By Abdul Manan, "Mian Mir’s 384th urs kicks off today" - Daily Times - Lahore, PakistanSunday, March 16, 2008
All is set for the commencement of Mir Mohammad Moinul Islam’s, popularly known as Mian Mir, 384th urs from Sunday (today).
People from across the country have already reached the shrine of the Sufi saint. The urs celebrations will continue for two days.
Auqaf Additional Secretary Chaudhry Nisar told Daily Times on Saturday that the department had made all arrangements of the urs. Chador-laying ceremony would take place on Sunday to commence the urs, he added.
Mian Mir is regarded as one of the greatest Sufi saints of the Subcontinent. He belonged to the Qadiria order of the Sufis. He was famous for being a spiritual instructor to Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who also held Mian Mir in great esteem.
Dara Shikoh was a devoted disciple of the saint. His father, Shah Jahan, often requested the saint to pray for his empire.
Mian Mir was the earliest Sufi saint who promoted the Qadiria order in Lahore. He shunned worldly selfish men and proud high-ups of his time. He used to post his mureeds (disciples) at the gate of his house to stop rich people from entering.
Once Emperor Shah Jahan, with his attendants, came to pay homage to the great dervish. Mian Mir’s disciples stopped the emperor at the gate and requested him to wait, until permission was given. Shah Jahan felt insulted, but controlled his temper and composed himself. After a while, he was ushered into Mian Mir’s presence.
When the emperor came across the saint, he said, “Ba dar-e-darvish darbane naa-bayd (On the doorstep of a dervish, there should be no sentry).”The saint replied, “Babayd keh sag-e-dunia na ayad (They are there so that the materialistic, selfish men of the world may not enter).” The emperor was ashamed and requested forgiveness.
Mian Mir holds a legendary place in Sikhism and in Sikh history. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, often visited Lahore, the birthplace of his father – the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das – to meet his relatives. Once Guru Arjan called on Mian Mir. The two remained close life long friends, after the first meeting.
Mian Mir was thirteen years older than Guru Arjan. He invited Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone of the Harmandir Sahib, one of the most sacred places for Sikhs. After a long life of piety, Mian Mir passed away on August 11, 1635 (seven Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1045 according to the Islamic Calendar), at the age of 88.
Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh led his funeral. He was buried near Alamganj, a place in the south of the city. His spiritual successor was Mullah Shah Badakhshi.
Mian Mir’s Mazar (mausoleum) attracts hundreds of devotees every day. Sikhs and Muslims equally revered the great Sufi saint of the Subcontinent.
[Picture: A calendar painting of Hazrat Mian Mir. Photo from: http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112002/mian_mir_tribute.htm].
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1 comment:
It should be noted that Mian Mir was the Pir of Jahanara, as well. She was Dara's elder sister by one year, and was called "The Sufi Princess" in a book by Annemarie Schimmel.
She was depicted in a movie which I haven't seen, called "Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story", and was to have been a lead character in the film that was much in the news last autumn. It would have been produced by Ben Kingsley, starring in the role of Shah Jahan (not a good match, in my personal opinion).
-Aisha
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