Moth
ki Masjid is situated between Uday Park and the plush South Extension
Part 2 area of New Delhi. An interesting legend is attached to the
origin of the Moth ki Masjid, or the Lentil Mosque, of India. 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. The king was quite impressed. He then laid the foundation of Moth ki Masjid himself, which was built conforming to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The mosque is small and simple and is deprived of any minarets or any profuse calligraphic decorations and embellishments that are part of the traditional mosques. However, it marks the revival of architectural activity during the time of the Lodi dynasty. The square red sandstone structure has a small semicircular dome and latticework screens in its windows.