On a kaleidoscopic journey to Iran- The Splendid Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque

“I looked in temples, churches and mosques. But I found the divine within my heart.” – Rumi

The spiritual journey of a soul is like an unending quest, which delves deep into the mysterious expanse of life. A pursuit that seamlessly keeps advancing with every breath we take and every move we make. It’s an instinctive wandering of the soul, drawn towards achieving the divine realms of our spirit. But, spiritualism is not only about religious dogma and beliefs. Instead, it’s like an ocean imbibing every single wave that touches us by. It could be a wave of music, a wave of culture, value, or even a wave of art.

There’s a famous quote which says, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. And history bears witness to such artists, who, with a hint of madness in them have manifested spiritualism through their varying expressions. In the receding hours of the night, when dawn emerges from the doorway of sky to paint the universe in its brilliant shades; that moment is breathtakingly beautiful amidst the walls of Nasir-al-Mulk mosque in Iran. As streaks of early morning light radiates upon the kaleidoscopic glass panels of the mosque, it exhibits an exquisite array of dazzling colors! A view so picturesque that it would leave one completely bewitched!

The ‘Pink Mosque’, as it is popularly called as, for its extensive use of rose colored tiles that cover the interior, stands tall in the district of Gowad-e-Araban, near Sahcheragh Mosque. The mosque dates back to the Qajar era and is still garnering visitors in great numbers. It was built between 1876 and 1888 by the order of Mirza Hasan Ali (Nasir-al-Mulk), who was a Qajar ruler. The intricate geometric patterns embellishing the floors and the walls of the mosque are a fine exemplification of popular motif in Islamic art. The delicate patterns that adorn every corner of the mosque, the wistful play of hues and the spiralling domes and pillars are paradigms of the architecture of the finest kind!

The Pink Mosque is not just the sanctity of worship. But an abode of traversing through the baffling layers of our divine being. The aura it creates around its onlookers is beyond the comprehension of the mortal world. Even a non believer will witness their spiritual awakening as they are soaked in the glistening myriad of colors, reflecting through the stained glass casements. The unifying of the sun’s rays with the magnificently tinted glass panes flaunts a silhouette of a thousand rainbows dancing in the interior of the mosque. The Persian rugs spread across the floor add to the grandeur and luxury making it a masterpiece of elegance and opulence. The resonance of the structure is a sequence of ceramic tiles and woods to make it an epitome of Islamic artistry which is known for its brilliance and grace.

Nasir-al-Mulk mosque is an excellent replica of merging with the divine amidst ornate style and finesse of the highest order. The place is fashioned in a manner that makes it revered unanimously, thus, casting a charm of blessing and beauty upon its spectators. A quote by Nick Bantock perfectly defines the essence of this splendid mosque. It says, “You cannot separate art from life or spirituality. They are bound together in a single unit.” And Nasir-al-Mulk mosque is all about basking in the ethereal glory of mysticism and refinement that our journey constantly revolves around. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step they say! Don’t rush and observe deeply, for ‘The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen!’