HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN AULIYAA DARGAH (NIZAMU'DIN)
Built By: Muhammad Tuglaq
Re-Built In: 1562-63
Re-Built By: Faridu'n Khan
Just across the highway from
Humayun's tomb is the shrine
of a revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyaa or Nizam-ud-Din. A
settlement developed here during the saint's lifetime and the locality has
since remained continuously inhabited.
The shrine, or dargah, draws devotees from all over the Islamic world.
Amir Khusrau, a poet and the saint's beloved disciple is also buried over
here. This locality, known as the Nizamuddin 'Basti', is dotted with
several monuments, most of which have been encroached upon. The area
however, remains a fascinating place to explore, as it seems to belong to
another century altogether.
Muhammad Tughluq built this tomb and to this day, the place is one of the
sacred places of pilgrimage. The complex of the shrine also contains
several tombs including the tomb of Shah Jahan's beautiful daughter, Jahan
Ara Begum and of noted poet Mirza Ghalib. Legend Of Nizamuddin
Built on the way from Humayun's tomb, the premise of the shrine is a
tank, which is surrounded by many other tombs. It is said that there was
an argument between the rulers of Tughluqabad
and the saint over building this tank. The saint had said that the city of
Tughluqabad will never prosper and so did it happen. The tomb has been
through several renovations ever since it was built. The present mausoleum
dates back to 1562.
Every Thursday at around sunset an extravagant performance of qawwali
singers takes place after the evening prayers.
Shaikh Nizamu'd-Din was born at Budaun in 1236. He lost his father at the
age of five and came to Delhi with his mother. Later he became the
disciple of the famous saint Shaikh Farid Shakarganj, who appointed him as
his successor. Both 'Ala-ud-Din Khalji and Muhammad Tughluq were devoted
to him.
He prophesied that Ghiyath-ud-Din Tughluq, who was then in Bengal, would
never see Delhi again and his prophecy came true, as the Sultan died in a
temporary structure some 6-km south of Delhi.
Hazrat Nizamu'd-Din died in 1325. His original tomb does not exist any
longer. It was repaired and decorated by Feroze Shah Tughluq, but even the
repaired building has disappeared. The present structure was built in 970
AH (1562-63) by Faridu'n Khan, a nobleman with a high rank, and has been
added to or repaired later by several persons.
It consists of a square chamber surrounded by verandahs, which are
pierced by arched openings, while its roof is surmounted by a dome
pringing from an octagonal drum. The dome is ornamented by vertical
stripes of black marble and is crowned by a lotus-cresting. The area
around the tomb is regarded as sacred, with the result that a large number
of persons, including those from the royalty, lie buried here.
Twice during the year, i.e. on the death anniversaries of Hazrat
Nizamu'd-Din Auliya and Amir Khusraw, a fair ('urs) is held here, when the
entire area comes to life with pilgrims congregating from all over India.
Other Monuments In The Dargah
Jama'at- Khana Masjid
To the west of Hazrat Nizamu'd-Din's tomb lies the rectangular Jama
'at-Khana-Masjid, veneered with red sandstone. Consisting of three bays,
each surmounted by a low dome, the central one higher, its arches are
fringed with the 'lotus-bud' decoration, recalling the features of the
'Ala-i-Darwaza.
The mosque was built in 1325 by Khizr Khan, son of 'Ala-ud-Din Khalji,
and is the oldest building in this area. Khizr Khan was the hero of one of
Amir Khusraw's love-poems.
Chini Ka Burj
On the western wall of the baoli, a mosque called Chini-ka-Burj, consists
of three compartments, each with an arched opening. An inscription incised
in plaster in a domed chamber on its roof is too fragmentary to be made
out. The building was, however, apparently built in the Lodi times.
The profuse decoration with coloured tiles and incised plaster on the
interior of its upper chamber has given it its present name of
Chini-ka-Burj, meaning a 'tower of tiles'. On the same side of the baoli
stands a small marble pavilion with a vaulted roof and three arched
entrances. It is known as Bai-Kodaldai's tomb, but who this lady was is
not known.
Tomb Of Jahanara
To the south of Shaikh Nizamu'd-Din's tomb is situated the unroofed
enclosure with perforated marble screens containing the grave of Jahanara,
Shah Jahan's elder daughter. The hollow receptacle on the grave is filled
with grass in accordance with the touching inscription on it, meaning "Let
naught cover my grave save the green grass, for grass well suffices as a
covering for the grave of the lowly".
The tomb of Muhammad Shah (1719-48) also lies within a small enclosure
similar to Jahanara's tomb. Mirza Jahangir, the eldest son of Akbar II
(1806-37), also lies buried in an enclosure here.
Amir Khusraw's Tomb
South of the above-mentioned tombs is Amir Khusraw's tomb, which bears
inscriptions of several dates. Amir Khusraw, the chief disciple of Shaikh
Nizamu'd-Din Auliya, enjoyed the patronage of several rulers and was a
celebrated saint and poet.
Kali-Or Kalan-Masjid
On the eastern periphery of the village of Nizamuddin lies Kali Masjid or
Kalan-Masjid, built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, prime minister of Feroze
Shah Tughluq. It is one of the seven mosques reputed to have been built by
him. Built of rubble stone, it is an extensive structure.
Originally, its courtyard was partly covered and partly uncovered as in
the Khirki-Masjid. Its eastern doorway has an inscription mentioning that
it was built in 772 AH (1370-71) by Kimam Shah Maqbul, entitled
Khan-i-Jahan, son of Khan-i-Jahan.
Baoli
At the northern gate of the enclosure of the dargah is a large baoli
(stepped well), which is considered sacred by the followers of the saint.
It is said that the baoli was under construction at the same time when
Ghiyath-ud-Din Tughluq was engaged in building Tughluqabad, and the latter
had prohibited workmen to work elsewhere.
They, however, worked for the saint at night and when the emperor forbade
the sale of oil also, so that they could not work during the nights, they
used the water of the baoli for oil, and it served the purpose equally
well. more...
Khan-I-Jahan Tilangani's Tomb
In the northwestern corner of the village stands the tomb of Khan-i-Jahan
Tilangani, the prime minister of Feroze Shah Tughluq, his real name being
Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul Khan. It consists of a central octagonal chamber
enclosed by a verandah and covered by a dome.
Each of its sides is pierced by three arched openings. Although now in a
dilapidated condition, architecturally it occupies an important place in
the development of tombs, being the first octagonal tomb in Delhi.
Ataga Khan's Tomb
The northern periphery of the village of Nizamuddin is occupied by a
small tomb built of red sandstone within a walled enclosure. On all its
four sides are deeply recessed arches containing openings and its red
sandstone facing is thickly inlaid with marble and coloured tiles.
Its interior was ornamented with painted plaster, which has now largely
come off. Coloured tiles are also fixed on the western wall of its
enclosure containing recessed arches. Although small in size, measuring
6-m-sq, it is virtually a gem of architecture.
Ataga Khan was the husband of Ji Ji Anga, a wet nurse of Akbar and held
important positions in the court. In 1562 he was killed by Adham Khan, son
of Maham Anga, another wet nurse of Akbar. An inscription on the southern
door of the tomb mentions that it was finished in 974 AH (1566-67).
Chaunsath-Khamba
Not far from Ataga Khan's tomb to its east lies the Chaunsath-Khamba, a
marble pavilion with sixty-four pillars. It contains several graves
including that of Mirza 'Aziz Kokaltash, Ataga Khan's. Built earlier as a
hall, it may have been converted later into a tomb. It is surrounded by an
enclosure wall, but is sited within the raised western half of the
enclosure. The main grave is inscribed and bears the date 1033 AH
(1623-24).
Ghalib's Tomb
Outside the enclosure of Chaunsath-Khamba on its north lies the grave of
the famous poet Mirza Ghalib (1796-1869). In recent years the grave has
been covered by a small marble structure and enclosed within a compound
wall.
Bara-Khamba
North of the village of Nizamuddin stands a large square structure
consisting of a central chamber with three arches on each side and
supported on twelve sets of pillars, from which it has derived its present
name meaning 'twelve pillars'. Around the central chamber on all the sides
runs a verandah. Originally, it appears to have been a tomb, the identity
of the person buried in it being unknown.
Lal-Mahal
Outside Chaunsath-Khamba a red sandstone building in private occupation,
now considerably renovated, attracts attention. Knows as Lal-Mahal or 'red
palace', it has a central domed room, with verandahs on all the sides. The
verandahs have a flat roof supported on pillars and lintels. It is
identified sometimes with Kushki-Lal (red palace), built by Ghiyath-ud-Din
Balban, which, however, remains untraced.
Khan-I-Khanan's Tomb
The tomb of 'Abdu'r-Rahim Khan, who had the title of Khan-i-Khanan, lies
on the east of Mathura road opposite Nizamuddin. It is a massive square
edifice rising from a high platform faced by arched cells, double-storyed,
with a high deeply recessed central arch on each side and several shallow
arches on the flanks in each storey, it follows the pattern of
Humayun's tomb .
The interior of the tomb is decorated with incised and painted plaster
with beautiful designs, specially on the ceiling. Around the central
double dome are disposed chhatris at the corners and dalans (open halls)
in the middle of the sides. The red sandstone, marble and other stones,
which faced it originally were later removed and used in Safdarjung's
tomb.
'Abdu'r Rahim Khan Khan-i-Khanan was the son of Bairam Khan, regent of
Akbar, and served both Akbar and Jahangir. He knew several languages and
composed couplets in Hindi under the familiar name of Rahim. He died in
1626-27.
Barapula
Barapula is a bridge on the old Mathura road, 1-km east of
Khan-i-Khanan's tomb. It consists of eleven arched openings, but twelve
piers, which appear to have given it its name meaning 'twelve piers'. Each
pier is surmounted by a 2m high minar. The bridge is 14m in width and over
195m in length. There was an inscription on one of its arches, now not
traceable, according to which, it was built in 1030 A.H. (1621-22) by Mihr
Banu Agha, the chief eunuch of Jahangir's court.
