#makhdoom sufis of kashmir

[rahilnazir]

Hazrat Khawaja Hassan Qari RA,An iconic mystic.Khursheed Dar(Pohrupeth Langate)

Visit to Zaingair Sopore without paying visit to the shrine  Hazrat Khawaja Hassan Qari RA is incomplete.Recently I visited this shrine  .The mystic beauty of the  shrine prompted to write this column. While writing this column, my heart and soul is wandering in the mausoleum of this great saint.Being a student of history visiting the anonymous sufi shrines of Kashmir and writing prospectives is…

[museumofkashmir]

Illustrations of Kashmir’s most important Muslim Saints: 1. Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom 1494-1576. He’s buried at his shrine in Koh-e-Maran at Srinagar. 2. Sheikh Nur-ud-Din Wali 1377-1438. He’s also known as Nund Reshi, he is regarded as Kashmir’s Patron saint. 3. Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani 1314-1384. Shah e Hamedan or Amir Kabir as he’s known in Kashmir visited Kashmir along with his disciples from Hamedan in Persia. He is the second most important Islamic personality who came to Kashmir after Bulbul Shah. He brought Islamic jurisprudence and helped build Kashmir’s shawl industry among other crafts. He bought the land where he preached at Khanqah in Srinagar which became his hospice. His contribution provided a major social and economic mobility to Kashmiris. He later moved out of Kashmir to continue his preaching. He later died in Pakhli and was buried at Khatlan now in Tajikistan by his disciples. Later his son Mir Sayyid Muhammad Hamadani succeeded him and continued to spread his message in Kashmir. An illustration of Amir e Kabir’s face is featured on 10 Somoni note of Tajikistan. Sources: GMD Sufi Kashir/ Ministry of Finance Tajikistan #Kashmir #KashmirHistoryProject #SaintsofKashmir https://www.instagram.com/p/CIxGe2nnr46/?utm_medium=tumblr

[kashmirtourism]

Hari Parbat

Hari Parbat, locally known as Koh-e-Maran, is a hill overlooking Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the site of the Durrani Fort and has a notable religious dimension for the Hindus, Muslim and Sikhs alike, hosting a famous Hindu temple, two shrines of locally venerated Muslim saints and a Sikh gurudwara. 

Durrani Fort 

The first fortifications on the site were constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1590 who built an outer wall for the fort as part of his plans for a new capital called Nager Nagor. The project, however, was never completed. The present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of Shuja Shah Durrani.

Sharika temple 

The hill is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits and hosts a temple of Shakti, or Goddess, which is located in the middle part of the western slope of the hill. Shakti is worshipped there under the name Jagadamba Sharika Bhagawati (or simply Sharika) and depicted as having 18 arms and sitting in Shri Chakra, an emblem of cosmic energy pervading the universe.

On the day celebrated as Sharika's birthday, devotees make a sacrificial offering of taher-charvan to the goddess (taher - rice boiled with turmeric powder and mixed with oil and salt; charvan - cooked goat liver). This day is also called Har Navum. 

Muslim shrines 

Makhdoom Sahib, Srinagar.

The southern side of Hari Parbat features Makhdoom Sahib, the shrine of Hamza Makhdoom, a 16th-century Kashmiri Sufi saint locally known as Hazrat Sultan and Sultan ul-Arifeen. Another shrine on the hill's southern slope is dedicated to Shah Badakhshi, a 17th-century Sufi saint.

Gurudwara Chatti Patshahi 

Gurudwara Chatti Patshahi at Kathi Darwaja, Rainwari, Srinagar is one of the most important Sikh gurudwaras in Kashmir. It is believed that Guru Har Gobind, the sixth Sikh guru, travelled through Kashmir, stopping to preach occasionally and stayed there for few days. 

Legends 

Legend has it that Hari Parbat was once a huge lake inhabited by a demon called Jalodbhava ("Water Demon"). The inhabitants called on the goddess for help. She took the form of a bird and dropped a pebble on the demon's head, which grew larger and larger until it crushed the demon. Hari Parbat is revered as that pebble and is said to have become the home for all the gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Another version of the myth says that two demons, Chand and Mund, lived in the Kashmir Valley. Chand hid in the water near the present location of Hari Parbat and Mund somewhere above the present Dal Gate, and both terrorized the people of the Valley. The gods invoked Shakti who assumed the form of a hari (myna) and flew to Sumer , picked up a pebble in her beak and threw it on Chand. The pebble grew into a mountain, crushed the demon and was later named Hari Parbat ("the Myna Mountain").

[trekkinginpakistan]

New Post has been published on Trekking in Pakistan

New Post has been published on https://trek.pk/chiniot/

Chiniot

Chiniot (Urdu, Punjabi: چنیوٹ) is a city and the administrative headquarter of Chiniot District in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Located on the bank of the river Chenab, it is the 28th largest city of Pakistan. It is also known for its intricate wooden furniture, architecture, and mosques, and is home to the Omar Hayat Mahal.

History

The origins of Chiniot are obscure, and historical records accurately detailing its founding are unavailable.[3] According to some accounts, the city was founded by an ancient king’s daughter named Chandan, who while on a hunting expedition, was charmed by the surrounding area, and ordered the construction of the settlement of Chandaniot,[4] alternatively spelt Chandniot,[5] which was named in her honour. The name Chiniot, a contracted version of the original name, eventually gained favour,[6] though the older name had been used up until at least the 1860s.

The city came under British rule by 1849, and the city was constituted as a municipality in 1862.[4] In 1875, the city’s population was 11,999.[4] During the British period, a vast network of canals were laid to irrigate Punjab, resulting in the creation of many new “canal colonies” around Chiniot.[5] Chiniot’s famous Omar Hayat Mahal was built between 1923 and 1935 for a businessman who made his fortune in Calcutta.

Geography

Location

Chiniot is at the intersection of the Faisalabad-Sargodha and Lahore-Jhang roads. It is 158 kilometres northwest from Lahore and 38 kilometres north of Faisalabad. Chiniot city is spread over an area of 10 square kilometres with an average elevation of 179 metres (587 ft).

Rabwah city, the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Community is on the other side of the Chenab River. In the center of the river, a worship center (or Chilla Gah) of the Sufi Bu Ali Shah Qalandar is located.

Topography

Chiniot city lies on left bank of the Chenab River, and is located on a small rocky hill. Much of the surrounding area consists of alluvial plains, interspersed with rocky outcroppings of slate and sandstone that reach up to 400 feet in height around Chiniot.

Climate

Chiniot has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh). The weather in Chiniot is variable.

Demographics

According to the 1998 census, the population of Chiniot Tehsil was 965,124 (included urban 172,522). According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the city has the population of 278,747. The language spoken is Punjabi.

Economy

The important products of Chiniot includes silk, cotton, wheat, sugar, rice, milk, pottery, wooden furniture, etc. The city’s agricultural economy is largely derived from “canal colonies” established during British rule when a vast network of canals were laid to irrigate Punjab.[5]

Chiniot is famous for his wooden furniture, and developed as a centre of woodworking given its close proximity to the Chenab River – as timber from Kashmir would be floated down the river towards Chiniot.[5] Chiniot’s artisans are renowned for their skill, and were employed in the construction of both the Taj Mahal and Wazir Khan Mosque.[5] The city’s metalworkers, along with those of Lahore, were considered the best in Punjab during the British period,[12] and Chinioti designs and were considered superior to those of Hoshiarpur or Jalandhar.[12] Ramzan Sugar Mills is located at Faisalabad Road.

Libraries

After his death, Sheikh Omar Hayat’s palace Omar Hayat Mahal was converted into a library by the government of Pakistan.

Transport and Communication

Chiniot is connected with the rest of Pakistan by a main highway and rail line. The nearest international airport is Faisalabad International Airport, which is 48.5 kilometres from Chiniot.

The railway track is the easiest and cheapest way of transportation. Chiniot railway is a main source of transporting the furniture from Chiniot to the rest of Pakistan; it is a main source of importing the wood for furniture from all over Pakistan. Chiniot Railway Station was built in 1927 during the British Raj. It was a great step for the local economy.

Khatm-e-Nabuwat Chowk is the main place of and main intersection between GT roads connecting large cities of Pakistan. Chiniot Bridge is crossing over Chenab river on the Chiniot-Sargodha road.

Culture

Islamic Occassions

In Chiniot people celebrate Islamic occasions with great arrangements. On 12 Rabi’ al-awwal, 1440th birthday celebration of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, people of Chiniot arranged a 63-maund cake, one of the largest cakes in the world.

Furniture

Chiniot is known for its furniture. Chinioti craftsmen and artisans have for centuries carved flowers and geometric patterns onto cellulose fibres. Masons from Chiniot are thought to have been employed during the construction of the Taj Mahal and Golden Temple.

Sports

Cricket is the most popular sport in Chiniot. Football is also played in Chiniot. Other popular sports include Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, Tennis, Kabbadi, and Horse racing.

Tribes

Chiniot region was agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley Civilization. Chiniot is a district of Multi-tribes nation. Tribes of Chiniot include Rajput Dhudhi Sahmal Sipra, Janjua, Dogar, Syed, Sial, Mufti, Araaeen, Laali, Marath, Aheer, Awan, Makhdoom, Baloch Bhatti, Bhutta, Butt, Bhowana, Chohan, Dhera, Durrani, Gujjar, Hanjra, Indra, Sipra, Walara, Haral, Tamimi, Hashmi, Jappa, Jatt, Koli, Kamoky, Kharal, Khokhar, Marral, Naul, Nakokara, Traggar/Tragar, Nissowana, Puri, Pathan Slara, Wassi, Dhawan, Wadhawan, Sehgal, and Kalyar.

Sources: Wikipedia

[rahilnazir]

KHAJA Mohammad TAHIR RAFIQI ASHAI R.A

One among the influential Suhrawardi Sufis of Kashmir during the sixteenthcentury was Khwajah Tahir Rafiq ‘Asha’i, who was a contemporary of MakhdumShaykh Hamzah, the leading Suhrawardi Sufi of Kashmir. He was son of a clothmerchant namely Khwajah Ibrahim ‘Asha’i, along with whom he often used to visit Lahore for the business purpose. Khwajah Tahir became a disciple of Shaykh ‘Abd al Shakur, a…

[rahilnazir]

IN PRAISE OF PIR-I-ROSHAN ZAMEER SULTAN-I-KHITA-I-KASHMIR (QS)

If every old and young person continues to write till the last day and if the pen writes hundreds of books likewise. It is not possible to count his praises; he is the helper of the helpless disciples. His name shines like the sun, he is the honored guide Hazrat Shaikh Hamza- the exalted. He is the helper of the distressed and the abandoned persons and also a guide to the stranded and also to…

[rahilnazir]

Remembering Baba Dawood Khaki (R.A)

Holy grave of Baba dawood khaki rehmatullahealayh besides his murshid sultanularifeen makhdoom sahb rehmatullahealayh

 Kashmir 3rd Safar ul Muzzafar (2nd month of the Islamic calendar) is observed as Urs of Sufi saint Baba Dawood Khaki (R.A). Besides being a saint, Baba Dawood Khaki (R.A) earned repute for his scholarship. Owing to his command on Islamic literature, Hadith, fiqh, etc, he is…

[rahilnazir]

Mukht Ded (harwan/Srinagar)

Women Sufi saints are found all over the Islamic world but very few of them came into limelight whereas a large number of preferred to remain behind the curtain because of their personal reasons or the adherence of strict Purdah system. Now, credit goes to research scholars who have been doing their best to enlighten our future generation about our glorious past through their works with special…

[rahilnazir]

A treasure of knowledge|A disciple in praise of his guide

In a verses of the compilation, Virdul Mureedeen, Baba Dawood Khaki, writer of this qaseeda (poem), says; it  is  having more than 360 verses like pearls, in praise of his mentor and guide Hazrat Makhdoom Sahib RA.which  has become a rosary of  pearls for the sufi saint, the recitation of which he assures shall add grace to  disciples  and can help a long way in achieving  their aims. The…

[rahilnazir]

The saint we all call Makhdoom Sahab

It was the time when the present Nallahmar road was a famous waterway connecting Srinagar with wullar via Ganderbal. Hazrat Sultanul Aarifeen (AR) was performing ablution at the bank of this river at Kalashpora Ghat. There came a procession of few boats decorated with gold and silver, the music of the ores was heard from a distance. It was the procession of the Qazul qazzah the then chief…