Iran, with its rich culture and civilization, is home to many historical sites and artifacts from past eras, making it famous worldwide for its ancient and historical tourist attractions. Among the cities that have preserved their old texture and have many historical places is the city of Kashan. But among all these ancient attractions, it is the Agha Bozorg Mosque of Kashan that is considered a symbol of this city. Join Eligasht in this article to learn more about this historic building.
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Introduction to the Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan
This Mosque in Kashan is considered one of the magnificent buildings of the Qajar period. This complex was built with the capital of Haj Mohammad Taghi Khanban between the years 1250 and 1260 AH (roughly 1834-1844 CE), with the aim of holding congregational prayers, and study and discussion sessions for his son-in-law, Mullah Mahdi Naraqi II, brother of Mullah Ahmad Naraqi, nicknamed Agha Bozorg.
The Agha Bozorg Mosque-School is one of the main historical attractions of Kashan, located on Fazel Naraqi Street. This mosque and school are located in the historical context of the city, near the shrine of Khajeh Taj al-Din.
This historical building is located in the center of Kashan, near other historical attractions. This mosque-school is located on a street with the same name on Fazel Naraqi Street. Join Eligasht as we explore the history and magnificent architecture of this remarkable building.
The Tourist Importance of the Agha Bozorg Mosque
It is interesting to know that this historical building is of great importance and value in terms of tourism. The exquisite decorations and elements of this mosque are breathtaking. From the muqarnas work of the mosque’s entrance to the delicate plasterwork and spectacular tilework, all of this has made this mosque the center of attention and attracts many tourists.
It should also be added that the Agha Bozorg Mosque is the only five-story mosque in the Islamic world, which doubles its importance. Interestingly, several films and television series have been filmed in this mosque, including the films “Toghi”, “Ayyaran” and “Mulla Sadra”.
Getting Acquainted with the History of the Agha Bozorg Mosqu
Regarding the history of the Agha Bozorg Mosque, it should be said that the history of this mosque-school dates back to the Qajar era. The construction of this mosque began during the reign of Mohammad Shah and was completed during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah. The inscriptions in the veranda of the prayer hall, under the dome of the prayer hall, on the dado of the mihrab, and on the entrance of the mosque confirm this date.
Some historians speculate that the Agha Bozorg Mosque was built on the remains of the earthquake of 1192 AH (roughly 1778 CE). In addition, it is likely that the northern prayer hall of the mosque was built on the remains of a khanqah (Sufi lodge), mosque, tomb, and school of Khajeh Taj al-Din, which dates back to the mid-9th century AH (roughly 15th century CE).
Changes to the Agha Bozorg Mosque Over Time
It’s good to know that many changes have taken place in the Agha Bozorg complex over time. For example, the doors and windows of the two rooms around the main porch of the dome chamber and the four rooms above the entrance portal have been altered. Furthermore, the original lattice windows with rising panels (orsis) have been replaced with doorways featuring two semi-circles.
The space between the dome chamber and the western prayer hall was once separated by three wooden lattice partitions with rising panel windows (orsis). After termites destroyed the wood, metal doors were installed in their place. These metal doors were later replaced with wooden partitions that incorporated orsi doors.
The lattice and rising-panel windows of the cells (student rooms) had also been lost and have since been restored to their original form. It should be noted that this site was registered as a national heritage site on December 2, 1951, with registration number 382 and is considered one of the country’s valuable historical landmarks.
Why Is It Called the Agha Bozorg Mosque?
You might be wondering about the reason for this historical building’s name. The answer is that Mullah Mohammad Mahdi Naraqi was one of the prominent religious scholars of Kashan. His last child was born after his death, and following an old custom, they named him after his father.
After some time, when Mullah Mohammad’s son also became a religious scholar, due to the similarity in names, the people called the father “Agha Bozorg” (The Great Agha) and the son “Agha Kuchak” (The Little Agha). Later, during a trip to Isfahan, Mohammad Shah Qajar stayed in Kashan for a while and met with the city’s scholars, including Agha Kuchak.
He realized that the son had a high level of knowledge and ordered that he be called Agha Bozorg, like his father. He also commanded the then-governor, Mohammad Taghi Khanban, to build a mosque and school in the name of Agha Bozorg. In addition to all of this, Mohammad Shah also married his daughter to him.
Importance of the Architecture of Kashan’s Agha Bozorg Mosque
The Agha Bozorg Mosque and School in Kashan were built at a time when the first signs of Western architectural influence were emerging in Iranian architecture. In structures such as the Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan and the Golestan Palace in Tehran, the inspiration from Western architecture is also clearly visible.
Many other buildings, especially mosques, built during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar were fully inspired by traditional architecture, especially Safavid architecture, such as the Imam Mosque in Tehran. The characteristic that sets the Agha Bozorg complex apart from all its contemporary buildings is that it neither follows traditional architecture nor incorporates Western elements!
Innovation in Design
While the Agha Bozorg Mosque was built based on the principles of Iranian architecture, it also incorporates surprising differences and innovations. This proves that the architect of the building paid attention to the changes of his time and remained committed to the enduring values of past architecture.
Creativity and design coordinated with the developments of the era can be seen in elements such as the use of varying levels, the creation of floors, the interplay of volumes, a new understanding of space, and an unadorned approach to decoration.
Because Iranian architecture continued in a different way after this period, few buildings were constructed with these principles. As a result, fewer buildings of this style are seen today, and the Agha Bozorg complex stands out as one of Iran’s unique structures.
Introduction to the Architecture of the Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan
The architect of the Agha Bozorg Mosque-School (religious school) was Master Shaban. Like other buildings in Kashan, this mosque was built in the “Goudal Bagche” (sunken courtyard) architectural style and is one of the mosques with three prayer halls (shabestans). One of the features of the Agha Bozorg complex is the integration of the shabestan with the mosque and School, which is one of the most beautiful and exemplary cases of harmonious connection between two buildings.
The dome chamber of the Agha Bozorg Mosque-School rests on eight massive pillars. Unlike other mosques where the southern side of the dome chamber is blocked off to create a mihrab (prayer niche) with relatively thick walls, in this mosque, the south, southeast, and southwest sides are left open. The mihrab is built into the wall of a gallery that surrounds the dome chamber.
During the time of Haj Mulla Taqi Mohammad Ali Naraqi, the son of Agha Bozorg, the western shabestan of the dome chamber was built with 40 columns, and from this side, the connection with the outside was blocked.
Decorations of the Agha Bozorg Mosque
In the Agha Bozorg Mosque, decorations such as plasterwork, painting, woodwork, muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting), tilework, rasmi bandi (a type of geometric ornamentation), yazdibandi (a type of decorative arch), and exquisite plaster and tile inscriptions are used. There is also a pair of precious carved doors at the main entrance of the mosque, decorated with interlaced patterns and studs.
The painter of the Agha Bozorg complex was Master Mohammad Baqer Qamsari. The calligraphy inscriptions in the mosque were written by prominent Kashan calligraphers, including Mohammad Ibrahim (the ancestor of the Maarefi family), Mohammad Hussein (the ancestor of the Adib family) by Seyyed Sadegh Kashani.
Introduction to the Different Parts of the Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan
The Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan shines like a jewel in this historic city with its magnificent architecture and decorations. This mosque-School has different sections, which we will introduce below.
1. Pir Neshin (Resting Place for Elders)
The first part of the Agha Bozorg Mosque and School is the Pir Neshin. Pir Neshin refers to the platforms in front of the door. Interestingly, the Pir Neshin was used as a resting place for middle-aged people and passersby.
2. Entrance and Portal (Sar Dar)
Although the use of a portal was not common in mosques, the Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan uses a portal, and it is considered one of the most important parts of the building. There is also an inscription above the door with a poem engraved on it.
The main entrance door is also decorated with carvings, interlaced patterns, and studs, and has 6,666 studs representing the number of verses in the Quran.
3. Hashti (Vestibule)
The Hashti is a covered space located after the entrance of the mosque. On both sides of the Hashi, there is a servant’s room. After the Hashti, there are two covered corridors that allow access to the courtyard and the Agha Bozorg Mosque-School.
4. Mahtabi or Winter Seat (Zemestan Neshin)
The first part of the entrance to the Agha Bozorg Mosque is the Mahtabi. The Mahtabi, or Winter Seat, is an open area and is used in the winter. Marble stones are located in the middle of the Winter Seat, which transmit light and thus provide light to the lower floor.
5. Central Courtyard (Sahn-e Markazi)
The central courtyard of the Agha Bozorg Mosque consists of two parts: the sunken courtyard (Goudal Bagche) and the ground-level courtyard.
The Goudal Bagche courtyard is the lower floor courtyard and is dedicated to the School. This courtyard consists of a pool in the center and four gardens on four sides. Around this courtyard, there are rooms, shabestans, and a cellar.
The ground-level courtyard, or upper floor courtyard, is at the same level as the passages of the Agha Bozorg Mosque and School. In the four corners of this courtyard, there are stairs for going down to the lower floor. This courtyard is more like a roof terrace.
6. Prayer Halls (Shabestan)
The Agha Bozorg Mosque has three shabestans (prayer halls). The prayer hall on the western side was added later to the structure and has 20 freestanding columns and 30 brick arch bays. The winter prayer hall is located on the northern side of the courtyard. This shabestan has columns made of brick and stone.
The openings in the stone covering of the building provide light to the prayer hall. The third shabestan is located on the southern side and is a semi-story structure. This shabestan is used as a mosque, and the breaks in its ceiling provide light to the prayer hall.
Visiting the Agha Bozorg Mosque
Perhaps after reading about the history and architectural details of the Agha Bozorg Mosque, you are now encouraged to visit this historical building. It is worth mentioning that the best time to visit this structure, given Kashan’s climate, is in the spring and fall seasons. You should also note that there is no entrance fee to visit this building.
You can visit this historical attraction from 9 am to 8 pm. Keep in mind that congregational prayers are still held in this mosque, so be sure to respect the worshippers during prayer times.
Exploring Tourist Attractions Near the Agha Bozorg Mosque
Perhaps you would like to hit multiple birds with one stone when visiting the Agha Bozorg Mosque and also see the surrounding tourist attractions. Among the tourist attractions near this mosque and school are Kashan’s traditional bazaar, the Borujerdi House, the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, and the Tabatabaei House.
Summary
In this article from Eligasht, we introduced one of the most important historical tourist attractions in the city of Kashan, the Agha Bozorg Mosque. This mosque-school was built during the Qajar period and has a magnificent architectural style and special decorations. If you travel to Kashan and are interested in historical attractions, do not miss a visit to this building.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Agha Bozorg Mosque located?
The exact address of this mosque is as follows:
Isfahan Province, Kashan, Fazel Naraghi Street, Agha Bozorg Mosque Alley.
To which era does the Agha Bozorg Mosque-School belong?
This mosque-school belongs to the Qajar era.
Why is the mosque named Agha Bozorg?
“Agha Bozorg” was the title of Mulla Mohammad Mehdi Naraghi and his son, and this mosque was built in the name of the son, who was very scholarly, by the order of Mohammad Shah Qajar.
What are the visiting hours of the Agha Bozorg Mosque-School?
You can visit this historical attraction from 9 am to 8 pm.
Is there an entrance fee to visit the Agha Bozorg Mosque of Kashan?
No, there is no entrance fee to visit this building.