Sufi Circuit

Sufi Circuit

Bihar has been one of the earliest places in the Indian subcontinent where mystic Sufis had settled. It's earliest adherents belonged to the Chisti and Suharwardia orders of Sufism. The Qadri order, which is now believed to be one of the chief Sufi orders in the state, had one of its prominent representatives, Syed Muhammad of Amjharsharif, based in the Aurangabad district of Bihar.

The most important of all the Sufi orders in Bihar, however, was the Suharwardia, particularly its sub-section, the Firdausia Silsila. One of its most celebrated saints was Hazrat Sharfuddin Ahmad. He was born at Maner in 1262 AD and died at Biharsharif in 1377 AD.

The advent of Sufism in Bihar and its adjoining areas also led to the mushrooming of mosques and `khanqahs' of eminent Sufi saints and preachers. These became centres of learning.

There's a mosque of Hazrat Ataullah at Phulwari, bearing an inscription dating back to the period of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The madrassas here still impart knowledge on Islamic theology to students. Mulla Abul Hasan of Darbhanga __ the saintly scholar who fought against Princess Zaibunnisa, the daughter of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb __ and five scholarly members of the Sufi order, who compiled the famous Fatwa-i-Alamgiri, were all great saints of their time.

In fact, there are hundreds of holy places associated with Sufi saints in Bihar where Sufism is still a thriving tradition and many important Sufi centres still continue to flourish. If you have a spiritual bent of mind and want to explore the mysticism that has, over the centuries, come to be identified with Sufi saints, Bihar beckons you.

Manersharif

About 32 km west of Patna along the Patna-Ara highway, Manersharif in Patna district is the most important and oldest centre of Sufism in Bihar. The tradition introduced here by Imam Taj Faqih continues even to this day. Tombs of several well-known Sufi saints, including the mausoleum of Shah Daulat, a contemporary of Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jehangir, are located here. Constructed by Ibrahim Khan Kakar in the early 17th century, this mausoleum epitomises architectural splendour of the Mughal period. Once known as an eminent centre of learning, Maner even attracted scholars like Panini and Vararuchi, both of whom lived and studied here.

Biharsharif

Another famous and thriving Sufi centre is Biharsharif where the tomb of Makhdum Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri, a contemporary of Mohammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Shah Tughlaq (14th century), is located. A prolific writer, Mukhdum Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri left behind a vast corpus of mystic literature in the form of letters and treatises. He was one of the most renowned Sufi saints in medieval Bihar. Bari Dargah and Chhoti Dargah in Biharsharif town and Panhessa along the Biharsharif- Rajgir road are also important Sufi sites in the state.

Phulwarisharif

There's another important Sufi centre at Phulwarisharif, seven km from Patna. The `Khanqah Mujeebia', founded in the 18th century by Pir Mujibullah Qadri, still commands a large popular following. It has been a favourite home to Sufi saints. The sacred hair from the beard of Prophet Mohammad are preserved at `Bari Khanqah' that attracts thousands of devotees.

Munger

`Khanqah-e-Rahmania' in Munger is visited by thousands of people from across the country throughout the year. Mulla Mohammad was a Persian poet who had come to India from Mazandran located near the Caspian Sea during the reign of Aurangazeb, who employed him as a tutor of his daughter Zaibunnisa Begum. Mulla Mohammad died in 1704 AD and his tomb existed at `Khanqah-e-Rahmania' till the early years of this century. THE LAND OF ENLIGHTENMENT 180

Patna City

The dargah of Shah Arzani near Patthar Ki Masjid in old Patna is another old and functioning Sufi centre. It dates back to the days of Mughal Emperor Jehangir.

`Khanqah Munimia' at Meetan Ghat in Patna City, an 18th century Sufi centre, is a beautiful double-storied mosque built by Mughal Prince Azim on the banks of the Ganga. An annual Urs Chiraga, held here five days after Eid every year, draws hordes of devotees.

`Khanqah Emadia' at Mangal Talab here is a branch of the `Khanqah Mujeebia' and has a century- old history. Prominent Sufi saint Hazrat Pir Mujibullah Qadri of Biharsharif founded another `khanqah' in the 19th century near Mangal Talab here.

THERE'S MORE

There's a tomb of revered Muslim saint Hazrat Jandaha at Hajipur in Vaishali district. There's also the Hajipur Karbala which was constructed 175 years ago by Shah Alam. The mausoleum of Muslim saint Data Kambal Shah, Pakki Sarai, four km from Muzaffarpur, too has been a major attraction for tourists, including those from Pakistan and Bangladesh. There's a tomb of Bibi Kamaal Sahiba at Kako, situated about 10 km east of Jehanabad railway station. Hazrat Bibi Kamaal Sahiba, an eminent saint and aunt of Hazrat Makhdum Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri Saheb of Biharsharif, is said to have possessed divine powers. In Aurangabad is situated Amjharsharif, an important Islamic pilgrimage centre. About 100 km from Patna, Amjharsharif houses the `mazaar' of Hazrat Saiyadana Mohammad Jilani Amjhari Qadri. And Pirnagar in Khagaria district is said to be the place where Hazrat Peer Mohammad, a Muslim saint, attained salvation.