SIDI SAIYYED IN AHMEDABAD - THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOSQUE OF THE CITY!
Sidi Saiyyed (Saiyed) Mosque is arguably one of most well known mosques ofAhmedabad, and it's famous ‘Tree of Life Jali’ or latticework done on the semicircular arch-windows has come to symbolise the city and its grandeur.
I have been to the mosque several times in the past during my NID days, and loved it every time. Its a relatively small mosque in a rather busy part of Ahmedabad, yet the peace you can feel here is unparalleled.
No longer in Ahmedabad, sharing below an account of my recent visit there.
I have been to the mosque several times in the past during my NID days, and loved it every time. Its a relatively small mosque in a rather busy part of Ahmedabad, yet the peace you can feel here is unparalleled.
No longer in Ahmedabad, sharing below an account of my recent visit there.
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| Tree of Life - the inspiration for IIM Ahmedabad's logo |
History of the Mosque
The Sidi Saiyed Mosque was commissioned by the last Gujarat Sultanate and was completed in the last year of it’s rule, before the Mughals from Delhi defeated them and took over the city. Gujarat Sultanate can be credited for much of the most amazing Islamic architecture not only in Ahmedabad but also much of Gujarat. The mosques built in their era rival some of the best in the country, and possibly in the world as well.
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| Panoramic view of the mosque |
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| A view of the corridor |
It was built in the year 1572-73 by an Abyssinian known as Sidi Saeed or Sidi Saiyyed. He came to Gujarat from Yemen and later served Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Madmud III. He was known as the nobleman who helped the poor and had a large collection of books. He built this magnificent monument during the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah III, the last ruler of Gujarat.
The mosque was used as a Government office during the British rule. In 1880 CE paper casts of the carved screen were taken and two wooden models were made for the Museum of Kensington and New York.
Architectural Style
The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is built with yellow sandstone in Indo-Islamic style of architecture.
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| Beautiful yellow sandstone columns and windows |
The front of the mosque is actually fairly simple with two minarets on the sides (the minarets have fallen now and only the base exists), while the back wall is where all the jalis are. The wazu (ablution) pond is a small one, unlike the Jama Masjid. However, it still presents some interesting photographic opportunities. You can view the jalis from the front of the mosque, but if you want to take good shots, exit the mosque and go to its back side and take pictures from there. You will get a much cleaner shot.
The famous Jalis
Now coming back to the stunning Jalis at Sidi Saiyyed Mosque once again. There are a total of eight arched windows which are adorned with these stone carved intricate jalis. It is believed that a total of 45 craftsmen worked on these day in and day out to finish on time. However, just when it was getting completed, Ahmedabad fell to the Mughals, and the last window in the centre of the back wall was left without a jali. I have my own theory that this was the most ambitious jali planned as this was going to take the centerstage and that’s the reason it had to be abandoned due to lack of time. We can only imagine what it would have looked it had the Mughals delayed their invasion by another year.
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| The four most famous Jalis |
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| View of the Jalis from the back - notice the central empty arch-window |
Today one of Jali depicting the Tree of Life has become a distinguished symbol of the city of Ahmedbaad. The same Jali has also been abstracted for the logo to IIM Ahmedabad.
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