Hauz-E-Shamsi at present.
A Painting of Hauz-E-Shamsi during Mughal India
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Hauz-e-Shamsi is perhaps
the only place in the world that has been erected at a spot marked by the hoof
print of ‘Buraq’- the winged horse of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. The devotees
revered the place for centuries but it can neither be considered as sacred or
usable anymore. Built by Sultan Iltutmish in 1230 CE as a water storage
reservoir in picturesque settings, the 35000 SQM Hauz however became in independent
India as a dumping point for trash emanating from the dwellings of all those
who encroached its land to erect their houses. Before becoming chocked with a
thick layer of water hyacinth, people used to drink water from the Hauz. Those visiting
Delhi used to carry its water with them in view of its healing capacity.
The contemporary historical accounts and work like Muraqqa-e-Delhi
reveal that Prophet Muhammad himself had instructed Iltutmish to build a
reservoir at the place in a dream. It is believed that Sultan indeed found hoof
print of Buraq when he inspected the site revealed to him in the dream by the
Messenger of God himself. It is also recorded that besides Iltutmish, Noted Chishti Sufi Khwaja
Kutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki also saw a
similar dream , indicating the same location. Iltutmish held the saint in high
esteem and upon coming to know about the dream of Khwaja Kaki, Sultan got the
place dug and his efforts resulted in the water oozing out from a spring
source. The Hauz not only quenched the thirst of newly developed Mehrauli’s
citizens but also served as a place with
abundant spiritual solace.
Iltutmish built a domed pavilion
at the spot of Buraq’s hoof print and then excavated a
large tank around it to harvest rain
water. People considered the water sacred because of its association with ‘Buraq’
that is revered because this winged horse had taken the Prophet to heavens
(Miraj).The Hauz also mitigated the hardships of Mehrauli people who were confronted
with acute water crisis. During Lodi dynasty, a palace known as Jahaz Mahal was built on the eastern edge of the Hauz-e- Shamsi
.It served as a well managed inn for the pilgrims in 16th century.
The place remained beyond the reach of
land grabbers for a long period but when South Delhi began to grow after Asian
Games in 1982, this sacred spot of Prophet’s followers suffered greatly and
turned into a dirty pond from a pious spot. Apart from regulatory bodies, the Muslims
of Delhi also remained mute spectator of the gradual deterioration of the holy
site. It was the intervention of the court that prompted Archeological Survey
of India( ASI) to initiate steps to restore the lost sanctity and glory of Hauz-e-Shamsi.
ADI not only cleaned the tank and tapped the inflow of filthy and polluted
water into the tank but also roped in the locals to keep an eye on the
reservoir. The move yielded desired results, for the people residing nearby
began guarding the Hauz. Even women joined the campaign to guard the tank and
its surrounding areas on weekends. A police outpost has also been set up to keep anti socials at bay. A signboard also
attracts the attention of the visitors .It cautions that anyone seen or found dirtying
the reservoir would be fined Rs. 5000. But these efforts have not proved enough
to bring back the sanctity, spirituality and holiness that once marked the Hauz
during the period of Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire and to some extent even British
India. The concerned authorities have only checked the dumping of filth, silt
and garbage but done nothing to restore its lost place as an abode of saints
and pilgrims.( Reference available on request-Photo Courtesy Google Image).
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