Entry Point for Religions

Kodungallur has seen the entry of various religions into the Indian peninsula from across the seas - Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The Cheraman Perumal mosque at Kodungallur is probably the first mosque to be established in India.

Legends talk about the then ruler, Cheraman Perumal, accepting Islam and travelling to Mecca. Although historians have not agreed on the dating of the mosque, the authorities entrusted with the mosque, date the mosque to have been established in 629 C.E, during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, based on traditional accounts. (Ref: Cheraman Masjid History). Historical accounts date the mosque to later centuries. Various perspectives and analyses about the Cheraman Perumal legend can be seen at these links: [1],[2],[3],[4].

Indian Christian tradition considers Kodungallur (or Muziris) to be the site where St. Thomas the Apostle reached in A.D. 52. (Ref: Indian Christianity, St.Thomas Christian Churches, Syro-Malabar Church Chronology). Per the Kerala Christian tradition, St. Thomas is believed to have established 7 churches and a half- at Kodungallur, Kottakkavu in North Paravur, Palayur in Thrissur, Kollam, Kokkamangalam in Alappuzha, Niranam in Pathanamthitta, Nilackal in Pathanamthitta and a half-church at Arappally in Thiruvithamkode, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. The current church in Kodungallur is, per this tradition, established at (or near) the site of the first Christian Church in India.

Jewish tradition considers Kodungallur to be the medieval Shingly, Sinkali or Ginjalek. (Ref: Jewish Virtual Library. Per the tradition of the Cochin Jews, Jews are believed to have first reached Kodungallur after the destruction of the second temple and desolation of Jerusalem in A.D. 69 (Ref: Indian Christianity , Cheraman Masjid History ) and founded a colony where they settled, before branching out to other settlements in Kerala in later centuries, notably Kochi (Cochin), which was rising to prominence as a harbour town, by the 14th century. The Jewish settlement in Kodungallur is believed to have seen its final destruction with the Portuguese conquest of Cranganore around 1523. (Ref: Jewish Virtual Library , Kerala and her Jews.) The Jewish Virtual Library mentions a tradition of placing a handful of earth from Cranganore (Kodungallur) in the coffin of a deceased Cochin Jew