Goripalayam Mosque In Madurai – A Must-Visit Destination

Goripalayam Mosque

The Goripalayam Mosque in Madurai is an impressive structure that houses two graves of Sultans of Yemen, Khaja Syed Sultan Alauddin Badusha Razi and Khaja Syed Sulthan Shamsuddin, who were part of the Madurai Sultanate. The mosque also has an invisible grave of Khaja Syed Sultan Habibuddin Razi, also known as Ghaibi Sulthan, who arrived in India to spread Islam.

The dome of the mosque is an incredible 70 feet (21 m) in diameter and 20 feet (6.1 m) in height, made from a single block of stone sourced from the Azhaga Hills. According to historical accounts, the mosque commissioned by Thirumalai Nayak, a ruler of Madurai, for his Muslim subjects.

History of Mosque

The area of Goripalayam in Madurai named after the Persian word “gor” meaning grave, due to the graves of the two prominent saints of Islam and rulers of Madurai, Sulthan Alauddin Badusha (Radiyallah) and Sulthan Shamsuddin Badhusha (Radiyallah), located here. The Gorippalayam Dargah, a beautiful green tomb, seen from the A.V. Bridge situated on the northern banks of the Vaigai River. 

The two rulers, who were brothers, arrived from Oman during the 13th century to spread Islam after hearing about the travel of Qutb Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Badusha of Erwadi and his victory in south India, which followed by the establishment of Islamic rule in Madurai and Ramanathapuram provinces.

Kazi Syed Tajuddin Radiyallah, the founder of Kazimar Big Mosque and the government Kazi to the Sultans, lived in Kazimar Street, and his descendants still reside there today, maintaining the Kazimar Big Mosque. From the time of the Sultans, the Kazis of Madurai city appointed from the descendants of Kazi Syed Tajuddin, and this tradition followed by the Pandiya Rulers, the Nayak rulers, the Nawab rulers, and the British rulers. Even today, the post-independent democratic state government of Tamil Nadu appoints the Kazi of Madurai only from the descendants of Kazi Syed Tajuddin, who was the Kazi to the Madurai Sultans. An ancient Tamil inscription planted on the outer campus of the Maqbara of the dargah campus.

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Gorippalayam Dargah Urus Festival

The Urus festival of the Gorippalayam Dargah is an annual event that takes place on the 15th night of the Islamic month of Rabi al-awwal every year in accordance with the hijri calendar. 

This festival is held to commemorate the death anniversary of the two Sultans of Yemen who were buried here, namely Khaja Syed Sultan Alauddin Badusha Razi and Khaja Syed Sulthan Shamsuddin of the Madurai Sultanate. 

The festival is a major event for the local Muslim community, and people from all over Tamil Nadu come to offer their prayers and seek blessings. The festivities include various religious rituals, processions, and cultural events.