MINARETS, DOMES AND CALLIGRAPHY ; THE MOSQUES & SHRINES OF NORTHERN INDIA

Undoubtedly the most important Muslim shrine of Kashmir is the Hazratbal Mosque, situated on the left bank of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. The shrine commands great reverence as it houses the Moi-e-Muqqadas; the sacred hair of propher Mohammed. The Moi-e-Muqqadas; is displayed on various occasions related with the life of the propher and his four holy companions. Also in Srinagar is the Charaf-E-Sharif, the tomb of Seikh Nooruddin, the greatest mystic-saint of Kashmir. One of the oldest Muslim shrine in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is the shah-e-Hamdan or Khanqah-e-Moula. Situated on the banks of River Jhaleum in the old city, the shrine was constructed in the memory of the Muslim preacher mir syed Ali Hamdani who had visited Kasshmir and stayed there for meditation and preaching. The Jama Masjid is one the most important mosques of Srinagar. The roof of this impressive mosque is supported by more than 300 soaring pillars, each made of a single deodar tree truck. First constructed in 1385, the Mosque was destroyed by fire three times and rebuilt. Shahdara Sharief, the tomb of Baba Ghulam shah is situated in the lap of mountains in Rajouri district. Held in respect by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, this famous shrine has over the years grown to symbolize communal harmony. Another popular shrine is the Ziarat Baba Buddan shah on the outskirts of Jammu city. Baba Buddan shah was born at Talwandi in Punjab and it is said that other shrine of this sint is located at Anandpur Sshib in Punjab. In Delhi, just across the higheway from Humayun,s Tomb, is the shrine of a revered sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya or Nizam-ud-Din. Every Thursday, after the evening prayers, the Dargah resounds with Qawwalis. And twice during the year, on the death anniversaries of Hazrat Nizam,d-Din Auliya and Amir Khusro an Urs is held here when the entire area comes to life with pilgrims congregating from all over India. The tomb of Nasiru,d-Din Mahmud, the disciple of Hazrat Nizamu,d-Din, also known as Raushan Chiragh-i-Dili, is located on Malaviya Nagar-Kalkaji Road. The Tomb consists of a twelve-pillared square chamber, enclosed within perforated screens and surmounted by a plastered dome. The Jamali-Kamali Mosque and Tomb is located on the Mehrauli Bypass to Gurgaon. This is the tomb of Sikh Fazlu,llah also known as Jalal Khan a saint and poet who lived from Sikandar Lodi,s regign to that of Humayun. In the vicinity of the Red Fort in old Delhi is the Jama Masjid counted among the largest mosques in India with enough space to accommodate as many as 25,000 worshippers. The Jama Masjid was built by Emperor shah Jahan over six years. The construction was completed in 1644. A small shrine within the mosque houses the relic of propher Mohammed as well as the Holy Koran. On the southern outskirts of Mehrauli, New Delhi is Hauz-E-Shamsi, a large tank (Hauz) believed to have been built by Shamsu’d –Din Iltutmish in 1230. Legend has it that Prophet Mohammed appeared in Iltutmish’s dream and pointed out this site to him as suitable for building the tank., which he had in mind. The next morning Iltumish noticed the point of one of the hooves of the Propher’s horse, around which he built a domed platform and excavated the tank. The waters of the tank are regarded as sacred, and several graves of Muslim saints lie around it. The procession for the fair called ‘Phulwalon-ki-Sair’ or Sair- I –Gulfaroshan’., when flower vendors present flower-bedecked large fans at Dargah of Qutub-Sahib and at the Jogamaya TEMPLE, Starts from the overflow outlet of this tank, called `Jharna’.

Ali-Shah Qalandar, a Sufi saint who lived during the times of Qutubuddin Aibak, was held in high esteem by both Hindus and Muslims. The Dargah of Bu-Ali-Shaha Qalandar is situated just outside the town of Panipat. The Urs Mubarak is celebrated with Sufi abandon every year on the Saint’s death anniversary .

The Pathar Masjid of Kurukshetra is noted for its fluted minarets attached to its back wall. The ceiling of the mosque resting on pillars is decorated with floral designs carved in low relief. The 1qibia’ in the centre of the western wall, is flanked on either side by two arched niches inscribed with verses from the Koran.