Dr.Mazhar
Naqvi
The
huge participation of Hindus in Muharram rituals and their veneration of Tazias
and Alams had left orientalist C.E.Brown baffled. In 1912, he mistook the
offerings made by Hindus in accordance with their long standing customs as if
Muslims were involved in what he described as “Surprising Muslim Idolatry” in
his work. In his pioneering work on Shia faith, John Norman Hollister has also
cited a newspaper report of 1940,stating “Hindus from all castes, excepting Brahamins,
call the Alams (Standard) as “Pirs” and have incorporated them into their
religion. The Alam of Ali is called “Lal Sahib” and the other two are known as
riders…these three Alams are looked upon and treated with the same reverence as
the village Goddesses “.
The
comment made by Brown was countered by the Director of Salar Jung Museum, Mr. M.
L. Nigam in his article “Indian Ashurkhanas” contributed in an edited volume on
Shia faith. In his work, he concluded that Muslims don’t worship Tazias or
Alams but it is the Hindus who treat “Panja” (Palm Like metal object) of Alam
with devotion reserved for Gods and Goddesses. To them, Panja is similar to ‘Tathastu’(Wish
Granted) symbol made by deity by display
of palm to the seeker. They also garland Alams like idols. According to Nigam, it
is Hindus not Muslims who found divinity in Muharram relics. Muslims consider
an Alam as an inspiration to recall the tragedy of Karbala and symbol of
fortitude of Imam Hussain and his small band of supporters.
To
quote. Nigam verbatim “for the Muslims, element of worship was not there,…as a
Muslim is supposed to worship only one God as per the canonical injunctions of
the Holy Quran”. The conclusions derived by Nigam needs to be perceived as a
tribute to the sacred memory of Imam Hussain. Even though he himself was a
Hindu and “Kayasth” by caste, the remark made by Brown left him worried. He
immersed himself in the study of Muharram rituals and proved from the items
offered by Hindus and Muslims that there was distinction between the two
communities. He elaborated that Hindus considered Panja and Alam simply close
to their centurys’ old custom of making offerings in similar manner to deities,
especially in South India.
Nigam
was aware of the fact that it was the Muslims who had always opposed the participation
of Hindus and their veneration of Muharram relics in processions or Sufi
shrines. Due to this, Brown considered it as idolatry while Nigam refuted it in
his article.
Source:”Partners
of Zainab” by Diane D'Souza
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