Discover the Kauman Great Mosque's Rich History

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta – The Kauman Great Mosque, located on Jalan Kampung Kauman, Gondomanan Subdistrict, Yogyakarta City, has long been a cultural heritage site and a popular tourist destination. This mosque is part of the Kagungan Dalem Mosque of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace, which makes it a major tourist attraction.

The mosque was founded on Ahad Wage, May 29, 1773, by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I and Kiai Fakih Ibrahim Diponingrat. The mosque's construction was led and carried out by Kiai Wiryokusumo. A distinctive feature of Yogyakarta palace mosques is the flower-shaped roof ornament known as a mustaka.

Azman Latif, Head of the Kauman Great Mosque Management Board, said that the Great Kauman Mosque is a cultural heritage site in Yogyakarta, which makes it a popular tourist destination. Furthermore, this mosque is often used for important religious ceremonies belonging to the Yogyakarta Palace.

"The unique characteristic of the The Kauman Great Mosque is that it is part of the Yogyakarta Palace, so religious ceremonies are often held there. The mosque is also inseparably linked to the community's history, which is why many tourists visit it," he said.

Azman said that domestic tourists already understand the etiquette when entering the mosque. Meanwhile, for foreign visitors, the management provides sarongs and headscarves as a sign of respect for religious values.

Furthermore, Azman mentioned that the the Kauman Great Mosque is inextricably linked to the history of the Muhammadiyah movement. The renewal of the direction of the Qibla began at this mosque, as did the development of Muhammadiyah's da'wah, which has spread throughout Indonesia, even reaching the university level.

"This mosque is one of the oldest in Yogyakarta, so people want to experience the atmosphere inside. It was also imbued with the influence of the organization, so its presence is indeed a draw, and this tradition has contributed to its development," he said.

To the north of the imamate is a wooden pulpit carved in gold and decorated with beautiful calligraphy. It was used as a pulpit during prayer. To the south is a teak-wooden maximus measuring 270 x 220 x 210, with a floor 20 cm higher than the mosque's interior floor. Sri Sultan used it when praying at the Kauman Great Mosque.

There is also a mihrab where the imam stands during congregational prayers. These distinctive features of the Kauman Great Mosque are still preserved to this day. (Misni Parjiati/Bambang MBKA)