Srinagar’s rich cultural heritage, unique antiquity and its colourful environment make it different from other cities of the world. The city’s blooming and well-maintained gardens, beautiful rivers and natural lakes, and green mountains with snow-capped peaks are like the shining jewels in the crown of this 2000-year-old human habitat at 1,730 m above sea level. The city has been home to many seers, saints, poets, thinkers and writers whose brilliance and contribution have accorded it much pride and distinction.
Srinagar’s dissimilarity also lies in its shrines, mosques, temples and other sacred religious places like Hazratbal, Khanqah-e-Molla, Dasgeer Sahib, Shankaracharya and Khir Bhawani temples and many other holy places. The historical and architectural significance of these places is also appealing to the visitors around the year.
On the western shore of famous Dal Lake stands Hazratbal (literally meaning the majestic place) shrine, a monument, which, vast majority of locals believe, houses a holy relic of Prophet Muhammad. The relic is known as Moi-e-Muqqadas or the sacred hair and was brought to Kashmir 300 years ago.
“The Moi-e-Muqqadas reached Kashmir in 1699. The relic was first brought to the Valley by Syed Abdullah, a saint who left Medina and settled in Bijapur, near Hyderabad in 1635. After his death, his son, Syed Hamid, inherited the holy relic. Hamid sold it to a wealthy Kashmiri businessman, Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Ishbari," says Tariq Ali Mir, a journalist and a student of history. “It was initially kept in Naqshband Sahib, (a shrine in the heart of the Srinagar city) but the shrine was small and therefore not capable of handling the huge crowds that flocked to the holly relic each day. So, the relic was shifted to Hazratbal,” Ali Mir added.
The Moi-e-Muqqadas is displayed on various occasions related with the life of the Prophet and his four holy companions. A glimpse of the Holy Relic, the major attraction of the holy place, leaves many devotees with moist eyes and the air reverberates with praises of the Prophet.
The brief disappearance of the holy relic from the shrine in December 1963 led to public upsurge in Kashmir, which continued for several weeks. The situation was so bad that it forced the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, to depute his trusted colleague, Lal Bahadur Shastri, to visit the Valley and supervise its retrieval.
In 1968, the Muslim Aauquaf Trust (now known as Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board), which looks after Hazratbal and most of Valley's shrines, hospices and mosques, and was then headed by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, started the construction of the present marble structure. The work was completed in 1979.
The pristine white marble elegance of the shrine and the view of snow-clad picturesque mountains beyond are reflected in the waters of the lake. The view and the holiness of the shrine make it a major tourist attraction in Srinagar. The only domed shrine in Srinagar, it is known by many names including Hazratbal, Assar-e-Sharif, Madinat-Us-Sani and Dargah Sharief. The Friday prayers offered at Hazratbal attract thousands of resident Muslims.
The importance of Hazratbal can be gauged also by the fact that Kashmir’s politicians, particularly Sheikh Abdullah, chose to make important announcements and decisions known to the public from the pulpit of this shrine.
Srinagar’s dissimilarity also lies in its shrines, mosques, temples and other sacred religious places like Hazratbal, Khanqah-e-Molla, Dasgeer Sahib, Shankaracharya and Khir Bhawani temples and many other holy places. The historical and architectural significance of these places is also appealing to the visitors around the year.
On the western shore of famous Dal Lake stands Hazratbal (literally meaning the majestic place) shrine, a monument, which, vast majority of locals believe, houses a holy relic of Prophet Muhammad. The relic is known as Moi-e-Muqqadas or the sacred hair and was brought to Kashmir 300 years ago.
“The Moi-e-Muqqadas reached Kashmir in 1699. The relic was first brought to the Valley by Syed Abdullah, a saint who left Medina and settled in Bijapur, near Hyderabad in 1635. After his death, his son, Syed Hamid, inherited the holy relic. Hamid sold it to a wealthy Kashmiri businessman, Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Ishbari," says Tariq Ali Mir, a journalist and a student of history. “It was initially kept in Naqshband Sahib, (a shrine in the heart of the Srinagar city) but the shrine was small and therefore not capable of handling the huge crowds that flocked to the holly relic each day. So, the relic was shifted to Hazratbal,” Ali Mir added.
The Moi-e-Muqqadas is displayed on various occasions related with the life of the Prophet and his four holy companions. A glimpse of the Holy Relic, the major attraction of the holy place, leaves many devotees with moist eyes and the air reverberates with praises of the Prophet.
The brief disappearance of the holy relic from the shrine in December 1963 led to public upsurge in Kashmir, which continued for several weeks. The situation was so bad that it forced the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, to depute his trusted colleague, Lal Bahadur Shastri, to visit the Valley and supervise its retrieval.
In 1968, the Muslim Aauquaf Trust (now known as Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board), which looks after Hazratbal and most of Valley's shrines, hospices and mosques, and was then headed by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, started the construction of the present marble structure. The work was completed in 1979.
The pristine white marble elegance of the shrine and the view of snow-clad picturesque mountains beyond are reflected in the waters of the lake. The view and the holiness of the shrine make it a major tourist attraction in Srinagar. The only domed shrine in Srinagar, it is known by many names including Hazratbal, Assar-e-Sharif, Madinat-Us-Sani and Dargah Sharief. The Friday prayers offered at Hazratbal attract thousands of resident Muslims.
The importance of Hazratbal can be gauged also by the fact that Kashmir’s politicians, particularly Sheikh Abdullah, chose to make important announcements and decisions known to the public from the pulpit of this shrine.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri's Website
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs
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IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
IIPM B-School Detail
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri's Website
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs
Arindam Chaudhuri's Portfolio - he is at his candid best by Society Magazine
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri - A Man For The Society....
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
IIPM B-School Detail
