The ‘Kesariya Daaman’ of Sufism-Part-1

Ms Kamar Sultana

It is Sufi Basant at Hazrath Nizamuddin Auliya (Rahmathullahi Alai).

The day is Basant Panchami. It’s the only day Qawwali is allowed inside the tomb area at Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, rather than at the courtyard in the usual scenario. The flowers are yellow marigold. Yellow marks the singer’s and attendees’ attire as well. The language and imagery is so distinctly Indian. A classic example of Indian tradition being embraced by a Sufi Order, namely, the Chisti Order, whose most prominent Saint is Hazrat Khwaja Garib e Nawaz Moinuddin Chisti (Rahmathullahi Alai ), popularly known as ‘Hind-al-Wali, the Saint of India.

The Sufi Basant began at Hazrath Nizamuddin Auliya in an attempt by his cherished disciple Amir Khusro to cheer him after the loss of his beloved nephew. Yellow attire, yellow flowers and a poem was what it took to bring a smile to the beloved face of Hazrath Nizamuddin. And we hope that every year it does, too!

While the color green mostly stands to signify the ‘Muslim’ aspect, the defining color of the Chisti Order is ‘Kesari’: Saffron-Orange, another distinct feature of embracing a different color as a gesture of plurality and inclusion. Well, Inclusion is one of the foremost qualities of any Sufi Order for that matter.

So here, in this paper, we are going to be speaking in depth about this Great Master: Hazrath Moinuddin Chisti, Khwaja Garib e Nawaz, whom I shall be referring to by this latter name throughout our discussion.

There is an interesting anecdote by which he was thus named : As told in the traditional ‘Waqiaas’ or incidents from the saint’s early life, it was an Eid Day and Khwaja Sahib, a teenager was heading towards the Masjid, when he met a child who was dressed in poor clothes. Khwaja Sahib immediately started praising those clothes so immensely to the point of convincing the child to exchange his clothes for the new ones that Khwaja Sahib was wearing. Thus clad, in poor dingy clothes of the poor child, he proceeded to the Masjid and offered his Eid prayers. As he went back home wearing the same clothes, he was spontaneously called, ‘Khwaja Garib e Nawaz’. And is known as that till date and will be forever, InshAllah.

So what were this Great Master’s Teachings? As we know, most Sufis teach by example. And by living what they teach. His way was no different.  A few core teachings which are upheld by the Chisti Tariqa (Order) are as follows:

• Love and Tolerance ( which means total inclusion )
• Charity and compassion for the underprivileged
• A life of devotion and Service to humanity as a whole