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The pluralistic legacy of Phulwari Sharif in Patna, the then ‘Azimabad’ in Bihar

"Phulwari Sharif, as an important Muslim pilgrimage site, has been always a favourite abode of Sufi saints in various times", Sinha writes.......

Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi
Founding Editor, Word For Peace
Bihar is one of the northern Indian states. Etymologically, the root letters of “Bihar” are derived from the Sanskrit and Pali word vihāra, meaning “abode”. Bihar has had many Buddhist vihāras, the abodes of Buddhist monks in the ancient and medieval periods. Going by some historical accounts, Bihar, originated as “Buddha Vihar” and hence it became “Bihar’.
Bihar plays a significant part in the promotion of the Persian and Urdu language and literature in India. Sufi poets, writers, and scholars particularly in the Persian language richly contributed in the realm of culture. It is noteworthy that this region in North India, has offered the world a galaxy of spiritual intellectuals, religious reformers, and humanist philosophers such as Gautam Buddha, Mahavir Jaina, and Ashoka in the ancient history, as well as the prominent Sufi Saints such as Makhdoom Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri, Sultan Ahmad Chirmposh, Muzaffar Shams Balkhi, and others in the later Indian history.
One of the first regions in India where Muslim Mystics of the Arabia and Central Asia had settled was Bihar. Along with the major Sufi orders such as Qadiriyya and Chistiya, the sacred Sufi Order of Suhrawardiya, and most notably its sub-section, the Firdausiya Silsilah, is the most important of all the Sufi denominations in Bihar. Sharafuddin Yahya Maneri is known as one of the country’s most revered Sufi Saints in Bihar. He was born in 1262 in Maner and died in 1377 in Bihar Sharif.
Significance of Phulwari Sharif
In his book, “The Celebrated Garden: A Study of Phulwari Sharif Family of Muslim Divines
Front Cover”, Sufi author and scholar Fuz̤ail Aḥmad Qādrī writes:
“Considered as one of the most venerated spiritual centres for the Muslims in Bihar, popularly known as Phulwari Sharif, this township or Qasba was earlier known as Sarai Jafrabad but now it is called Alamgirpur Phulwari”. To the best of the knowledge of the author, the comprehensive Masnawi collection of Aman Ali Taraqqi about the history of Phulwari Sharif is replete with the full description of the people and the spiritual environ of the region throughout the history.
According to Udai Prakash Sinha, ‎who wrote the book “Bihar Tourism: Retrospect and Prospect” (2012 ), the shrine visitation on the annual Urs of Phulwari Sharif (nearly seven kilometres from Patna junction Railway Station), has turned the town into a hotspot for spiritual tourism in Bihar. “Phulwari Sharif, as an important Muslim pilgrimage site, has been always a favourite abode of Sufi saints in various times”, Sinha writes.
A treatise titled as “Aatharaat e Phulwari Sharif” (meaning: Archeological bases of Phlwari Sharif) also named as “Ayan E Watan” authored by Maulana Muhammad Shoaib (1947) has collected a great detail of 244 Sufi saints, scholars, rulers, ulema and Mashaikh of the region. It speaks volumes about their status and contributions. The collection runs in 434 pages and has been published by the Khanqah Munamiya of Patna, Bihar.
In fact, the Sufi culture and civilisation of Bihar in general and the Phulwari Sharif in particular, dates back even to the times when the Sufi culture was first conceived in India. The Indian Sufi Mystics of those times had made the then Azimabad, and now Patna, one of the most significant centers of spiritual, social, and cultural developments. In this cultural miliue, Phulwari Sharif was one such region where the Sufi Mystics had spread their message of love and toleration. It was historically felt in the amicable atmosphere of Phulwari Sharif, where people of all religions respected each other. It has been frequented by most Sufi saints of earlier periods and by the Sufi Lovers even today.
Maner Sharif: Mother of Khanqahs in Bihar
During the medieval period, the spiritualistic aura enjoyed by Pataliputra (Patna) attracted many Sufi Mystics who preached an egalitarian and humanistic way of life for the practitioners of all faith traditions.
25 kilometers west of Patna on NH 30, is the historic Khanqah of Maner Sharif. It shelters two very popular Sufi courtyards: One is the tomb of Makhdoom Yahya Maneri, known as the Bari Dargah (the great shrine). The other is of Makhdum Shah Daulat, popularly called Chhoti Dargah (the small shrine).
In the mediaeval times, Maner Sharif was the principal site of spiritual intellect, research and knowledge in the region.
Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is a scholar of classical Islamic studies, cultural analyst, researcher in media and communication studies and Founding Editor at  WordForPeace.com
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One Comment

  1. Kha jata ha ka 24 carat khara sona bohat keemti hota ha esa hi mera bhai ghulam Rasool shb bhi karodo ma ek ha
    Jab bhi ma inka articles ya notes padta hu to sach ma dhang reh jata hu
    I always pray to almighty allah for the bless and always protect you from any kinds of evil and let u to be a successful man

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