Maula Ali's Lesser Known Shrine in India

Entrance to Maula Ali Shrine in Pallavaram

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

A 400- year old shrine of Maula Ali has been in existence in Pallavaram town near Chennai with little awareness among Indian Imamis. The place exudes an air of tranquility like its well known counterpart Kohe-Ali in Hyderabad. But lacks historical evidences about how shrine developed atop a hill in an uninhabited area surrounded by dense forest till few decades ago. There is however no dearth of legends associated with the shrine. The most prominent being the appearance of a hungry lion that struck terror among the wood collectors, shepherds and villagers. The villagers tried to chase it away but their efforts failed. Even the British soldiers failed in their attempt to kill the beast. Then, the villagers invoked intercession of the saint whose abode was a cave on the hill and who was believed to be their protector .The saint responded immediately to their prayer and appeared from nowhere. The moment he cast a glance at the wild animal, the lion subdued before him and circumambulated him. The lion quietly left the area after receiving an affectionate stroke from the saint.

Picturesque Pallavaram Hill 

It is firm belief of the area residents that the saint was none other than Mushkil Kusha Maula Ali, cousin and son –in-law of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. Legends reveal that the villagers as a token of their gratitude installed a small ’Panja’ (Palm) inside the cave and place came to be known as ‘Panjthan’ or ‘Panja Andavar’. Both Hindus and Muslims revere the shrine and around 100 devotees on an average visit it daily. During weekends their number swells to 500 who throng the shrine to pay respect to Panja and pray for solution of their varied Haajats (problems).As Pallavaram gradually emerged as a suburb about 17 kms from the heart of Chennai, Imamis of Tamilnadu began celebrating Eid-E-Ghadir and Birth Anniversary of Maula Ali on Rajab 13 at grand scale on ‘Maula Ka Pahad’ the world given by devotees to the shrine. On Rajab 28, admirers of Imam Hussain walk barefoot from Imambara Thousand Lights-Chennai to ‘Maula ka Pahad’ to commemorate the commencement of his journey from Medina to Karbala. There also exists a mosque adjacent to the shrine where prayers are now regularly held and led by a Peshnamaz. The devotees have also erected an impressive gateway and developed adequate infrastructure to offer facilities to the visitors. ’Maula Ka Pahad’ now can easily be described as an emerging center of pilgrimage for the devotees of Maula Ali. Of late, Imami Youths of Chennai have been very active in creating awareness about the shrine and hosting programs in the sacred memory of Masoomeen on regular basis.Their efforts are praiseworthy as Chennai does not have much Imami population like Hyderabad.  

References:

1- The Hindu, July 17,2014 

2-Quotes of Janab Kumail Haider Khan-Septuagenarian resident of Pallavaram

3-Website of Chennai Shia Youth Association  

4-Photo Courtesy-Google Images