Sufi Saints of Aurangabad - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Aurangabad furnished a genial soil for the spread of the religion of the Prophet

Muhammad

Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...

, and was the centre of great missionary movements in the 8th century of the Hijri

Islamic calendar

The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...

. The district is home to the earliest of Sufi saints of the Deccan. The town of Khuldabad
Khuldabad
Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

contains the shrines of the most famous saints of the Dakhan. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise. It is known as the Valley of Saints

Valley of Saints

The Valley of Saints is located in Khuldabad, a town in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India. Several Sufi saints of the Chishti Order chose to reside in Khuldabad in the fourteenth century. The dargah of Moinuddin Chishti of Khuldabad, and the tomb of the last great Mughal emperor...

, or the Abode of Eternity, because in the 14th century, several Sufi saints chose to reside here. The tomb of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...

and his trusted general Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I

Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I

Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi was a Mughal nobleman the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. He established the Hyderabad state, and ruled it from 1720 to 1748...

first Nizam

Nizam

Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...

of Hyderabad are located in this town, so is the tomb of Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar was an Ethiopian born in Harar, sold as a child by his parents due to poverty and rose to the level of Prime Minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate in India. He eventually arrived in India, where he was educated and given opportunities, but he remained a slave. Nevertheless in time he...

.

There is scarcely a village in the district which is without its tomb to its patron saint, known by the general name of "Aulia". "Saiad

Sayyid

Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...

" "Wali

Wali

Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...

", or "Sadat". The "Urs

Urs

Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...

" or the anniversary day of each saint is observed by the Muhammedans

Mohammedan

Mohammedan is a Western term for a follower of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. As an archaic English language term, it is used as both a noun and an adjective, meaning belonging or relating to, either Muhammad or the religion, doctrines, institutions and practices that he established...

and weekly offerings are also made at some of the principal shrines, on every Thursday or Friday. The following is a brief account of the chief Muhammedan

Mohammedan

saints of the district and the different orders to which they belonged.

Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...

Founded by Baha-ud-din

Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari

Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari was the founder of what would become the Naqshbandi. He was born in Bukhara which is located in Uzbekistan...

whose surname was Nakshbandi

Naqshbandi

Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...

, the painter.

Baba Shah Mosafar was one of the most celebrated Nakshbandis of Aurangabad. He was born at Ghajdavan and studied at Bukhara

Bukhara

Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...

under Baba Palang Posh Nakshbandi. As Hasan Abdal, his spiritual preceptor gave him his final initiation of Baiat and invested him with the cap and mantle. Baba Shah Mosafar travelled over Bengal and Orissa, and arrived at Aurangabad by way of Ginj and Hyderabad. He resided in the tekkieh (convent) of Shah Enalit in Katabpura; but resumed his travels again, and after proceeding as far as Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

, returned once more to Aurangabad. Shah Mosafar was not welcomed this time by Shah Enait, and moved to the Mahmud darwaza

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

, where Shah Sherin, an Azad or free dervish

Dervish

A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...

was living. The Azad was well versed in theological literature, but had a regular tavern for his dwelling place as he belonged to the Be-shara class of fakir

Fakir

The fakir or faqir ; ) Derived from faqr is a Muslim Sufi ascetic in Middle East and South Asia. The Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam and living on alms....

s, who are hermits and live without the law. However, he courteously gave up the mosque, and retired to Sultanganj; and Baba Shah Mosafar cleared the place of the bhang drinking vessels. As he belonged to fakir

Fakir

The fakir or faqir ; ) Derived from faqr is a Muslim Sufi ascetic in Middle East and South Asia. The Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam and living on alms....

s who are travellers and pilgrims living within the law. Shah Mosafar settled down to a monastic life, and was visited by various prominent persons, who reconstructed his humble dwelling with more substantial materials, and added a madrissa

Madrasah

Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...

, a travellers, bungalow, and a system of water-supply with cisterns and fountains. Among those who called on him
were Haji Jamil Beg Khan, Muhammad Tahir of Persia, haji Manzur, a eunuch of the royal harem. Hafiz Abdul Maoni a learned poet of Balkh

Balkh

Balkh , was an ancient city and centre of Zoroastrianism in what is now northern Afghanistan. Today it is a small town in the province of Balkh, about 20 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Mazar-e Sharif, and some south of the Amu Darya. It was one of the major cities of Khorasan...

, and Tahir Beg of Tashkand

Tashkent

Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...

. Muhammad Kalich Khan gave him the jagir

Jagir

In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...

of Kasab-Khera in the Elora pargana, and a mansab of 150 Rs. a month. The emperor Bahadur Shah

Bahadur Shah I

Bahadur Shah was a Mughal Emperor, who ruled India from 1707 to 1712. His original name was Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Mu'azzam later titled as Shah Alam by his father. He took the throne name Bahadur Shah in 1707. His name Bahādur means "brave" & "hero" in Turko-Mongol languages...

expressed a wish to call on him, but sent the prime minister instead. And afterwards the emperor's son prince Muiz ud din visited the Baba. Shah Mosafar died in H. 1110, and in H. 1117. Turktaz Khan Bahadur, a noble on the staff of Nizam ul Mulk 'Asaf Jah

Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I

Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi was a Mughal nobleman the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. He established the Hyderabad state, and ruled it from 1720 to 1748...

' erected the present handsome stone tekkieh the mosque, and the Panchaki

Panchakki

Panchakki, also known as the water mill, takes its name from the mill which used to grind grain for the pilgrims. This monument located in Aurangabad, Maharastra, displays the scientific thought process put in medieval Indian architecture. It was designed to generate energy via water brought down...

or water-mill. Twenty years later Jamil Beg Khan added the-ablong reservoir with fountains, in honour of which, the poet Saiad Gholam 'Ali Bilgrami composed a Mesnavi

Masnavi

The Masnavi, Masnavi-I Ma'navi or Mesnevi , also written Mathnawi, Ma'navi, or Mathnavi, is an extensive poem written in Persian by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, the celebrated Persian Sufi saint and poet. It is one of the best known and most influential works of both Sufism and Persian literature...

and consecrated it to Imam Husain.
Of the other Nakshbandis:

Mir Muhammad of Walkan in Bukhara

Bukhara

succeeded Shah Mosafar as Kaliph and went to Karnul with Khaja Koli Khan, a companion to Chin Kalich Khan, where he was killed in a scuffle in H. 1119.

Khaja Yadgar Khan worshipped in the mosque of Jamil Beg Khan, and received an annual allowance from the emperor Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

.

Saiad Masum lies buried towards Sangvi for whom Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

built the Shabina masjid.

Rehmat Alla Shah came from Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

in the time of Aurangzeb, and stayed in Mosafar Shah’s tekkieh for thirty years. He then returned to Aurangapura, where Mir Khalil, the emperor’s steward, built him a mosque, etc. Rehmat Alla Shah sent his Kalish Hussain Ali to Jalna

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

Suhrawardiyya
Suhrawardiyya
Suhrawardy redirects here. For the East Bengali politician and Prime Minister of Pakistan, see Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The well-known Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi "the Executed" , the Shia founder of Illuminationism, is unconnected....

Suhrawardiyya

Suhrawardy redirects here. For the East Bengali politician and Prime Minister of Pakistan, see Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The well-known Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi "the Executed" , the Shia founder of Illuminationism, is unconnected....

- Sprang from the Nakshbandi

Naqshbandi

Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...

at Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

, and was founded by Shahabu-d din

Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi

Other important Muslim mystics carry the name Suhrawardi, particularly Abu 'l-Najib al-Suhrawardi and his paternal nephew Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi."Shahāb ad-Dīn" Yahya ibn Habash as-Suhrawardī was a Persian...

in H. 602.

Ganj Rawan Ganj Baksh
Ganj Rawan Ganj Baksh
Ganj Rawan Ganj Baksh belonged to the SUHERWERDI order of Sufi saints, which was founded by Shahab ud din at Baghdad in Hijri 602. He was the earliest of Sufi saint of the Deccan.-Ganj Rawan Ganj Baksh:...

:

Saiad Shah Jalal ud din or Ganj Rawan Ganj Baksh (which means "moving treasure'), was born at Khirkan near Bukhara

Bukhara

, and established the earliest Islamic mission in the Dakhan about H. 700, or a little before the invasion of 'Alaud din Khilji

Alauddin Khilji

Ali Gurshap Khan better known by his titular name as Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji was the second ruler of the Turko-Afghan Khilji dynasty in India.He was a well and capable ruler. He belonged to the Afghanized Turkic tribe of the Khiljis...

. He settled down at Unasnagar, between Daulatabad and Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

. Ganj Rawan's tomb at Roza has two trees growing near it, one of which is reputed to have grown from a staff given him by his preceptor, and the other from a branch of the first. Both are said to possess miraculous properties.

Shahab ud din.
Shahab ud din was an able author, who flourished in the 9th century Hijri

Islamic calendar

, and wrote several works. He spent the greater part of his life at Daulatabad of which he was the “kazi

Qadi

Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...

," and had a dispute with Saiad Ajmal the minister of justice about Saiad

Sayyid

s and Ulema

Ulema

Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...

s. Shahabud din died at Daulatabad about H. 848.

Nizam ud din.
Nizam ud din came into the Dakhan with a number of Mahomedan missionaries in the beginning of the 11th century of the Hijri

Islamic calendar

era, and lived at 'Ambad

Ambad

Ambad is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the state of Maharashtra, India. Ambad is notable for its temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Matsyodari. In October of each year, devotees of the goddess gather in Ambad for the Hindu festival of Dashahara. A local tradition claims...

,. He possessed great literary qualifications, and Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar

appointed him “kazi

Qadi

“ of 'Ambad. His son Baha ud din suffered martyrdom at Ahmednagar, where his tomb is still venerated. Nizam ud din's daughter was buried with her husband at “Nag-jhari," a mile south of 'Ambad. A document dated H. 1113 in the possession of the present descendant, is sealed by Amjad 'Ali Khan Fiawar, an employe of Shah 'Alam Badshah Ghazi.
Shah Latif Tawizi came to Paithan

Paithan

Paithan , formerly Pratishthana, is a city and a municipal council in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city was the capital of the Sātavāhana empire of ancient India that ruled from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD...

and was invested with spiritual power by Maulana Muizzu-d din. His tomb on the bank of the Godavari, opposite to Maulana Sahib's darga, is without a dome.

Dawal Shah Wali.
Dawal Shah Wali or Abdul Malik Latif is said to have been the groom of 'Ali. After the death of his master, Dawal Shah Wali travelled about; and monuments were erected to his memory in the different places which he visited. In this manner, there are about 360 " chillas" to him in the Dakhan, besides numerous “astanas" containing some of his sacred relics. He suffered martyrdom at Kattiawad. A “chilla" to Dawal Shah Wali is found within the city walls of Aurangabad to the left of the Mecca gate

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

, and is resorted to every Thursday by Mahomedans and Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

s. The poor people ascribe all manner of sickness to Shah Wali, and make offerings to his tomb. There is another " chilla" to him at Elora, and a shrine to his mother called "Man sahib ki chilla." Babulgaon in the Gangapur taluka

Gangapur, Maharashtra

Gangapur is a city and a municipal council in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Geography:Gangapur is located on west side of Aurangabad-Ahmednagar Highway, 38 km from Aurangabad. Gangapur is Taluka place in Historical District Aurangabad...

, and Pipalwari 6 miles from Paithan

Paithan

, have " astanas" to Shall Wali. Two more " astanas" occur in the Baijapur taluka.

Qadiriyyah

Qadiriyyah.-Originated about H. 561, with Saiad 'Abdul Kadar Gilani whose shrine is at Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

, and is the chief order of fakirs in the district.

Shah Nasir ud din or Shah Nasir Alla Kadar was instructed by Said ud din of Delhi to accompany Burhan ud din to the Dakhan on a religious mission. The party arrived at Pirbohra, a village 24 miles north of Aurangabad, where the members separated.

Shah Nasiru-d din
Shah Nasir erected the earliest mosque in Jalna

Jalna

Jalna may refer to:*Jalna district, an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in western India*Jalna , a city and a municipal council in Jalna district*Jalna , a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra...

on the site " tekri" or mound not far from the "ashaba," . Jala Rao, or Mahomed Islam Khan, a freebooter whom Shah Nasir converted, built the " Khas bhag," and on his death which happened in a religious war, Nasir Alla became possessed of the "shish" or mud fort. Nasir Alla died in the 8th century Hijri

Islamic calendar

, and was buried on the Aurangabad road, not far from the "shish."

Shah Latif
Shah Latif Kadari, one of the seven patron saints of Jalna

Jalna

, was a learned man of Dehli, who accompanied Burhanu-d din to the Dakhan, and separated from him at Pirbohra. He opened two " maktabs" or schools near the Jama Masjid at Jalna, and his tomb lies close by. Students offer sugar on the threshold of the tomb, in the hope of improving their memories.

Luta Ali Shah
There is a mosque, reservoir, and tomb at Wakla in the Baijapur

Vaijapur

Vaijapur is a city and a municipal council in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Vaijapur is located at . It has an average elevation of 514 metres ....

taluka, to Luta 'Ali Shah of the Kadari order, who arrived in the Dakhan about 400 years ago.

Saiad Rahman
Saiad Rahman or Saiad Rafi came with Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

, and settled at Jalna

Jalna

. The Malis or gardeners give an annual feast called “kundun" at his tomb in Anandi's garden beyond the 'Ambad darwaza.

Taj ud din
Tajud din and Saifud din of Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

, the descendants of 'Abdul Kadar Jilani, proceeded to Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

, and then came to India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, where they separated. Tajud din arrived at Aurangabad in H. 1070, and on his way, converted a band of robbers 14 miles north of the city, some of whom settled down on the spot and founded a village called Tajnanur. He subsequently became a recluse, and retired into a cave on Chaman Tekri, to the east of Daulatabad, where he was accidentally discovered by Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

when out hunting. The saint was taken out in a very emaciated state, and was attended by the emperor's physicians who carried him to the Bharkal gate

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

of Aurangabad. Tajud din improved in health, and his staff which was buried in the ground began to grow after forty days. The emperor ordered a mosque to be erected at Chaman Tekri and called it “Taimur Beg masjid". In the meantime Ruknud din, the son of Tajud din, who had been left behind at Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

, as being too young to travel, had heard nothing of Tajud din for twenty years, and traveled by way of Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

for the Dakhan in search of his father. At last he came to the mosque at Chaman Tekri where he obtained news of Tijud din, and soon afterwards joined the latter at the Bharkal gate in the city. On the ensuing “Urus" of 'Abdul Kadar Jilani, Ruknud din, under the title of Mir Mahomed Shaikh Soliman, was appointed successor to his father. Tijud din had an aversion to music and singing, and earned his livelihood by carpet-weaving. He died in H. 1110, and his darga stands near the Bharkal gate of the city.

Rukn ud din
Ruknud din or Shaikh Soliman left two months later for Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

, and returned to Aurangabad after an absence of nine months. He died in H. 1156, and was buried near his father. Chin Begam, the daughter of H. H. 'Asaf Jah

Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I

Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi was a Mughal nobleman the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. He established the Hyderabad state, and ruled it from 1720 to 1748...

, was a staunch disciple of Ruknu-d din's, and was buried near him in H. 1161. An inscription mentions that Saiad Shah Aziz Badshah, the grandson of Ruknud din, erected the present darga in H. 1190. He also composed a small Persian work in H. 1291, called “Nokat-a-Azizi," and dedicated it to his son Saiad Shah Azim Badshah, tutor to H. H. the Nizam

Nizam

Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...

.

Shah Nur Hamwi
Saiad Shah Nur Hamwi came from Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

and lived for some time at Burhanpur and then at Ahmadnagar. He visited Aurangabad after Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

's arrival, and initiated nawab Diyanut Khan, the emperor's minister, into the Kadaria order. He died in H. 1104, and was buried outside the Paithan gate

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

of the city of Aurangabad. Shah Nur was succeeded as “kaliph" by Shah Mazlum, and the latter by Shahabud din Farrakabadi.

Shah Unas
Shah Unas Kadari flourished at Harsul in the time of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

. He probably came from Constantinople

Istanbul

Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...

, and belonged to the Kavas-jilar order of dervishes. Kanduri is a feast held in his honor. The elders of the “Kalbay Kadar ka fakir " come from Bidar

Bidar

Bidar is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the north-eastern part of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District....

to Siwar in the Baijapur

Vaijapur

Vaijapur is a city and a municipal council in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Vaijapur is located at . It has an average elevation of 514 metres ....

taluka. The members of this order are often absorbed in silent meditation, with eyes closed or fixed on the ground.

Kalbay Kadar
There is a Kalbay Kadar tekkieh at Badnapur near Jalna

Jalna

, and another close to the Killa Arak in the city of Aurangabad. When the latter was deserted, it was sold to the Shiahs of the city, who converted the place into a burial ground. The wealthier Shiahs only temporarily interred their dead in the cemetery, and afterwards transferred the remains to Kerbela. Shaha Jang, uncle of the late Sir Salar Jang, was buried in this cemetery. An inscription over his tomb gives the date of his death as H. 1210.

Chishtiyya

Chishti Order

The Chishtī Order is a Sufi order within the mystic branches of Islam which was founded in Chisht, a small town near Herat, Afghanistan about 930 CE. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. The doctrine of the Chishti Order is based on walāya, which is a...

contains some of the most famous saints of the Dakhan.

Shah Muntajab ud din
Shah Muntajab ud din, surnamed Zar Zari Zar Baksh
Zar Zari Zar Baksh
Zar Zari Zar Baksh, or Shah Muntajab ud din, was one of the earliest Sufis of the Chishti Order, the most dominant of all the Sufi orders in the Indian subcontinent. He was sent to the Deccan by Nizamuddin Auliya of Dehli in the beginning of the 8th century Hijri...

, meaning "generous", was one of the earliest of the Chishtias, and was sent to the Dakhan by Nizamuddin Auliya

Nizamuddin Auliya

Sultan-ul-Mashaikh, Mehboob-e-Ilahi, Hazrat Shaikh Khwaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya , also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, was a famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order in the Indian Subcontinent, an order that believed in drawing close to God through renunciation of the world and service to...

of Dehli, in the beginning of the 8th century Hijri

Islamic calendar

. He was accompanied by 700 disciples, and is said to have converted a Hindu princess near a well at Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

. The place is called "Sohan baoli" or " pleasing well," and the princess is buried close to the saint.
The tomb of Zar Zari Baksh is between Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar

's tomb and the northern gate of the town. It contains a number of ornaments and relics, the most remarkable of which is a circular looking-glass of steel mounted on a steel pedestal of four feet in height. It is said to have been presented by king Tana Shah.

Burhan ud din:

Shah Burhan ud din studied under Nizamuddin Auliya

Nizamuddin Auliya

, the sultan ul mashaikh of Dehli; and Saiad Mahomed of Karmania relates in the "Seyar ul Aulia," that Burhanud din was invested with the mantle and cap, the symbols of the kaliphat, in succession to the sultan ul mashaikh. Other writers state, that on the death of Shah Muntajab ud din

Zar Zari Zar Baksh

Zar Zari Zar Baksh, or Shah Muntajab ud din, was one of the earliest Sufis of the Chishti Order, the most dominant of all the Sufi orders in the Indian subcontinent. He was sent to the Deccan by Nizamuddin Auliya of Dehli in the beginning of the 8th century Hijri...

at Daulatabad, his brother Burhan ud din was sent to succeed him, and was accompanied by 1,400 disciples. It appears more probable however, that Burhan ud din succeeded the sultan ul mashaikh as kaliph, and that he emigrated to the Dakhan when sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq

Muhammad bin Tughluq

Muhammad bin Tughluq was the Turkic Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351. He was the eldest son of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.He was born in Kotla Tolay Khan in Multan. His wife was daughter of the raja of Dipalpur...

transferred the capital from Delhi

Delhi

Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

to Daulatabad. Mujud ud din in his " Bakiat-el-Gharib" gives a biography of Burhan ud din; and haji Saiad Baksh and Shams ud din, the nephew of Hasan bin es Sanjari, were the particular friends of the saint. Burhan ud din allowed music and dancing in the religious exercises at his convent. He remained for some time at Daulatabad and then left for Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

, where ho died in H. 741(1344 A. D) approx.

Opposite the building which contains the tombs of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

& Zain-ud-din is that of Shah Burhanud din. It has a large quadrangular courtyard having open fronted building on all sides, and a nagarkhana at the east end. The west end of the quadrangle is used as a school and a door here gives access to an inner courtyard containing several graves. Facing the entrance is the tomb of Sayyad Burhan-ud-din. Within the shrine are preserved some hair of the prophet
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...

's beard. The shrine doors are plated with plates of metal wrought into fanciful designs of trees and flowers. There is a mosque in front of the dargah.

Zain ud din:

Shaikh Zain ud din Daud was born at Shiraz

Shiraz

Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...

in H. 701 and went to Delhi

Delhi

by way of Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

. He studied under Maulana Kamal ud din of Samana, and came with him to Daulatabad. The author of the “Mayrat-al Walayeh" mentions that Zain ud din on his arrival at Daulatabad, disapproved of the singing and dancing in the convent of Burhan ud din; but when he visited the " tekkieh," he was perfectly satisfied, and he and his companions were initiated in the Chishtia order

Chishti Order

. Shaikh Zain ud din held the office of “kazi" at Daulatabad, and in H. 737 was invested with the mantle of the kaliphat, but did not actually succeed till after Burhan ud din's death in H. 741. Shaikh Husain has recorded all the sayings of Zainu-d din in his “Hidayat ul Kalul," and mentions that in H. 747, sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq

Muhammad bin Tughluq

directed him to leave for Dehli with the other inhabitants. After the death of the sultan, his successor Firoz Shah permitted the saint to return to Daulatabad. Zainu-d din was greatly respected by the Bahmani king sultan Mahmud, who was first reproved by the saint for misgovernment. Malik raja the founder of the Faruki dynasty of Kandesh

Faruqi dynasty

The Faruqi dynasty was the ruling dynasty of the Khandesh sultanate from its inception in 1382 till its annexation by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1601. The founder of the dynasty, Malik Ahmad participated in a rebellion against the Bahmani ruler Muhmmad Shah I in his early years...

became one of Zainu-d din's disciples, and when the next sovereign Nasir ud din Nasir Khan Faruki captured Asirgarh

Asirgarh

Asirgarh Qila is an Indian fortress situated in the Satpura Range, about 20 km north of the town of Burhanpur, in Burhanpur District of Madhya Pradesh state. The fortress commands a pass through the Satpuras connecting the valleys of the Narmada and Tapti rivers, one of the most important...

in A.D. 1399, Zainu-d din went expressly from Daulatabad to Asirgarh, to tender his congratulations. It was to commemorate this visit that the town of Zainabad, on the left bank of the Tapti

Tapti River

The Tapi River ancient original name Tapi River , is a river in central India. It is one of the major rivers of peninsular India with a length of around 724 km...

, was founded after him; and Burhanpur

Burhanpur

Burhanpur is an important city in Madhya Pradesh state, India. It is the administrative seat of Burhanpur District. It is situated on the north bank of the Tapti River, southwest of Bhopal and northeast of Mumbai...

on the opposite bank was founded about the same time in honor of Burhan ud din. Zain ud din died in H. 771, and a handsome mausoleum was erected over his tomb at Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

, which is visited by devout Musalmans of the Dakhan. The relics of the “parahan" (the robe of the prophet) and “taj" given to Burhanu-d din on succeeding to the kaliphat, are carefully preserved in a wooden box placed in one of the apartments of Zain ud din's darga. Every year on the 12th Rabiu-l Awal, the sacred hair of the Prophet is first shown to visitors, and then the “parahan," the " taj,' and a few likenesses of some of the most sacred personages among the Mahomedans are exhibited.

The tombs of Azam Shah, of his Begum, and of a Mahomedan saint, are in a small enclosure to the east of Zainu-d din's mausoleum; while Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

's tomb lies to the west. Opposite this last is a large quadrangular courtyard, having open-fronted buildings on all sides, and a “nakar-khana" or music hall at the east end. The west end is used as a school where the Koran is taught, and gives access to an inner courtyard which contains a number of graves. Facing the entrance is the shrine of Burhan ud din; and a little to the right is the last resting-place of Asaf Jah

Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I

Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi was a Mughal nobleman the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. He established the Hyderabad state, and ruled it from 1720 to 1748...

and of one of his consorts. To the left is the tomb of Nasir Jang

Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad

Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad Humayum Jung Nizam ud Daula s/o Mir Qamaruddin Khan Siddiqi Nizam I by his wife Saidunisa Begum was the Nizam, or ruler, of the Hyderabad State from 1748 to 1750.-Official name:...

, the son of 'Asaf Jah, who at one time contemplated rebellion against his father, but overcome by contrition for his conduct, performed penance at the tomb of saint Zain ud din.

Saiad Youasf

Saiad Yousaf or Shah Raju Qatal was instructed by Charagh Dehlwi to proceed to the Dakhan, and arrived there in H. 726. He was accompanied by his sons Saiad Chanda and Saiad Mahomed Banda Nawaz

Khwaja Bande Nawaz

Syed Muhammad Hussaini, commonly known as Hazrat Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gaisu Daraz , was a famous Sufi saint from India of the Chishti Order, who advocated understanding, tolerance and harmony among various religious groups.Gaisu Daraz was a murid of the noted Sufi saint of Delhi, Hazrat Nasiruddin...

surnamed “Gaysu Daraz" or " the long-ringletted. The latter is the patron saint of Gulbarga

Gulbarga

Gulbarga is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Gulbarga District. It was formerly part of Nizam's Hyderabad state...

. Saiad Yousaf was a Sufi “mashaikh," and wrote a religious, poem called “Tuhfet-en-nasayeh." He died in H. 726 and was buried at Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

.

Amir Hasan

Amir Hasan bin es Sanjari came from Seistan

Sistan

Sīstān is a border region in eastern Iran , southwestern Afghanistan and northern tip of Southwestern Pakistan .-Etymology:...

also known as Amir Hasan Dihlawi Sijzi and was a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya

Nizamuddin Auliya

. He was called the “Sadi of Hindostan," and recorded all his preceptor's sayings in the “Fawaid-ul Fawad." His “Lataif-al-Ashrafi" is full of jokes; and his writings were eulogized by Jami

Jami

Nur ad-Dīn Abd ar-Rahmān Jāmī also known as DJāmī, Mawlanā Nūr al-Dīn 'Abd al-Rahmān or Abd-Al-Rahmān Nur-Al-Din Muhammad Dashti who is commonly known as Jami , is known for his achievements as a scholar, mystic, writer, composer of numerous lyrics and idylls, historian, and one of the greatest...

the Persian poet, by Shaikh Faizi, and by others. He left for Daulatabad on the transfer of the capital from Dehli, and died in H. 737. His tomb is outside of Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

, and is surrounded by a wall, but has no dome over it. Students offer sugar on the threshold of the tomb on Thursdays, to improve their memories. A mosque and " tekkieh are attached to the tomb; and close by is the grave of the poet Mir Gholam Ali Azad Bilgrami
Azad Bilgrami
Azad Bilgrami is one of the most significant scholar of Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages in 18th century India. He is the first Indian poet of Arabic whose poetic compilation is available. The King of Yemen had had acknowledged his poetic genius and accorded him the title of Hassan Al-Hind.-Early...

of the 12th century Hijri

Islamic calendar

.

Farid ud din

Maulana Farid ud din the Adib was one of the leading disciples of Burhdn ud din and died 17 days before his preceptor. His tomb lies to the west of that of Muntajab ud din

Zar Zari Zar Baksh

.

Haji Husain

Haji Husain was born at Shiraz

Shiraz

, and was a merchant. His son Zain ud din started for Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

en route to India

India

; and haji and his brother came to Dehli in search of Zain ud din. They then left for Daulatabad where they settled down and died, and were buried to the north-east of Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

. In former days, religious Mahomedans spent 40 days in this dome, in prayer and fasting.

Nizam ud din

Nizam ud din came in the 8th century Hijri

Islamic calendar

, and Burhan ud din gave him a " turra" or crest for his turban, and the title of " Saidus Sadat" or " chief of chiefs." He left Daulatabad for Paithan

Paithan

, and on his way, he erected a mosque and dome. Saiad Sadat performed a " chilla" or fast for 40 days within the dome, and after his death a cenotaph was raised to his memory. The patelship of the village of Bhirkan which he populated, was for a long time in the hands of Saiads, whose tombs are scattered over the kasba and pet, and are objects of veneration to the inhabitants. He peopled the eastern portion of the town and died in H. 792. On the Urus day, the spire of the dome over his tomb is adorned by the Mainars or builders of Paithan

Paithan

with a " turra" or tuft, at the ceremony called " turra churhana," to commemorate the crested turban which Saiad Sadat wore. The Mainars, the Dhanday Momins, and the descendants of the Moghals and Persians who settled about Paithan

Paithan

in the time of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

, are among the “khadims" of Saiad Sahib. A date stick, and a “kutchkoal" or beggar's bowl which belonged to the saint, are carefully preserved in the darga. Newly married persons perambulate the tomb three times, and place offerings of food in the beggar's bowl. Bawa Ramzan or Kanoba was a Hindu sorcerer who was converted by Saiad Sadat. He was called Bawa Ramzan, from having been converted in the month of Ramzan; and died at Tisgaon Marri near Ahmednagar. He was hold in great reverence; and a pitcher with which he drew water for 12 years and filled a large jar for Saiad Sadat to wash in, is preserved in the darga.

Jalaluddin Pir Manik Bhandari

He is also amongest the earliest disciples of Nizamuddin Auliya. He ran the Langar khana of Nizamuddin Auliya. After the death of Nizamuddin Auliya, he went to the Deccan with Burhanuddin Gharib, and became famous by the name of Bhandari. His shrine is in Fatehabad in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.
Soliman Shah & Others

Soliman Shah, a rich dervish

Dervish

, accompanied Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

in his early expeditions into the Dakhan, and retired to Gangapur

Gangapur, Maharashtra

where he died. His darga is in the " barra tekkieh" close to the " shahi bagh" or royal garden. A cenotaph and lamp-pillar to Zinda Shah Madar were also erected in the “barra tekkieh" by Azmat ul la, a son of Soliman Shah who joined the Khadman sect of the Madaria order.

Habib ul la or Hakkani Haknuma flourished at Ranjani in the Jalna

Jalna

taluk; and respect is paid to his memory by the Hindus and Mahomedans

Mohammedan

, especially by the females. Jana Shah Mian came in the time of the first Nizam

Nizam

Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...

, and settled at Seona, where he practised fixed meditation. A hill six miles from Kanhar, near Nandarbari, is called “Kalandar-ki-pahar," possibly after one of the Kalandri

Qalandar

Qalandars are wandering ascetic Sufi dervishes who may or may not be connected to a specific tariqat. They are most prevalent in Central Asia, India and Pakistan, in the latter "qalandar" is also used as a title...

order, which is a branch of the Chishtia. Shah Bu Ali Kalandar came with Burhan ud din, and is said to have had his seat on a huge boulder, close to one of the Kanhar hills. Great reverence is paid to this boulder by the Hindus and Mahomedans

Mohammedan

of the surrounding country. Shah Bu Ali afterwards went to the Punjab

Punjab region

The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...

and died there. The Mewatis of Kunjkhaira in the Kanhar taluk, belong either to the Chishtia or some other branch of the Kadaria order. A little to the east of Kunjkhaira is a darga to Jangli Shah Mian, and another to Chumman Shah Dulah.

Shattari
Shattari
The Shattariyya are members of a Sufi mystical order that originated in Persia in the fifteenth century C.E. and formally developed, completed and codified in India. Later secondary branches were taken to Hejaz and Indonesia...

a

Shattari

The Shattariyya are members of a Sufi mystical order that originated in Persia in the fifteenth century C.E. and formally developed, completed and codified in India. Later secondary branches were taken to Hejaz and Indonesia...

- A branch of the Kadaria, in which the members repeat their devotions with great rapidity. Arif Alla Shah was about the earliest arrival in the Dakhan, who belonged to this sect. He was buried in his " tekkieh" outside the western gate of' Ambad

Ambad

, near a mosque about 400 years old, called " Bin khami masjid." Saiad Ahmad of Gujarat spread the Shattaria sect in Aurangabad Maharashtra, probably in the time of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

. He was a follower of Burhan ud din, and his shrine is outside the Jafar gate

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

Razak Shahi

RAZAK SHAHI.-A branch of the Kadaria, founded by Abdul Razak of Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

. Arif Shah Sain of this sect came to 'Ambad

Ambad

, where he erected a mosque. His “tekkieh" and tomb are to the north of 'Ambad; and the graves of his six successors are close by. Sher 'Ali Shah Sain arrived from the Panjab, and his “tekkieh" and tomb are near the Shahgarh darwaza of'Ambad. The remains of a furnace are close by, where he made amber beads which he distributed to fakirs, &c. Shah Khaksar came from Bijapur

Bijapur, Karnataka

Bijapur Urdu:بیجاپور city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty...

to Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

in the time of Akbar, and his “tekkieh" and tomb are at Sulibhajan.

Khaksari

Shah Khaksar came from Bijapur to Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

in the time of Akbar, and his “tekkieh" and tomb are at Sulibhajan.
He established the Khaksari sect at Daulatabad; and the graves of several of his followers are near his tomb.

Mohkam Shahi

is another branch of the Kadaria to which Data Wali of 'Ambad belonged. Data Wali never left his “tekkieh" which is outside the Jalna darwaza, and when he died, was buried in the convent.

Jan Alla Shahi

JAN ALLA SHAHI - A sect founded at Jalna

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

by Jan Mohammed, who was born at Sinnur near Delhi

Delhi

in H. 1030. He was early left an orphan, and started with his brother for Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

; and on completing his studies, was instructed at the tomb of 'Abdul Kadar Jilani to proceed to the great spiritualist, Miranji of Burhanpur. After studying with Miranji for five years, Jan Mahomed's name was changed in open congregation to Jan Alla (Life of God), and that of his brother to Bab Alla (Door of God). In H. 1046 he started for Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

accompanied by the ancestors of the present “khadims;" and on his journey, was assisted by the “Jins

Genie

Jinn or genies are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. Together, jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of Allah. Religious sources say barely anything about them; however, the Qur'an mentions that...

."

Jan Alla.
After an absence of twelve years Jan Alla was instructed to proceed to Jalna

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

, which he did by way of Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

. On arriving at Aurangabad, he occupied a chamber on the left of the Jumma masjid of Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar

, and was quite a recluse, performing the “Sunnat" prayers in his own room, and only the “Fars" prayers in the mosque. His sanctity was noised about, and he was invited to Jalna by haji Bur Khurdar the faujdar. Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

also wished to see him and went for the purpose to the Jumma masjid, and even to the " Hujra" or chamber, but did not succeed in his object. A copy of a letter is still shown, which is said to have been written to Jan Alla by order of Aurangzeb. The emperor next sent his vizier, but before the latter could come, Jan Alla and his brother had quietly gone away to Mungi Paitan, and from thence proceeded with Abdur Rahman, the deputy faujdar, to Jalna. Aurangzeb then sent prince Muazzam

Bahadur Shah I

to Jalna, and the saint received the prince kindly in a small dwelling in a mango grove where Jan Alla's tomb has since been erected. It was on this occasion that Jan Alla received a sanad for five hundred bighas of land near Jalnapur, where Kadrabad and the cantonment now stand.

Khadims:

Khadim Shah Abdul Wahab, or Janaza Rawan, a "khadim" of Jan Alla, conducted the funeral services for the colony of Kadrabad. He compelled the “Jins

Genie

" to carry him on his cot to Bijapur, to meet Shah Azimu-d din or “Tazim Turk" who mistook him for Jan Alla. Of the other “khadims," Hidayat Alla in H. 1070 copied Imam Gazib's work in the Kufio character. In H. 1085 Ali Bin Mohammed wrote the " Monovarul Kalub," a work on spiritualism. Haji Shah Ismail was buried at Bajipura in Aurangabad ; and his grandson Amam Alla's tomb is near Jan Alla's in Jalna

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

. Amam Alla wrote a Persian work in H. 1169. Saiad 'Abdulla was a "mohudis" versed in tradition; and Mian Haji Mohammed Kasim was tutor to Bahadur Shah I

Bahadur Shah I

. Miral Hasan was a studious khadim who died at Haidarabad, and his remains were transferred to Kadrabad. He was a prominent subject of H. H. Nasir-ud-Daula, and was contemporary with Maulvi Shaja ud din of Haidarabad, and Alla Wali Sahib of Burhanpur, two of the most learned men of the time. Nur-al Hasan or Gholami Sahib collected a number of books, and had the honor of bringing from Mecca

Mecca

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

, a copy of the Koran, and a sacred book called Dalail-us Sharif," which he kept in Jalna. The clan of Ghori Pathans found about Jalna belong to the "khadims" of Jan Alla. They fought under Ranmust Khan against raja Sambha of Sattara; and Nahir Khan, a Ghori Pathan, held Jalna in jaghir. According to an inscription, Nahir Khan built the 'Ambad darwaza with a bastion on each side, and a well and masjid for his spiritual director Shah Miran. There is another mosque close by, which was built by Sultan Mohammed, son of Malik 'Abdulla Beg, faujdar of Jalna

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

.

Nirgun shah Wali.
Nirgun Shah Wali came from Bengal

Bengal

Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...

, and lived as a recluse at Nidhara, two miles north of Jalna

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

. His principle was, “retirement from the eyes of the world, and cessation from seeking the honor and respect of any one." When Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

was at Jalna, he is said to have visited Nirgun Shah Wali. Many others called to see him, including Jan Alla, Bab Alla, Raja Bagh Sawar., and Nirgun received them, seated on a stone which is still pointed out. He also paid return visits, and took with him a starling (maina), which was always his companion and was able to talk. There is a story current, that Nirgun was murdered by the patels of Nidhara and Tandulwara, for the sake of this maina, which Jan Alla coveted It is said that three days after Nirgun's death, Jan Alla gave a great feast to all the dervishes, on which occasion, the, maina pointed out the corpse of Nirgun, and denouncing Jan Alla as his murderer, fell down dead upon its master. From that day, Jan Alla was stigmatised as " Jan Alla maina mar," and the fakirs of the Nakshbandi, Kadaria, Madaria, Rafai, Sada Sohag, and Jalali orders, and the numerous sects to which these gave rise, consider the khadims of Kadrabad out of caste and will not eat with them. The khadims on the other hand deny the accusation, and assert that there was no talking bird, but that the maina refers to a woman named mana. They further state that the woman was instructed to say that she had been cruelly wronged, because the other dervishes were envious of the 500 bigahs of land which the khadims possessed. Regarding Nirgun the khadims and the patels of Nidhara and Tandulwara affirm, that he was a " ghaus," and that at midnight, in one of his acts of worship called " Tahajud," the intensity of his devotion was so great, that his head and limbs fell asunder. [The word "Nirgun" suggests a connection with “Nirvana," and the story of this saint has an under-current of Buddhism. The Buddhists sympathised with Mahornedanism, and Nirgun's maina is probably the Daitya mana who is said to have been killed by Khandoba. The reverence paid to sacred boulders is derived from the aborigines; and raja Bagh Sawar, and even Jan Alla and Bab Alla are believed to have been converted Hindus.]

Rafai
Rifa'i
The Rifa'i order is an eminent Sufi order founded by Ahmed ar-Rifa'i and developed in the Lower Iraq marshlands between Wasit and Basra. The Rifa'iyya had its greatest following until the 15th century C.E. when it was overtaken by the Qadiri order. Presently the order is said to maintain...

RAFAI - Founded in Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

in the 6th century Hijri by Saiad Ahmad Rafai

Ahmed ar-Rifa'i

-Early life:Shaikh Ahmed er-Rifai was born in Hasen Region of Wasit, Iraq on a Thursday. This day was in the first half of Recep of lunar months. When he was seven years old, his father Seyyid Sultan Ali died in Baghdad. After that his uncle Seyyid Mansur er-Rabbani el-Betaihi took under his...

, nephew to Abdul Kadar Jilani. The Rafais are celebrated for their penances with red-hot irons, and are also called howling dervishes. The order was introduced into Aurangabad by Rahmat Alla Shah Rafai in the time of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

; and the members became very numerous in the days of H. H. Nizam ' Ali Khan

Ali Khan Asaf Jah II

Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Asaf Jah II was the Nizam of Hyderabad State in South India between 1762 and 1803.-Official name:...

, when there were 360 houses belonging to them in Aurangabad. During the subahship of Shabar Yar Jang, the Rafais cut themselves with lances whenever alms were refused them.

Rahmat Alla, &c.
Rahmat Alla came from Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

, and lived for thirty years in Mosafar Shah's “tekkieh" at Panchakki

Panchakki

. He then moved into a house in Aurangpura which Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

's steward built for him. His tomb is beyond the western gate of Aurangabad. Medina Sahib came from Medina

Medina

Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...

, and his frenzy as a Rafai

Rifa'i

The Rifa'i order is an eminent Sufi order founded by Ahmed ar-Rifa'i and developed in the Lower Iraq marshlands between Wasit and Basra. The Rifa'iyya had its greatest following until the 15th century C.E. when it was overtaken by the Qadiri order. Presently the order is said to maintain...

is still spoken of by dervishes. He was buried inside the Jafar darwaza

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

. Masum Shah was a famed Rafai of Tisgaon Mori, ten kos from Paitan towards Ahmadnagar. He often visited Kadrabad and built a "tekkieh" near the "Ranger khirki." He was buried in front of the “darga" of Nur Shah Wali. Chand Bi founded Chandaigaon in the Baijapur taluk, and held it in fief under Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar

. It is said that the earth from the grave of Chand Bi has a salutary effect on those bitten by snakes, so that she probably belonged to the Saadi order, the fakirs of which go about with snakes. The ordinary snake jugglers of the district are called “Miran-Summa-ka-garuri," and are followers of Miran Sum-ma, whose shrine is at Mirj Tajgaon near Kolhapur.

Biabani

BIABANI - Originated with a disciple of Nizam ud din Aulia, called 'Abdulla, who interceded with the emperor Babar on behalf of certain Saiada, but without success. He then retired to Mandur and requested the governor to be allowed to dwell unmolested in the “Biabani" or desert, from which the order took its name.

Abdul Karim
The Biabanis of 'Ambad

Ambad

are descended from 'Abdul Karim the son of 'Abdulla. According to some writers, 'Abdul Karim and four of his relatives came from the Arabian desert

Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, with an area of...

to “Ambica" or 'Ambad, and hence they were called “Biabani" or children of the desert. They settled down near a Hemad Panti well called “Mahadari baoli" in proximity to the “Shamsher masjid," and were known as the “Panj Pir Biabani" or the five Biaban elders. 'Abdul Karim belonged to the Rafai

Rifa'i

order, and married the daughter of Sankaray Sultan Mushkil 'Asan, whose shrine is at Kandahar near Nanded

Nanded

Nanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...

. The tombs of the five Biabanis are within the walls of the 'Ambad fort, and are situated to the north.

Zain ud din
Zain ud din Biabani, the son of Abdul Karim, who was born in H. 811 at 'Ambad, became the Rafai

Rifa'i

kaliph in H. 811, and died in H. 909. His fakirs inhabited the village of Fukrabad, a mile from 'Ambad

Ambad

; and a hill close by, on which he was fond of spending his time in meditation and prayer is called "Fukrabad-ka-pahar." The tombs of his mother and wife are also at Fukrabad, and are called respectively “Pirani Man" and “Bua Man." Offerings of sugar-candy and dates are made to the former. The Biabanis have a tradition that Zain ud din was on one occasion seen by a woman in a convulsive state of religious ecstacy. The woman swooned away, but recovered after an hour, and observed something moving under a scarlet cloth (sakilat). In her fright, she called out " Sakilati Sahib" several times, which attracted the attention of passers by, but on examination the movement ceased, and only a " sakilat" or scarlet cloth was found. To commemorate this event, a tomb was raised, which for eight months in the year is much frequented by the surrounding population and by the women in particular; but it is not visited during the rains. [This would seem to correspond with the Buddhist “Wassu” or period of sacred rest which was observed during the four months of the rainy season.] The tomb is called "Baghwan" and " Sakilati Sahib" or " Sakalati Bawa," and sacrifices and offerings are made to it on Thursdays and Fridays. It is thus a source of revenue, and was a subject of dispute between two rival parties. A commission was appointed in H. 1284, which settled the matter in favor of the “khadims" of Ravna and Parora. These assert that 'Alau-d din was buried beneath the tomb in the nalla, and that they are the descendants of his “kluidims.”

Ala ud din was the son of Zianu-d din, a native of Gujarat, who married a daughter of Burhan ud din and died at Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

. He visited the tombs of the saints of Gulbarga

Gulbarga

Gulbarga is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Gulbarga District. It was formerly part of Nizam's Hyderabad state...

and Bidar

Bidar

Bidar is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the north-eastern part of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District....

, and was returning to Roza by way of ' Ambad, when he is said to have encountered a troublesome band of demons, and in fighting with them, 'Alau-d din suffered martyrdom. The “sakilat" or scarlet cloth which he wore served as a shroud for his remains, and hence he is called " Sakilati Sahib."

Shah Ashraf.
Shah Ashraf the son of Zain ud din assisted the army of a governor of Daulatabad, who changed the name of 'Ambika to Ambad
Ambad
Ambad is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the state of Maharashtra, India. Ambad is notable for its temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Matsyodari. In October of each year, devotees of the goddess gather in Ambad for the Hindu festival of Dashahara. A local tradition claims...

, and endowed the " tekkieh" at Fukrabad with lands and cash. There is a local saying that “Ashraf the Biabani supplies bread to the hungry and water to the thirsty."

Sakray Sultan.
Sakray Sultan is reckoned among the great saints of the Dakhan. His tomb is at Kandahar in the Bidar

Bidar

Bidar is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the north-eastern part of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District....

district, and there is a “chilla" to him on the platform above the subterranean passage in the Daulatabad fort. Some Hindus think that the “chilla" contained an image of Ganpati, and say that it was removed to Kaigaon Toka in H. 1207. The place is held in more or less reverence by both Mahomedans and Hindus, and especially by the females. According to a "khadim" at Roza, who is the guardian of this "chilla," Sakray Sultan came with the missionaries who accompanied Burhan ud din, and his proper name was Ain ud din. The missionaries separated at Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

, and Ain ud din proceeded to Kandahar, but before leaving for that place, he performed a “chilla" or fast at Daulatabad.

Madaria
Madariya
The Madariyya are members of a Sufi order popular in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, the Mewat region, Bihar and Bengal, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Known for its syncretic aspects, lack of emphasis on external religious practice and focus on internal dhikr, it was initiated by...

MADARIA

Madariya

The Madariyya are members of a Sufi order popular in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, the Mewat region, Bihar and Bengal, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Known for its syncretic aspects, lack of emphasis on external religious practice and focus on internal dhikr, it was initiated by...

- One of the four Tafuria sects founded in Asia Minor by Badi ud din Rustami surnamed Zinda Shah Madar. The Madaria is in four subdivisions,-1 Diwangan, 2 Talban, 3 Ashkan, and 4 Khadman. Some of the fakirs are jugglers, or take about bears, monkeys, &c, from place to place; while others go about playing on a fiddle and singing in praise of Shah Madar. The Madaria do not shave their beard and moustaches on being initiated; and when any person has gained the object of his desires, he invites the fakirs of this order to perform a ceremony called dhammal Those who allow their hair to grow are called malang, and adopt celibacy like their preceptor.

About H. 1000 Shah Gul Husain, also called Shah Nur Ganj Lashkar, and Shah Daud Ganj Lashkar Maghrobi,two Madaria fakirs, came to Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

and Aurangabad respectively, to propagate the tenets of their order. Shah Nur Ganj's tomb is near the " Nakhar Khana" gate of Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

; and Sultan Saiad Shah Nur, one of his kaliphs, was buried near the Pangri gate. Zabarak Ali Shah another kaliph was taken by H. H. Nizam 'Ali Khan

Ali Khan Asaf Jah II

Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Asaf Jah II was the Nizam of Hyderabad State in South India between 1762 and 1803.-Official name:...

to Hyderabad, but he subsequently returned to Roza

Khuldabad

Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...

where he died, and was buried near the Chauk. Shah Daud Ganj Lashkar Maghrobi introduced the suborder Diwangdn into Aurangabad. His tomb stands near the "tekkieh" called “Til-ki-Mundi."

There are "astanas" and “tekkiehs" at Sangwi, Salaikaon, Dhamori, Borgaon, and Lasur in the Gangapur taluk; at Kandalla in the Baijapur taluk; and at Roza, inhabited by one or more fakirs of the Khadman subdivision; while Salal Ghogargaon and other villages contain " tekkiehs" of the Diwangdn subdivision. The Talban sect is not represented.

Chingi Shah came about a hundred years ago to 'Ambad, and introduced the Ashkan subdivision. Joat 'Ali the Sain, also of this subdivision, came from northern India and died at Debgaon Murmi in the Gandapur taluk in H. 1275. He was accompanied by a Hindu ascetic, who retired to Kaigaon Toka; and was himself a Kanoja Brahman, but was subsequently converted. Joat 'Ali was also called “Malang Shall Maharaja," and was in great repute among Hindus and Mahomedans.

Tabkati

TABKATI - The fakirs of this order beg from door to door and many of them are athletes. The athletic arts and the “talims" of Aurangabad owe their origin to Pir Murshad Chatan Shah who came from Upper India in the 17th century of the Christian era. Fata Shah was an athlete of Aurangzeb's time, and won a wrestling match at Mujunburj, one of the bastions near the Delhi gate, against " Makhna pahalwan," an Ahir athlete. He was buried in the “Fata Shah-ki-talim" to the left of the road loading into the Paitan gate

Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India were its 52 "gates", each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them...

. At the foot of the grave is the tomb of his friend Mausaras, a Hindu convert; and close by are the tombs of Pir Murshad Chatan Shah and of two others.

Dewana nawab or the mad nawab was an athlete who had charge of the great doors of the Delhi darwaza. His tomb is near the Aiwaz-Khan-ki-baradari." Aplatun Khan came with Aurangzeb. He broke the tusk of a wild elephant that was set on him, and dashed it against the “Hathi darwaza. Shah Kuds Shah was a very strong man of Jalna (city)

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

, and a large boulder which he lifted is shown within the Nagar darwaza. This stone is chunamed every year, and is held in great reverence. A smaller boulder which stands near is said to cure persons suffering from lumbago. The Hindus ascribe the healing properties to a certain “taili" or oilman; and offer “gur" and “chana" to the stone. Shah Kuds Shah was buried near his “talim" outside the Nagar darwaza; and mothers bring their children when they begin to walk, and present offerings to the tomb.

Sada Sohag

SADA SOHAG owes its origin to Musa Sohag of Ahmedabad. The members dress in women's attire, and wear a “dupata" of deep red colour. About 50 years ago, Bahar' Ali Shah of Tonk sent two Sada Sohag fakirs, Golah Shah and Chamali Shah, to Aurangabad. They lived in Nawabpura, and erected a “tekkieh" to the right of the Jafar darwaza. Chamili Shah went to Haidarabad, and Golah Shah subsequently joined him, but died soon after his arrival and was buried at Gadjigora. Shah Bungri Lahil of this order was buried in front of the “Rakash-ki-masjid" at Jalna. Young Mahomedan. females visit the tomb to consult their prospects of marriage, and tie a piece of cloth on the " turbet" in evidence of their "nazars" or vows. After marriage, they offer prayers at the tomb, and present one of their marriage bangles.

Ehl-ul-Huk.
Hakkam Sahib accompanied Aurangzeb, and probably belonged to the " Ehl-ul-Huk" or People of Truth. His tomb is at Goraigaon in the Baijapur taluk.

Other saints

Kourgaon, an ancient village in the Baijapur taluk, has a tomb to Said Sahib under a "bar" tree (ficus indica). Bhikan Shah Wali accompanied Burhan ud din, and his tomb is under an old tree at Loni Khurd on the Nandgaon road. He came with his mother and his horse; and the latter is buried close to his master. The tomb is called “Ghora-Pir-ki-kabar," and the Kunbis make offerings to it when their cattle fall sick. A large and elegant mausoleum was erected about 400 years ago at Wakla, by a Hindu convert, Bibi Bohra Khatum. It has seven tombs inside, with two smaller ones in two of the inner corners, and eighteen other tombs in the verandah. There is a story current that a certain person Achal Rao had two sons, Amai Rao and Yeswant Rao. Amai Rao became a Mahomedan, and he and his family are buried in this mausoleum.

Mir Mahomed Shah &c.
Mir Mahomed Shah of Badakshan was made killadar of Peotala fort by Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb

. He belonged to the Vaisi sect, and was buried at Harsul. Mir Fukru-d din Aurangabadi Tirmusi was a Sufi doctor who composed several Persian verses. Shah 'Ali Sahib Barri was a recluse who lived in the hill to the north-west of Aurangabad. Shah Ali Sahib Shairi lived within the city; and so did Shah Ali Sahib Nabari, who constructed canals. Saiadi Sahib, a religious Abyssinian, lived in the shop of a poor dyer in the “chauk “of Aurangabad. Offerings of flowers, &c, are placed on his tomb. A ruined mosque inside one of the gateways of the Daulatabad fort was erected by a Mohammadan of great sanctity; and to the right of the last entrance is Pir Kudus Sahib's darga. Elora has a shrine to a Mahomedan saint which is visited by large numbers of Hindus and Mahomedans.

Tuttu sodagar, &c.
Tuttu Sodagar was a wealthy merchant of Surat and a Bohra

Mustaali

The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...

by caste, who built the “Tuttu " darwaza of Jalna (city)

Jalna (city)

Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

in H. 1126. He died near the 'Ambad gate, on his way back from Rakisbon, and was buried near the mosque which he built. There were six other rich Musalmans, and in former days Jalna was noted for its wealth. According to an old Urdu proverb, “the children in Jalna were lulled to sleep in cradles of gold," and a kasar or dealer in bangles named Gangaji, is said to have had such a cradle. Malis and poor people offer fruit to Pir Ghaib Sahib's tomb in front of the “Tuttu " darwaza. Similar presents are made to the darga of Dervash Shah Awaz on the Aurangabad road, - especially by the dhobis, in order to preserve the clothes in the " bhattis" from getting burnt The inhabitants of Jalna pray for worldly success at Shah Shumli's tomb; and mothers offer supplications at Pir Darbari's tomb, so that their children may attend " darbars," or become
Courtiers. Shah Mauik's tomb is in the “churi mohulla "of Jalna, where glass bangles are manufactured and sold. Shah Shubli had his residence in the “manik chauk," and was a follower of 'Abu Bekr Shubli, a renowned mystic Shaikh of Baghdad. Musi Makai possessed a valuable library, and was buried in the Ashaba to the north of Jalna.

Jamshad Khan. &c.

Jamshad Khan built the “Kali” masjid, inside the Mecca gate, together with the “hammam “or bath, and the “sarai." He also constructed the large tank at Jalna
Jalna (city)
Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

, and laid down pipes and reservoirs for the water supply of the city. Jamshad Khan flourished in the 10th century of the Hijri, and was buried in his garden to the north of Jalna. The cultivators sacrifice to his tomb, so that their erops may not suffer. A masjid at Georahi, not far from Jalna, is resorted to by Hindus and Mahomedans, as it is believed to possess powers of divination. A saint Rafi ud din is said to have possessed similar powers, and his masjid has a " woqf " or pious legacy of 200-bigahs of land, granted by Aurangzeb.

Bahar Khan, was a religious man that came from Bidar to Ranjani in the 8th century Hijri. A mosque beyond Ranjani was built by his wife Ayisha Bi; and near it is the darga of Latif Shah Aulia. Gudar Shah Wali arrived in Aurangzeb's time, he erected a mosque. A mound called “Islam tekri" at 'Ambad contains an old Mahomedan building known as “Fatehay Islam" or the “conquest of Islam". A piece of land at the foot of the tekri is appropriated as a “waqf" in support of the mosque. Nur Shah Wili's tomb is outside the Shahgarh darwaza. He made lanterns, which the inhabitants purchased as votive offerings; and at his death he left his money to a Hindu devotee. The"chilla" of Maul 'Ali is on one of the tekris of ' Ambad. The Jumma masjid is ascribed to Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar

. The Mecca masjid is attributed to a devout Musalman who constructed it about 200 years ago; while others affirm that it was raised by the Kharar Khani Pathans who served in Holkar's army. A colony of these Pathans settled at 'Ambad, and built a mosque to the west of the town. 'Ambad further contains a " Kadami Resul" or footprint of the Prophet, which is placed on a brick platform covered over with a small dome, within the Auranga'bad gate There is a tradition that seven Saiads of Arabia were commissioned to deliver Paitan from four goddesses, Hatai Devi, Durga Devi, Revona Devi, and Agna Devi; and that on their arrival, they were arrested and imprisoned in a cave.

Muizu-d din.
Maulana Muiz ud din, popularly called Maulana Moaz, or Maulana Sahib, a native of Shiraz, proceeded to Mecca at an early age, and was directed to liberate the seven Saiads. He left for Paitan, which was then presided over by Revona Devi; and in a battle fought outside its walls, lost many faithful attendants and disciples. The Maulana triumphed in the end, and the seven Saiads were released; but they died soon afterwards, and their tombs are pointed out in a mosque called “Sat-Saiadon-ki-masjid." The saint's darga, which stands in front of this mosque, has a little room attached to it for holy meditation; and his disciples resort to this room in times of difficulty. Each Momin or Mahomedan weaver of Paitan subscribes 8 annas per cent from his income for the maintenance of the darga. According to some people, the Maulana obtained his surname of " Moaz," which means a " wave, from having saved a ship that was foundering; and according to others, he received the name from having miraculously brought up waves of water to quench the fires of the goddess Agni. Dancing is allowed at his darga, and the Urus is observed by Hindus as well as Mahomedans.

Abdulla Changal, &c.
'Abdulla Changal accompanied Maulana, and had a contest with a demon called Goglia, who presided over a village of that name in British territory 1½ miles from Paitan. Both 'Abdulla and Goglia perished, and the former was buried beyond the mud walls of the village. Sona Mian, called also Eusaini Saiad and Siddiki Shaikl was another companion of the Maulana's, and suffered martyrdom at Seogaon, 14 miles from Paitan. His head was buried at Khontaphul, 2 miles nearer Paitan, and the body at Seogaon. Shah Mian Duryai, a general merchant of Arabia, possessed many ships, and it was one of these that Maulana Moaz is said to have saved in a storm. He gave up his wealth and joined Maulana's band, and his tomb is inside the gateway of the saint's darga. Shah Mian erected a mosque, nakarkhana, and house for travellers, within the precincts of the darga.

Moiz ud din.
Moizu-d din the Bhandari came with the band of missionaries that accompanied Mantajabu-d din; and his duty was to take charge of the stores and distribute cooked provisions to the different members. He was also surnamed “Nanpash," or the bread-giver. After the party arrived at Roza, Moizu-d din and five others left for Gangapurbarri, the present Gangapur. A gosain was practising austerities in a “mat," from which he retired before the new-comers; and the Nanpash and his party dismantled the building and erected a mosque on the site. Gangapurbarri was then infested with freebooting Mang

Mang (caste)

The Mang community, whose origins lie in the Narmada Valley of India, was formerly classified as a criminal tribe under the Criminal Tribes Acts of the British Raj....

s, the Mangs offered human sacrifices. The saint tried to convert these outlaws, when a religious war ensued; and in H. 748, the Nanpash, Saiad Kharay Pir Pakhar Sahib, and many others suffered martyrdom. The survivors however, succeeded and a mausoleum to the Nanpash was built. Newly married couples kiss the threshold of the tomb; and presents of food, &c. are offered in times of sickness. The nakarkhana attached to the darga was built by a Kharar Khani Pathan in fulfilment of a vow. The tomb of Saiad Kharay Pir Pakhar Sahib is to the east of Gangapur, and is frequented by the poorer people on Thursdays.

The seven Saidas &c.
The Mangs continued their depredations till the advent of the seven Saiads, who surprised the freebooters, and numbers of the latter settled down to a peaceful life; but the wilder spirits still kept at large, and in a subsequent raid, succeeding in killing the seven Saiads. After this, the depredations gradually ceased, as the Saiads destroyed the jungle of brush wood that was used as an ambush. The descendants of the Saiads were also made patels of Gangapurbarri, an office which is still partly in their hands. A legend about Gangapurbarri relates that a Mahomedan saint miraculously supplied a large quantity of “ganda" or sugar-cane juice, to some ruler who was passing by and was famishing with thirst. When the prince heard the name of the place, he requested that it should be called “Naishakarpur,'" in reference to the sugar-cane juice; and this was changed to a similar word in Hindostani, Gandapur. The “Shahi Bagh," or royal garden, commemorates the event, but it exists in name only, and is covered with cultivation. When the"janazah" or bier of the emperor Aurangzeb was being carried from Ahmadnagar to Kuldabad, it was kept for the night in the “Shahi Bagb." A “chilla" or cenotaph was erected on the spot, but it has since fallen down. A similar “chilla" was built at Botaibargaon, 12 miles north of Gandapur.

Saiad sadat.
Saiad Sadat of Waluj came with the Mahomedan missionaries of the 8th century Hijri, and lost his head in fighting at Balore in Berar; but the body is reputed to have continued fighting till it reached Waluj, where it fell down and was buried. The darga was erected in H. 1100 by a Beldar, in fulfilment of a vow, and is frequently visited by the villagers. Behind the darga is the tomb of Saiad Sadat's brother, Saiad Summon, who came with him from Balore. A niee tree close by is said to possess some remarkable qualities.
Kanhar has a darga to Saiad Sahib, another to Sidi Sahib, and a third to Imam Sahib. A mosque near the kacheri was built by Momin Khan, one of the Khatkar Pathans who were stationed at Kanhar to protect the country from the ravages of the Bhils. There is a darga at Pisora to Muskin Shah Mian; and another called “Chihal-tan-ki-darga " contains a brick that was brought from Medina. Sillode possesses a masjid erected by Haji Kabir of Northern India. He was made Kazi, as well as Khatib, of the Seona pargana, by Aurangzeb. Arif ud din surnamed Mogar Shah Wali, is the patron saint of Ajanta, which was formerly called Ranjani or Anjani. He died in H. 1101, and was buried beneath a neem tree. His tomb is propitiated in times of sickness, and the “Dub ghat, " or " Chusmah Mogar Shah," where he occasionally performed a "chilla" or fast, is also visited. Bokardan has a darga to Bahir Shah Walli.

Reference

Gazetter of Aurangabad - H. H. The Nizam's Government 1884. (Chapter VI page 385 - 427)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

NaqshbandiNaqshbandiNaqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...

SuhrawardiyyaSuhrawardiyyaSuhrawardy redirects here. For the East Bengali politician and Prime Minister of Pakistan, see Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The well-known Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi "the Executed" , the Shia founder of Illuminationism, is unconnected....

Qadiriyyah

Chishtiyya

ShattariShattariThe Shattariyya are members of a Sufi mystical order that originated in Persia in the fifteenth century C.E. and formally developed, completed and codified in India. Later secondary branches were taken to Hejaz and Indonesia...a

Razak Shahi

Khaksari

Mohkam Shahi

Jan Alla Shahi

Biabani

Tabkati

Sada Sohag

Other saints

See also

Reference

External links

Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...

Suhrawardiyya
Suhrawardiyya
Suhrawardy redirects here. For the East Bengali politician and Prime Minister of Pakistan, see Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The well-known Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi "the Executed" , the Shia founder of Illuminationism, is unconnected....

Shattari
Shattari
The Shattariyya are members of a Sufi mystical order that originated in Persia in the fifteenth century C.E. and formally developed, completed and codified in India. Later secondary branches were taken to Hejaz and Indonesia...

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