Malshah Masjid in Srinagar, located between Bachi Darwaza and Makdoom Sahab Shrine. Some sources state that this masjid was built by Dara Shakou, son of Shah Jehan, for his mentor Mullah Akhund Shah. Others have written that Dara's sister, JahanAra Begum, also managed the construction of this masjid, which cost about 20,000 rupees during the Mughal era. The entire construction cost them 60,000 rupees then.
You might know that in Sufism, Qadari is one of the silsila, and Shah Jahan's son Dara Shakou wanted to enter this silsila. He wanted to meet a Sufi mystic, Mia Mir, in Kashmir. Mia Mir was the mystic who laid the foundation of the Golden Temple, and his shrine is in Lahore, Pakistan. Dara Shakou was impressed by Mia Mir's life and traveled to Kashmir to meet him. However, when Dara Shakou reached Kashmir, Mia Mir had already passed away. Therefore, Dara went to Mia Mir's disciple, Mullah Akhund Shah, and became his disciple. This influenced Dara Shakou's life to such an extent that he constructed three masjids in the valley for his mentor, which he named Malshah Masjids.
This masjid is a prime example of Mughal architecture, around 380 years old. Despite its age, the structure stands tall, showcasing its past and standing alongside our present architecture. Its design and construction highlight the artistic skills of its builders. The architecture of this masjid makes it stand out in the valley. When a person enters its premises, they are amazed by its design. The small cells within the masjid were where Mullah's disciples would stay to attain their religious feats.
The masjid has a square pond in its courtyard made of baked bricks, seemingly constructed for ablution. Moving towards the main part of this place, one can see the intricate detailing of the stonework, which astonishes any visitor. The stones have been carefully finished and tactfully placed on one another to create strong pillars. Its architecture features Zali Panjra, typically made of woodwork, but in this masjid, they are made of stones. The artistic work of our ancestors is evident in the way they carved stones to create such intricate designs.
R.C. Kak writes in his book that the main peculiar aspect of its construction is the lotus design on its main dome, which is unique in the entire valley. The second feature is the masjid's main entry, the Pishtaq, whose door frame is made of stonework, similar to the one seen in Malshah Masjid Ganderbal. This is the door that a Britisher attempted to steal. Despite being spacious, this masjid was meant for individual prayers.
During its construction, Dara Shakou was killed, leaving the construction incomplete, which can be inferred from different angles at the site. As the Mughals started leaving the valley, the number of visitors to this place receded. During the Sikh rule, this masjid was locked, and prayers suddenly stopped. The famous traveler Heugal visited this place around 1835 AD. He wrote in his travelogues that the door of this masjid was made of stone with such a great finish that one could use it as a mirror. Heugal then sent his servant Michal and other men to steal the door he had seen, but they failed as the news reached the city people. The Kashmiris protested, and Heugal had to hide for months. During those days, the Maharaja ruled here.
Heugal wanted to place a mark stone on Char Chinari island to mention the names of English travelers, including himself.
Before we end this blog, it is worth noting that in the entire Kashmir Valley, there are only three such masjids made by Dara Shakou for his mentor, Mullah Akhund Shah. One is near Kohe Maraan in Srinagar, which we covered in this video. The second one is in Malshahi Bagh, Ganderbal, and the third one is in the Pari Mahal premises.
