Maner Sharif Dargah Turns 400 Years Old

1780 AD Painting of the Shrine 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

The shrine of Hazrat Shah Daulat, considered to be the finest piece of Mughal architecture in eastern India, has turned 400 years old. Located in historical Maner Sharif town about 25 kms from west of Patna, the tomb was completed by Mughal noble and his disciple Ibrahim Khan in 1616.Designed by architecture Quli Khan Badakhshani, the  building is truly an visual treat. Its walls contain carvings of great delicacy and great finish. A great dome crowns it, and the ceiling is covered with carved inscriptions from the Holy Quran. The shrine is surrounded by four beautiful courtyards and made of Chunar stone. Quranic texts are inscribed on eastern and western side courtyards To the south of Dargah lies a beautiful tank. The holy grave of Hazrat Shah Daulat is in the middle of the compound with a large dome over it. The plan of the complex gives shrine a fort like look.

 Shah Daulat was born in 1492 AD. He lost his father Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Abdul Malik Maneri at the age of 7.He learnt the intricacies of Sufism from Hazrat Shah Qutb Mowwahid Firdausi. When he approached his spiritual guide for the first time, Shah Firdausi welcomed him with these words –“Aao Meri Daulat”. (Come on, My Wealth).Since then he became popular as Shah Daulat. His spiritual knowledge earned him wide recognition and he attracted the attention of Mughal Emperor Akbar but also some of his nine jewels like Tansen, Abdur Rahim Khankhana and Raja Man Singh. Shah Daulat attained Purdah on February 16, 1609.His wife lies buried next to him. The builder of the shrine who had attained governorship of Gujarat with the blessings of Shah Daulat was also buried close to his Peer. Prior to dearth, he had also completed a mosque in the shrine complex by 1619.A traveller had painted the grand shrine in his painting in 1780.The beautiful landscape gives an idea about the grandeur of Dargah during Mughal rule.  

Latest Picture of Dargah Shah Daulat

The main entrance of shrine is symbol of patriotism of Sajjada Nasheens (Caretakers) of Dargah who had resisted the British rule in 1857.It is stated that when a British soldier fired at a Sajjada Nasheen, the bullet reversed and killed the attacker. The incident left the attackers baffled and they became apprehensive of the spiritual power of the caretakers of the shrine. But they did not refrain from damaging a part of Dargah, destroying rare manuscripts, books and holy relics. The sign of the bullet is still visible. A large number of people flock at the shrine during Urs of Shah Daulat. The caretakers also recall the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali on Ramzan 21 and Maula Hussain on Muharram 10 by holding special ceremonies.(References available on request)