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Nagore Dargah
The Nagore Dargah, also known as the Nagore Dargah Shareef, the Syed Shahul Hamid Dargah, or the Nagore Andavar Dargah, is a dargah complex built over the tomb of the Sufi saint Nagore Syed Abdul Qadir Shahul Hamid, located in Nagore, a coastal town in the Nagapattinam district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
Shahul Hamid is believed to have performed many miracles in Nagore, and cured the physical affliction of king Achuthappa Nayak, a 16th-century Hindu ruler of Thanjavur. He is locally referred to as Nagore Andavar, meaning the "Ruler of Nagore". Nagore Dargah as it stands now, is believed to have been built by ardent devotees of Shahul Hamid, with major contribution from Hindus. There are five minarets in the dargah, with the Hindu Maratha ruler of Thanjavur Pratap Singh (1739–1763 CE), building the tallest minaret. The dargah is a major pilgrimage centre that attracts pilgrims from both sufi Islam and Hinduism, symbolizing peaceful coexistence between the two religions.
The most prominent event celebrated at Nagore Dargah is the Kanduri festival (Urus Mubarak), a fourteen-day commemoration of the death anniversary of Shahul Hamid.
Shahul Hameed Nagoori was born to Syed Hasan Kuthoos Kadiri and Beevi Fathima at Manikpur, in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. He was a 13th-generation descendant of the renowned Sufi saint, Muhiyudin Abd al-Qadir al-Jalani. He received an Islamic education at Gwalior under the guidance of Mohammad Ghouse; and left on a pilgrimage to Mecca and then moved to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and then Tamil Nadu with his spiritual team. Historians Sayyid and Qadir Hussain (1957) place the date of his birth on 10 November 1504, death on 10 November 1570 and arrival in Nagore during 1533–34. Other sources mention the year of death as 1558, 1570 or 1579. He is believed to have led a simple and pious life, performing a lot of miracles, giving him the name Nagore Andavar (meaning ruler of Nagore). His popularity grew outside Tanjore region during the period. He was also called Meera Saheb, Qadir Wali and Ganj-e-Sawai.
According to local legend, hagiographical texts and historical records, Shahul Hamid is believed to have cured a Hindu ruler of Thanjavur, king Achutappa Nayak (1529–1542 CE), of his physical affliction caused by sorcery. Shahul Hamid found a needled pigeon in the palace believed to be the cause of the misery. He removed the pins from the pigeon, resulting in the king's health improvement. In remembrance of the event, the practice of setting pigeons free in the premises of the dargah is continued by worshipers in modern times.
Achutappa Nayak, the king of Thanjavur during the 16th century, donated 81 hectares (200 acres) to the entourage of Shahul, after the saint cured the king's affliction. The dargah was built on a part of the land donated by Nayak. Shahul Hamid is believed to have predicted his death and advised his adopted son Yusuf dhadha about his burial location and rites to be performed after his death. Yusuf dhadha performed the rites as per the instructions and decided to stay there for the rest of his life. A mausoleum was constructed over the grave. Devotees of Shahul, who continued to believe in his powers after his death, venerated the site of the burial. The shrine was initially a smaller one and gradually gained prominence. Pratap Singh (1739–1763 CE), the Hindu Maratha ruler of Thanjavur prayed for a son and built the tallest of the five minarets (called Periya Manara locally) with a height of 131 ft (40 m) once his wish was fulfilled. The Marathas of the later period were patrons to the dargah, with the Maratha king Thuljaji, the son of Pratap Singh, donating 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of agricultural land to the dargah. During the last quarter of 18th century, when there was conflict between European powers, the Nawab of Arcot, the Maratha kings and Tipu Sultan of Mysore over Thanjavur region, the dargah was considered strategically important by all of them.
The Nagore Dargah covers an area of 2.0 hectares (5 acres) enclosed by a compound wall. The main complex has four entrances in each direction. The dargah is believed to have been built by ardent devotees of Shahul Hamid, of which 95 per cent are Hindus. There are five minarets with different heights and the tallest one has a height of 40 metres (131 ft). It was erected during the 195th death anniversary of Shahul. The dargah has a gold-plated dome located on the west face outside the main entrance over the tombs of Shahul, his son Yusuf and his daughter-in-law Saeeda Sultana Biwi. The other four minarets are Sahib Minara, 23 metres (77 ft) high; Thalaimattu Minara, 28.5 metres (93.5 ft) high; Muthubaq Minara, 28.42 metres (93.25 ft) high; and Ottu Minara, 24 metres (80 ft) high; each constructed in four cardinal points around the dome. As a mark of respect, devotees venerate the sandals of the saint which are preserved in the shrine. The central part of the dargah is the tomb of the saint Shahul Hamid, which is approached through seven thresholds. Four of these doorways are made of silver and the remaining three of gold. The other tombs in the shrines are the ones for Shahul's grandson Hassan and Abdul Khader Gilani, each located in different chambers. The adjoining portion of the complex is called Peer Mandap, the trustees' place of fasting during the annual festival. A mosque is located next to the Peer Mandap, where daily prayers are offered.
Shifa Gunta is a holy tank with stepped sides, located within the precincts of the dargah. As per a local legend, Shahul Hamid is believed to have brought an iron chain with him to Nagore to bind himself during severe austerities. The distinctive chain is identified as the one hanging from the ceiling above the tomb of Yusuf.
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Nagore Dargah
The Nagore Dargah, also known as the Nagore Dargah Shareef, the Syed Shahul Hamid Dargah, or the Nagore Andavar Dargah, is a dargah complex built over the tomb of the Sufi saint Nagore Syed Abdul Qadir Shahul Hamid, located in Nagore, a coastal town in the Nagapattinam district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
Shahul Hamid is believed to have performed many miracles in Nagore, and cured the physical affliction of king Achuthappa Nayak, a 16th-century Hindu ruler of Thanjavur. He is locally referred to as Nagore Andavar, meaning the "Ruler of Nagore". Nagore Dargah as it stands now, is believed to have been built by ardent devotees of Shahul Hamid, with major contribution from Hindus. There are five minarets in the dargah, with the Hindu Maratha ruler of Thanjavur Pratap Singh (1739–1763 CE), building the tallest minaret. The dargah is a major pilgrimage centre that attracts pilgrims from both sufi Islam and Hinduism, symbolizing peaceful coexistence between the two religions.
The most prominent event celebrated at Nagore Dargah is the Kanduri festival (Urus Mubarak), a fourteen-day commemoration of the death anniversary of Shahul Hamid.
Shahul Hameed Nagoori was born to Syed Hasan Kuthoos Kadiri and Beevi Fathima at Manikpur, in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. He was a 13th-generation descendant of the renowned Sufi saint, Muhiyudin Abd al-Qadir al-Jalani. He received an Islamic education at Gwalior under the guidance of Mohammad Ghouse; and left on a pilgrimage to Mecca and then moved to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and then Tamil Nadu with his spiritual team. Historians Sayyid and Qadir Hussain (1957) place the date of his birth on 10 November 1504, death on 10 November 1570 and arrival in Nagore during 1533–34. Other sources mention the year of death as 1558, 1570 or 1579. He is believed to have led a simple and pious life, performing a lot of miracles, giving him the name Nagore Andavar (meaning ruler of Nagore). His popularity grew outside Tanjore region during the period. He was also called Meera Saheb, Qadir Wali and Ganj-e-Sawai.
According to local legend, hagiographical texts and historical records, Shahul Hamid is believed to have cured a Hindu ruler of Thanjavur, king Achutappa Nayak (1529–1542 CE), of his physical affliction caused by sorcery. Shahul Hamid found a needled pigeon in the palace believed to be the cause of the misery. He removed the pins from the pigeon, resulting in the king's health improvement. In remembrance of the event, the practice of setting pigeons free in the premises of the dargah is continued by worshipers in modern times.
Achutappa Nayak, the king of Thanjavur during the 16th century, donated 81 hectares (200 acres) to the entourage of Shahul, after the saint cured the king's affliction. The dargah was built on a part of the land donated by Nayak. Shahul Hamid is believed to have predicted his death and advised his adopted son Yusuf dhadha about his burial location and rites to be performed after his death. Yusuf dhadha performed the rites as per the instructions and decided to stay there for the rest of his life. A mausoleum was constructed over the grave. Devotees of Shahul, who continued to believe in his powers after his death, venerated the site of the burial. The shrine was initially a smaller one and gradually gained prominence. Pratap Singh (1739–1763 CE), the Hindu Maratha ruler of Thanjavur prayed for a son and built the tallest of the five minarets (called Periya Manara locally) with a height of 131 ft (40 m) once his wish was fulfilled. The Marathas of the later period were patrons to the dargah, with the Maratha king Thuljaji, the son of Pratap Singh, donating 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of agricultural land to the dargah. During the last quarter of 18th century, when there was conflict between European powers, the Nawab of Arcot, the Maratha kings and Tipu Sultan of Mysore over Thanjavur region, the dargah was considered strategically important by all of them.
The Nagore Dargah covers an area of 2.0 hectares (5 acres) enclosed by a compound wall. The main complex has four entrances in each direction. The dargah is believed to have been built by ardent devotees of Shahul Hamid, of which 95 per cent are Hindus. There are five minarets with different heights and the tallest one has a height of 40 metres (131 ft). It was erected during the 195th death anniversary of Shahul. The dargah has a gold-plated dome located on the west face outside the main entrance over the tombs of Shahul, his son Yusuf and his daughter-in-law Saeeda Sultana Biwi. The other four minarets are Sahib Minara, 23 metres (77 ft) high; Thalaimattu Minara, 28.5 metres (93.5 ft) high; Muthubaq Minara, 28.42 metres (93.25 ft) high; and Ottu Minara, 24 metres (80 ft) high; each constructed in four cardinal points around the dome. As a mark of respect, devotees venerate the sandals of the saint which are preserved in the shrine. The central part of the dargah is the tomb of the saint Shahul Hamid, which is approached through seven thresholds. Four of these doorways are made of silver and the remaining three of gold. The other tombs in the shrines are the ones for Shahul's grandson Hassan and Abdul Khader Gilani, each located in different chambers. The adjoining portion of the complex is called Peer Mandap, the trustees' place of fasting during the annual festival. A mosque is located next to the Peer Mandap, where daily prayers are offered.
Shifa Gunta is a holy tank with stepped sides, located within the precincts of the dargah. As per a local legend, Shahul Hamid is believed to have brought an iron chain with him to Nagore to bind himself during severe austerities. The distinctive chain is identified as the one hanging from the ceiling above the tomb of Yusuf.
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