The ‘Kesariya Daaman’ of Sufism-Part-2 by Ms. Kamar Sultana 

 

A Palanquin, Love and Long Locks

The Guru-Disciple equation in Sufism is one of the purest forms of love. A love so strong so enduring so as to endure the pain of long locks of hair that had got entangled in the Palanquin of the Shaykh (Hazrath Nasiruddin Chirag Delhi) as Hazrath Khwaja Bandenawaz lifted it on to his shoulders. Never wanting to place his Master’s palki down to unentangle his hair, he continued in this state until the destination was reached.

When the Shaykh heard about this, he was so moved as to recite the following couplets:

“Har ki murid Syed gesu daraaz shud Vallah khilaf-e-nest ki Uoo ishq baaz shud.” (“Syed Gesu Daraaz has pledged his obedience; there is nothing wrong in it because he has deeply fallen in love.”)

And to confer upon his beloved disciple the title of ‘Gesu Daraz’, hence the name Hazrath Khwaja BandeNawaz Gesu Daraaz (R.A). Gulbarga Sharif.

Do visit this wonderful shrine to be enveloped in warm pure love of a true Waliullah.

Of the Treasure of Sugar, golden dates and a famous couplet to a crow

We can never mention Chisthiya and not mention Baba Farid Ganje Shakar.

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar R.A. was a direct descendant of Hazrat Umar Farooq R.A., the second Caliph of Islam.

There are various explanations of why Baba Farid was given the title Shakar Ganj (‘Treasure of Sugar’). One legend says his mother used to encourage the young Farid to pray by placing sugar under his prayer mat. Once, when she forgot, the young Farīd found the sugar anyway, an experience that gave him more spiritual fervour and led to his being given the name.

There is also a famous incident of a merchant carrying bags of sugar and who arrogantly replied it was ‘salt’ when Baba Farid questioned him as to what was in the bags. The entire load turned to salt. The merchant apologised and it became sugar again.

In another incident it is reported that some needy people approached Baba Farid for help. He gave them a few dates lying at his feet. The dates turned to gold on the way and the people used it to solve their problems.

Upon the orders of his Master, Baba Farid undertook the difficult ‘Chilla e Makoos’ of being hung upside down in a well for a period of 40 days. During this time when the crows pecked at him, he addressed them with his famous couplet:

Kaaga karang Dhadoliya saglaa Khaaiyo Mass

Aey Do Nainaan Mat Chhuchho pir dekhan ki aas

 

(O crow! come and peck all this flesh

over this skeletal frame of mine,

Leave these two eyes untouched

for they are in wait of that Grand beloved of mine)

Baba Farid, has his poetry included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the most sacred scripture of Sikhism, which includes 123 (or 134) hymns composed by Farid. Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the 5th guru of Sikhism, included these hymns himself in the Adi Granth, the predecessor of the Guru Granth Sahib. There are 10 Sikh gurus, but also there are 15 Bhagats in Sikhism. Baba Sheikh Farid is one of these equally revered 15 Bhagats.

The Dance of Devotion

This was no whirling Dervish, dancing in the Ecstasy of the Almighty. This was a Mureed dancing to please his Master who was upset with him…

Yes, we speak here of the great Baba Bulley Shah, who, wearing a dancer’s robes and anklets, danced as a means of reconciliation with his Master, Pir Inayat Khan, who both laughed and cried at this gesture and embraced him, never to be parted again..

Thus, the Chistiya Silsila is filled with poetry and music, the strains of Qawali reach the ears of even those who are hardened by life’s strife and softens their hearts. If the lovely fragrance from the mazaar fills the olfactory senses, the honeyed tunes of the music and poetry reach the soul of the devotee. Those anklets that graced Baba Bulley Shah’s feet now adorn my heart, it dances in extreme Ecstasy, what more can I say!

The Chisti Lamp of the South: Hazrath Alauddin Chisti, Papavoori

In a quiet little village, a few kilometeres away from Nagore Dargah, the famed Mazaar of Hazrath Abdul Qadir (Qadir Vali), lies resting a Chisti Saint, Alauddin Chisti, in Papavoor. The first time I landed there, I was spellbound. By the peace and serenity, by the sheer power of his Presence. All kinds of ills and diseases are cured miraculously. The water given here has extremely healing properties.

There are countless Saints of the various Silsilas especially the Chistiya. I have mentioned here, just a few.

On this note, I would like to quote a popular Chistiya Manqabat (verse) which sums up how beautifully the Chisti Silsila embodies the ‘Indian-ness’ and plurality of this country.

Arz-e-Gang bhi meri hai

Khittaye jaman mera

Mai Gulam-e-Khwaja hun

Hind hai watan mera

(The Ganga and Jamuna are mine, I am the slave of Khwaja (Garib Nawaz), Hind (India) is my Country!)

(Conclude)