point toward which they turn in praying. <start_of_image>architecture and buildings. <start_of_image> Cities along the Silk Road used these buildings to house travelers, especially those on trade routes such as the Silk Road, could rest and recover during their journeys. # Al-Haram Mosque The Al-Haram Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the most sacred site in Islam. It surrounds the Kaaba, the qibla (direction) that Muslims face during their prayers. It is the largest mosque in the world and holds deep religious significance The image shows an aerial view of the Al-Haram Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. # Dome of the Rock Jerusalem. * Influenced by Byzantine architecture. * Used as a shrine for pilgrims; at its center is the sacred rock from which Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven. * Octagonal in plan. The image shows the interior of the Dome of the Rock, a mosque in Jerusalem. # Parts of a Mosque 1. Minaret 2. Dome 3. Keel Arches 4. Stair Step Crenellation 5. Sahn (ablution) 6.Muqarnas 7. Mashrabiya 8. Dikka The image is a 3D drawing of a mosque featuring labeled features. <start_of_image> え # Mihrab * A mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, that is, the direction of Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a mihrab appears is thus the "qibla wall." * Today, Mihrabs vary in size, are usually ornately decorated and often designed to give the impression of an arched doorway or a passage to Mecca. * Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad are written in kufic script on the borders of the pointed arch of the niche. The image shows a close-up of a Mihrab featuring a niche with intricate designs. # Parts of a mosque * **Sahn**, atrium * **Fawwara**, or meda, fountain for washing before prayers. * **Liwanat**, colonnade * **Dikka**, reading desk * **Maqsura**, screen, protective barrier of the mimbar. The image is an isometric drawing of a mosque featuring labeled features. # Qibla Also qiblah, wall in a mosque in which the mihrab (niche or decorative panel) is set, oriented to Mecca. The image is a close-up of a Mosque Qibla with a ornate arch. # Minbar Also mimbar, pulpit from which the imam delivers his sermons. The image shows a decorated raised platform featuring a stairwell on the side. # Iwan Also ivan or liwan, large vaulted portal opening onto the central courtyard of a mosque. The image shows a gate building for a mosque with elaborate decorations and an arched portal. # Minaret Tower attached to the mosque; where the muezzin calls the Muslim people to prayer. The photo shows an ornate minaret, a tall, narrow tower, attached to a mosque.