An
interesting legend is attached to the origin of the Masjid Moth or the
Lentil Mosque. About 500 years old, it was built by Sikander Lodi.
According to the legend, one day Sikandar Lodi gave a grain of moth (a
type of lentil) to his loyal minister Miyan Bhuwa as a reward for fun.
The witty minister planted the seed carefully years after years until it
multiplied so many times that it could finally finance the construction
of the mosque. He then went to the sovereign to ask his permission to
build the mosque for the blessed seed king had offered his minister. The
king was quite impressed. He then laid the foundation of the mosque
himself, which was built conforming to the Indo-Islamic style of
architecture. The mosque is small and simple and is deprived of minarets
and profuse calligraphic decorations and embellishments that are part of
the traditional mosques. However, it marks the revival of architectural
activity during the time of Lodi dynasty. The square red sandstone
structure has a small semicircular dome and latticework screens in its
windows.
