Snake Worship in Assam

Snake worship in our Indian mythology has been an ancient and widespread religious practice. Serpent, as it is mythologicaly or religiously referred, is believed to be the bearer of some potent symbolic value, both positive and negative. For instance, the divine snake Adhisesha with his numerous hoods acted as an umbrella to protect  Lord Krishna immediately after his birth, when he was being carried quietly by his father Vasudeva to Gokulam, is used as a positive symbol. While, the many hooded Kaliya is used as a negative symbol, who tried to kill Lord Krishna with his venom.

On the day of Nag Panchami , people offer milk to snakes. This festival is celebrated all over India. On this day, the people worship snake gods with flowers, and milk. In Karnataka, villagers even go to worship the termite mounds where the cobras that are associated with the lingam of Lord Siva are believed to be residing. In Bengal some people wrap snakes around their bodies and march along the seashore. In Bihar people roam about in boats in the rivers and with the image of Beula ( Behra), a young bride whose piety saved her husband from death by snake bite. In Bihar, the Santhal tribes christen their young girls as ‘Visha kanya’ meaning girls with poison. They carry on their necks an ampoule of snake venom and a nail to forestall any attack on her by miscreants.

In Assam, and some parts of Bengal, people worship the goddess of Snake Ma Manasa in the month of Ashar and Shravana (June—August), when the snakes are most active. She is believed to save people from snake bites.  She is also attributed with the powers of curing infectious diseases like small-pox and of bringing wealth and prosperity. She is known as the daughter of Kasyapa, a famous sage, and Kadru, the sister of the serpent-king Sesha and Vasuki. It is said that she attained recognition and a place in Hindu mythology through the tale of Beula and Lakhinder.

Lakhinder was the seventh son of a merchant-prince, Chand Saudagar.  Chand had six sons from his first marriage and all the six sons died after they were bitten by snake.  Then he remarried and gave birth to another son, Lakhinder. Chand was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.  When Manasa heard of this, she became determined to force Chand to offer worship to her and become her first follower, as at that time she had no devotees on earth. Manasa thought that if she could get him to worship her other people would soon follow and she would have a large number of devotees. So, Manasa approached Chand and ordered him to offer worship to her. But, Chand was not impressed with the goddess's demand.  However, Manasa tried hard to impress him in different avatars, but failed.

 When Lakhinder grew up to a young handsome man, Chand fixed his marriage to Beula. However, Manasa did not give her hope and tried again to urge Chand to worship her.  She also threatened Chand with the life of Lakhinder. But, Chand did not pay a heed to her demand. Finally, Manasa killed Lakhinder on the first night of his marriage by sending a poisonous snake to bite him.

It was the general belief of that time that, a person who had died from snake-bite still had life within his or her body and it needed only an expert snake-charmer to bring such a person back to life. So, his body was set afloat on the river. When the body of Lakhinder was ready to be set afloat, Beula expressed her wish to accompany her husband's dead body on its last voyage. When she reached the bank of the river with the dead body of her husband, she came across a washerwoman, and soon understood that she was not an ordinary woman. She was miraculous enough to revive her husband, so Beula pleaded her to save her husband, and then the woman immediately led her to the goddess Manasa. When Beulah reached Manasa's abode and asked for her blessing in bringing back her husband to life the goddess told her that she was willing to bring Lakhinder back to life only if Beula converts Chand, her father-in-law, to her worship. Beulah readily agreed and, accordingly, Manasa revived Lakhinder.

Faced by the pleading eyes of his beautiful daughter-in-law Chand's resolve broke at last. He agreed to offer worship to Manasa. Manasa was pleased and she blessed Chand and his family with peace and prosperity. Her fame on earth was also established after this story spread and many devotees thronged to her altar.

During Manasa Puja, Oja pali and Deodhani dance are performed in the regions of Darrang, Kamrup and Goalpara. Deodhani dance form is common within the southwest Kamrup & Darrang regions of the Assam. This dance is associated with the worship of the snake goddess Manasa. A Deodhani girl, in a inspired state, goes on dancing to the accompaniment of Kham (drum) and Ciphung (flute) propitiating many a deity beginning with Shiva and ending with Lakshmi.  On the other hand, the Sukannani Ojapali tells the tragic story of Behula-Lakhindar, from the Padma Purana, among the masses. This art is also performed normally during Manasa Puja .Before performing the story; they sing hymns in praise of gods and goddesses. 

They also create quasi-dramatic situations to explain the story and create a sense of humour in order to delight the masses. Sukannani dancers wear chapkan sola (long sleeved white gowns), chadar, pag, unti, nupur and phot (bindi) of chandana.

Innumerable shrines containing images of the snake god and goddesses bear eloquent testimony to the influence of serpent on the social and spiritual fabric of India. The Manasa temple of Sualkuchi, Assam is regarded as one of the largest Manasa temple of the state.

In the Nameri National Park of Assam, one can find an array of snakes like: Common Blind Snake, Myanmarese Python, Indian Cobra, King Cobra, and Pit Viper, whereas , Indian Rock Python, Black Krait, King Cobra, Cobra can be  found  in the  Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park. 

Popularizing the Dargah Culture In India

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem.

Allahumma Salle 'Ala Syedina Muhammadin Wa 'Ala Aalihi Syedina Muhammadin Wa Barik Wa Sallim

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La ilahailallahu Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Walillahilhamd.

Since time immemorial, there has been a controversy regarding the Dargah Culture.  Some are of the view that Muslims should not visit to Dargah as they have only one God, i.e the Almighty Allah, before whom they should bow their head, while others are of the view that Dargahs are the Sufi Shrines built on the grave of renowned Sufi saints, who were closer to ALLAH.

Over the years, the Dargah Culture has become the symbol of communal harmony. They stand for hope and miracles for devotees irrespective of faith and culture. People from far and wide visit these Dargahs and pray to fulfill their wishes. Thursday evenings at the Dargarhs are punctuated by million of worshippers, the sweet smell of burning incense, and the sounds of Qawwali music.

 

The most important Dargahs in India are the Dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya in New Delhi and the Dargah Sharif at Ajmer, Rajasthan. Both these Dargahs belong to the Chishti period of Sufism. Apart from these two, Baba Matka Pir Dargah, New Delhi; Khwaja  Qutub Dargah, New Delhi;  Baba Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai; Powa Makka, Hajo,Assam; and Hazrat Syed Meeran Husain Dargah,  Taragarh, Rajasthan  are some of the famous Dargahs of India. It is believed than Delhi alone has more than 50 Dargahs.

Dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya, New Delhi   : Nizamuddin Dargah enshrines Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya ,a revered Sufi saint of the Chisti order. At the age of 20, Nizamuddin went to Ajodhan (the present Pak Pattan in Pakistan) and became the disciple of Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakkar. He was also the spiritual master of Amir Khusro. He died in the forenoon of 3rd April 1325.

Nizamuddin Dargah is. visited daily by people of all religions. The tomb of Amir Khusro is also located within the Nizamuddin Dargah Complex. Qawwali is performed at the Dargah after the evening prayers.

 

The rush for the Dargah is exceptionally heavy during Id and the Urs fair held twice a year. The Urs fair is organized bi-annually on the death anniversaries of Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din Auliya and Amir Khusrau.

Dargah Sharif at Ajmer, Rajasthan: Ajmer, the most sacred of all Muslim places of pilgrimage in India. The revered Sufi saint, Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192, died in 1236 and was buried here.

The entrance to the complex is from the Dargah Bazaar which leads to the first courtyard. This courtyard has a mosque built by Akbar and two cauldrons known as degs in which donations are made.

These donations are later divided among the poor. The saint's tomb is in the centre of the second court.

 It is enshrined in a domed marble chamber and is surrounded by silver railings. The tomb of Saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, popularly known as Dargah Sharif, has been since long a pilgrimage and spiritual centre where followers of almost every creed and faith, Muslims and non-Muslims, come throughout the year. The shrine is considered, today, a second Mecca/Medina for the Muslims of South Asia.

    

Baba Matka Pir Dargah, New Delhi:

While going towards the famed Purana Qila, one can spot a tree within a place of worship from which hang several earthen clay pots. And the compound in which the tree is located is none other than the dargah of Baba Matka Pir. The mausoleum of the 12th century Muslim Sufi Saint is open to all faiths for worship.

The dargah has an interesting background and the pir whose original name was Hazrat Sheikh Abu Bakr Tulshi Haideri Kalandari Rahmatullah, was supposed to have come from Iran in the 12^th century for spreading the message of Islam.

The story goes that one day a thirsty traveller came to him asking for water and the pir offered him water from an earthen pitcher.The traveller then told him that he was suffering from a disease which apparently did not have any cure.The pir said that he would pray for him and when the man returned after some days he was said to have been cured completely of the disease. After the incident, people started thronging the dargah to seek the blessings of the pir. And while they narrated their problems, he would pray for them and the problems would be solved.

It is said that the then sultan of Delhi,Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban, was keen to test the powers of the pir.He sent him a platter full of iron balls and mud for a start. It is said that the pir covered the plate and started praying. After a while when he lifted the cover, he found that the iron balls had converted into roasted gram and the mud into gur.The baba then mixed part of the gur with the gram and a part with water which then changed into sweet milk. And on account of this even to date, people offer roasted gram, gur and milk in earthen pots after someone’s wish is fulfilled.

The baba then was referred to Baba Matka Pir.

  

Khwaja  Qutub Dargah, New Delhi : Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki was a renowned Muslim Sufi saint and scholar in the Chishti Order from Delhi. He was the disciple and khalifa (spiritual successor) of Moinuddin Chishti as head of the Chishti Order. 40 days before the demise of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki received the Khilafat and Khirqah (Sufi cloak) from him, and thus became the first spiritual successor of Khawaja Gharib Nawaz, Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti.

The Mazaar Sharif of Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhityar Kaki lies near Qutub Minar at old Delhi. He also enjoys the following titles in the Sufi world: Qutub-ul-Aqtaab, Malik-ul-Mashaa'ikh, Rais-us-Saalikin, Siraj-ul-Auliya, etc.

Unlike in other Sufi shrines, here, the harmonium is never played in the inner courtyard. It is believed that a few days after Khawaja’s burial, the qawwals were reciting the verses: “Kushtagan e khanjar e taslim ra

Har zaman az ghaib jane digar ast” next to Huzoor’s grave when his arm came out of the tomb. Huzoor asked the recitation to be stopped or else he would be again seized by ecstasy and his whole body would come out of the tomb, in violation of Islamic laws.” Since then qawwalis are performed outside the walls of the tomb.

Baba Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai:

The dargah was built in 1431 by a wealthy Muslim merchant and saint named Haji Ali who renounced all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Makkah. Legend has it that Haji Ali died on his way to Makkah and his body, in its casket, floated back to Mumbai. However, some believe that Haji Ali drowned at the place where the dargah stands today.

As many as 40,000 pilgrims visit the shrine on Thursdays and Fridays. Non-Muslims are also permitted to walk on the causeway and into the Masjid compound. The only area out of bounds for non-Muslims is the sanctum sanctorum of the Masjid itself

  

Powa Makka, Hajo,Assam : Poa-Mecca standing on the Garurachal Hill, is a holy shrine for the Muslim community .Even the Hindus of the locality treat the same as most sacrosanct. Poa-Mecca is noted for the tomb of Pir Giasuddin Auliya, who made the first attempts to propagate Islam in this part of the world. It is flanked by a mosque built by Sujauddin Mohammed Shah in 1657 AD. People believe that the visit of Poa Mecca confers one fourth of the merits obtained from a pilgrimage to Mecca itself. It is said that the foundation of the mosque partly consists of some earth brought from Makkah.

Hazrat Syed Meeran Husain Dargah,  Taragarh, Rajasthan  : According to research, the first fort built on a hill in India was the fortress of Taragarh at Ajmer. During the reign of Qutb-ud-din Ebak, Hazrat Syed Meeran Hussain was the Garrison of Taragarh Fort. He also lived in the fort. While playing polo in Lahore, Sultan Qutubuddin Ebak fell down from the back of the horse and died. As soon as the news of his death reached Ajmer, the Thakur and Rajput landlords of adjoining areas jointly launched a night atack on Taragarh and entered the fort and slashed everyone. Hazrat Meeran Husain ( Rahmatullah Allaih ) was also martyred in the attack.

Hazrat Meeran Husain was a great abstemious saint. He mostly used to be at the service of Gharib Nawaz as a staunch follower.

 

 

“SUFISM IN BOLLYWOOD”

Sufi song resembles a path of devotion and love which leads to none other than God himself. A person can strive towards intimate knowledge or communion with God by listening to Sufi Songs. But, in the present day circumstances, Sufi music seems to have got Bollywood into its whirl.

 Bollywood has been using Sufi Music since time immemorial.  The lyrics of the songs like “ Chhap tilak”, “ mere piya ghar aye ooo Ramji” from the movie YAARANA or be it “Dum mast ka lander” are  all directly connected to God.

 Songs like…. “Maula Mere Maula” from ANWAR ,A.R Rehman’s “Tere Bina” from the movie GURU, or be “Yaa Ali” from the movie GANGSTER, have touched us as these songs find favor with audiences because it connects them instantly with God. This genre of music has become successful to reach to the audience of all ages and classes. However, Sufi music has become the formula for a box office hit and its elements find their way into every sound track. It is coming out of stereos and mobile phones.  Music director, Anu Malik, the man behind “Rabbi” in ZINDAGGI ROCKS used his “Mehboob Mere” track in the film FIZA in 2000, to experiment with sufi music.    

 If we talk about packaging and purity of Sufi songs, not everybody applauds what seems to pass off as Sufi music today. This is music that should reach out to God. But, Sufi music today is out of key. Songs like “laaga chunri main daag”, originally a sufi song has been depicted on a prostitute in the movie, LAAGA CHUNRI MAIN DAAG. In the name of commercialization the bollywood industry has exploited Sufism to the extreme limit.

 Today, anything with a Sufi touch seems to ensure success in Hindi film music. Songs like “Chaand Sifarish” from FANNA, “Allah Ke Bande”  in WAISA BHI HOTA HAIN became  overnight successful because of the Sufi influence  in it. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan struck a chord with listeners with “Maan Ki Lagan” in PAAP, and his “Jiya Dhadak Dhadak” from KALYUG was among the top 10 for a long time. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy too have joined the fray. Their composition “Mitwa”, in KABHI ALVIDA NAA KEHNA has a mix of Sufi, Indian classical and rock influences and has been getting positive reviews.

 The Hindi film industry has been credited with popularizing Sufi music. But, the hard core Sufi singers have expressed their disappointment towards commercialization of Sufi music. Sufism is the mystical and ancient branch of Islam that emphasizes the seeker’s path towards ecstatic unity with God.

 However, there should be a balance between the purest and commercial approaches. No art can remain static, and therefore a change is always necessary. The jury maybe out on that one, but the music is still winning everybody’s heart.

THE SUFI CULTURE

 Sufi mystical poetry, performed as a part of prayers and devotions is conducive to mystical ecstasy. Sufi music accompanied by musical instruments can arouse passions either sensual or spiritual, which is the goal of Sufi music anyway. Hence, musical concerts are a regular feature of Sufi orders.

 Sufi music has a universal appeal as it speaks of pain, poverty, emotions, joys, sorrows, and way of the lives of common people in the context of their ties with the supreme power. The new generation of Sufi singers are promoting their genre of  music as a sound of connectivity, peace and friendship, transcending all borders of  class, creed race and nation.                                

          
 The modern day Sufi singers are a curious clutch of contemporary rockers from India and Pakistan with their guitars and drum sets and a handful of traditionalists. Most of their lyrics are old Sufi poetry.

                               


  Sufi music peaked when legendary dervishes like Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Nizamuddin Auliya, and Aamir Khusro refined it into an elite genre of its own. It is a genre as much at home in a rocking party as in a dargah.

                                
 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan spread Sufi music beyond the borders of Pakistan. Zila khan, has been trained in songs since her childhood, and is one of the best –known female Sufi and ghazal singers in India. Joining the fray are Shubha Mudgal, Rekha Bharadwaj and Chanchal Bharti.


Sufi singers like….Hans Raj Hans, Nizami Bandhu and Chisti Brothers feature an elaborate chorus on their call and response qawwali with rugged and heartfelt selections.

Mughal Architecture by Shah Jahan In India:

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his architectures in the Indian scenario bear an exquisite testimony to Mughal architectures. During his reign between (1627–1658), he built some of the most delicate architectures in Delhi and Agra.  

TAJ MAHAL:

During the reign of Shah Jahan , India got one of the most fascinating attraction for which people throngs from all over the world. It is the most splendid Moghul tomb, Taj Mahal of Agra, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan and Arjumand Bano Begum (Mumtaz Mahal) had 14 children. While she was dying, she took promise from Shah Jahan that he will built a tomb in the memory of his wife. So the history of Taj Mahal begins its journey with the end of Mumtaz Mahal in 1632. Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

AGRA FORT:

 The main part of the Agra fort was built by Akbar in Red Sandstone, while Emperor Shah Jahan, erected most of the buildings inside the fortress. The fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km.

Building erected by Shah Jahan includes the following:

·         Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal

Khas Mahal, built by Shahjahan clearly reflects the essence of later Mughal architecture. The Khas Mahal is an airy edifice; facing the specially laid Angoori Bagh. Windows closed with intricately pierced decorative stone screens present fabulous view of the riverfront. On three sides of this garden are residential quarters of women. Opposite to the Mussaman Burj and just below the Diwan-E- Khas hall is the Sheesh Mahal or the glass palace. It is believed  to have been the harem dressing room and its walls are inlaid with tiny mirrors, which are the best specimens of glass mosaic decoration in India.

KHAS MAHAL

SHEESH MAHAL

·         Musamman Burj

Musamman Burj is the most romantic, ornamental pavilion wherein lived two most beautiful and powerful Mughal queens-Nurjahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Here Shahjahan spent his last few years as a captive held by Aurangzeb. Shahjahan languished and dies looking at the Taj Mahal.

·         Diwan-I-khas

Diwan-I-khas or the Hall of Private audience is a small hall with double marble columns inlaid with pietra dura decoration. Shahjahan built the structure between 1636 and 1637 and it is where the emperor used to receive the important dignitaries.

·         Diwan-I-Aam

Diwan-I-Aam or the Hall of Public audience was again a building constructed by Shahjahan in 1628, replacing an earlier wooden structure. Here was kept the famous Peacock Throne ordered by Shahjahan. He met officials and commoners and listened to the petitioners in the Diwan-I-Aam.

 

·         Macchi Bhavan

Situiated infront of Diwan –i- khas, is the Machchi Bhawan or the Fish Chamber. It is believed that it was used to rear gold fishes for the emperor. It is believed to have marble fountains and tanks once, for the purpose.

·         Moti Masjid

Further north stands the Moti Masjid .It earned the nickname Pearl Mosque for it shined like a pearl. It is held that this mosque was constructed by Shah Jahan for his members of royal court.

·         Nagina Masjid

Located nearby Moti Masjid is the Nagina Masjid or the Gem Mosque. This beautiful structure was built for the ladies of the Royal family. A luxurious bazaar, known as Mina Bazar, was functioning down the road from where royal ladies could purchase items standing in the balcony of Nagina Masjid.

·         Mina Masjid

Shah Jehan built Mina Masjid near Diwan-i-Khas and this mosque was meant to be used by the emperor and the royal ladies. Thus, it was placed close to the palaces of the imperial women. This mosque was built, entirely of white marble.

Several of the buildings are made of pure marble with beautiful carvings. To cool off the rooms in the marble pavilions, the walls were hollow and filled with running water.

SHAHJAHANABAD:

Old Delhi was founded as Shahjahanabad by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty. It is approximately shaped like a quarter cìrcle, with the Red Fort as the focal point. The old city was surrounded by a wall enclosing about 1,500 acres with numerous gates: Nigambodh Gate,  Kashmiri Gate, Mori Gate, Kabuli gate, Lahore gate, Ajmeri Gate, Turkman Gate, Delhi Gate, etc. Enormous market place had further divided the city. One of the most prominent among them was situated to the west of the Red Fort’s Lahore gate, presently known as Chandni Chowk.

RED FORT:

The Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, after ruling from Agra for eleven years, decided to shift to Delhi and laid the foundation stone of the Red Fort in 1638. Completed in 1648 the Fort was originally referred to as "Qila-i-Mubarak" as it was the residence of the royal family. It was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an irregular octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. This Fort has had many developments added on after its construction by Shahjahan.

                   

JAMA MASJID:

Jama Masjid of Delhi is the country's largest and perhaps the most magnificent mosque. It is the final architectural extravagance of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. Built in 1656, it is an eloquent reminder of the Mughal religious fervour. It's also known as 'Masjid-i-Jahanuma' or 'Mosque commanding view of the world'. It was designed as Emperor Shahjahan's principal mosque. This monument was built by five thousand artisans. It combines the best of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. This magnificent structure stands on the Bho Jhala, one of the two hills of the old Mughal capital city of Shahjahanabad .

Shah Jahan erected many splendid monuments not only in India, but in Lahore too. Some of these include the famous Shalimar Garden,  Jahanhir Mouselumn, Lore Fort etc.