The South Asian Life & Times - SALT   
 Summer 2015          
   

 

Home

 Contents
 Summer 2015

 

 Editor's Note

 Feature
 Maharaja Duleep
 Singh


 Heritage
 Nizamuddin Revived

 Nizamuddin Basti

 Sunder Nursery

 Humayun's Tomb
 Complex

 Nizamuddin Dargah

 People
 Gautam Gambhir


 Adventure
 Kangchenjunga - 60
 Years of 1st Ascent

 Darjeeling & Beyond

 
 Visual Arts
 India Thru the Lens
 Goa Photo Festival

 

 Book Reviews
 Balochistan at
 Crossroads

 Crafts Atlas of India

 Himalayan Cities

 Kaavad Traditions of
 Rajasthan

 Indian Troops in
 Europe

 Rajasthan - exploring
 painted Shekhawati

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   about us              back-issues           contact us         search             data bank

 

  craft shop

print gallery

 Nizamuddin Dargah

Nizamuddin dargah has a universal appeal. It is one of those rare places where Muslims, Hindus, Christians – people of all faiths - pray alongside.  The 14th century Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who lived and died here, was one of the most prominent figures in Sufi Islam. His message of humility, mercy, and religious tolerance held a mass appeal. Followers and devotees came from all classes. He not only promoted Hindi as lingua franca for India, but “equally emphasised the importance of better understanding and appreciation of various religious traditions, customs and history.” He advised his ardent disciple/devotee the poet Amir Khusro to write in Hindi “so as to popularise the language among Muslims. A common language helps remove the feeling of estrangement and can bring the communities closer."

The area where the dargah and basti are located was once known as Ghiyaspur. It was after the saint’s death that it was renamed Nizamuddin in his honour. The dargah is the place of his burial, the place where his physical remains lay. It has grown into a significant pilgrimage destination. Devotees and followers from all faiths and religions travel across the Indian subcontinent and the world to his shrine, particularly at the time of his ‘urs’ or death anniversary.

While urs is the death anniversary, the birth anniversary of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is known as Ghusal Sharif.  It was recently celebrated on 16 December 2014. The shrine was bedecked with flowers for the occasion. “While the espresso coffee machine was placed beside an unknown stone grave, a sophisticated audio system for the night-long qawwali session was set up inside the beautiful open-air tomb of Princess Jahanara. The highlight was Ustad Nishat Khan’s sitar recital.” -  Mayank Austen Soofi

 Chahal Roza is the biography of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325). It was penned by Raja Hardev, a scion of the Maratha royal family of Devgarh and an ardent devotee of the saint. The book not only gives the life account of Hazrat Nizamuddin but highlights his instructions and teachings to strengthen the bonds of harmony and unity among Indians.” – Arif M Khan

 

Read the entire article in the print edition of The South Asian Life & Times
subscribe@the-south-asian.com

 

Copyright © 2000 - 2015 [the-south-asian.com]. Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.

Home