"Ya Jaddi!" "Marhaba Ya Waladi"

By Md Masarrath Ali Khan, "The big Urs" - Deccan Herald - Bangalore, India
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Close to the Urs ceremony at Ameen Peer Dargah in Cuddapah, Md Masarrath Ali Khan writes about the many legends behind this famous dargah and why the Urs of Arifullah Hussaini II is the biggest in South India

The 350-year-old Ameen Peer Dargah (Badi Dargah) in Cuddapah is an example of the communal harmony preached by great saints and sages in ancient days.

Come Thursday and Friday, scores of pilgrims cutting across religious faiths, throng the shrine, seeking blessings of saints Peerullah Hussaini and Arifullah Hussaini II who lie buried here. Followers of the dargah believe that any wish that one makes at the shrine is always fulfilled.

A large number of Hindus, Muslims and people of different faiths are disciples of the shrine. The family’s descendants identify themselves with a saffron dress, and the disciples wear a saffron cap.

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Arifullah Hussaini II was a devout Sufi and he immersed himself in the love of God.

Legend has it that he once paid a visit to his grandfather’s tomb at Bidar. The gateman asked for his credentials and refused to open the door for him. The saint called (Ya Jaddi, O' father) loudly. Then a voice from the tomb (Marhaba Ya Waladi, Come, my son) welcomed him.

The door automatically opened for him.

Arifullah II spent some time there, and then shifted to the mausoleum of Ameenuddin Aala at Bijapur. He went to Ahmedabad and Ajmer, where he received instructions for going to Tadipatri (Anantapur District).

He spent 40 years in deep meditation and prayers in the caves and forests of Tadipatri. It is also believed that a python used to stay guard outside his cave.

He came to the forests of Gandi in Cuddapah district and spent his time in prayers till he turned 63. Besides being a saint of high order, he was also a great scholar, and an eminent poet.

There is a wide hall aligned along the east west axis containing a number of tombs. The highest tomb among them belongs to him, whose Urs is celebrated in Jamadi’ul Awwal (5th lunar month) of Muslim calendar. It is the biggest Urs of South India.

The entire mausoleum complex is popularly known as Aasthana-e-Maqdoom’ullahi. This Urs brings millions of pilgrims to Cuddapah from every nook and corner of the country, from as far as Delhi, Agra, Ajmer, Chennai, Bangalore, Calcutta, Jammu, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Bhopal, and so on.

The main festivities start with the sandal paste ceremony. It is taken out in the night and Fateha is offered at the tomb of the saint.

The sandal paste is treated as Tabarruk (prasada) and is distributed to the devotees. The main Urs ceremony is held on the second day. Fakirs and devotees present Chadar at the tomb of the saint.

Qawwali programme is held on both nights. A national-level Mushaira (poetry programme) is held on the third night which continues upto early morning.

Besides common pilgrims who come in hundreds, any celebrity who comes to Cuddapah pays a visit to the shrine without fail. The famous music director A R Rehman, actors Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachhan have visited the shrine.

The shrine is one of the most peaceful and serene spots in Cuddapah, free from distracting noises. One should pay a visit to this shrine to savour the magic of silence, if not for anything else!