Sipping Thoughts — Real Women, Real Voices, is a women centric media platform, Created by Meeta Gutgutia, Sukirti Gupta & Tina Singh. They focus on raising awareness of issues that affect the everyday women.
Jalpa Vithalani was been invited to write for this renowned blog and wrote about her cultural visit to Hazrat Nizzamuddin Shrine in pre-covid days with Meeta Gutgutia.
I was in Delhi in January 2020 and enjoyed a beautiful visit to the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya with my lovely friend Meeta Gutgutia. This is a jewel in the capital and it was the first time for dear Meeta who lives in Delhi since 30 years. It gives me a sense of peace to be at this shrine and I feel a strong connection to the Master laid to rest here… When Meeta & Sukirti Gupta invited me to start writing for Sipping Thoughts, I felt this should be my first sharing.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1236-1325) was a scholar & one of the most famous Sufi Saints on the Indian Subcontinent. His predecessors were Baba Farid (whose teachings are also given in the Guru Granth Sahib), Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty, who were the masters of the Chishty spiritual chain or silsila.
Like many Saints before him, Nizamuddin Auliya traced his lineage from the family of Muhammad and spoke of love & being humane as a means of realising God.
Friday nights at the shrine are special with the traditional Qawwali that was used as a means by Sufis to connect to the divine. Meeta & myself sat in the courtyard of the shrine enjoying our favourite Qawwalis, the beautiful weather, sipping hot coffee and soaking in the vibes at this powerhouse. We were quite blissed out — the energy is palpable.
What’s nice is that the shrine is visited by people of all faiths regularly and especially so at the Urs time. The Urs (death anniversary) of a Hazrat is celebrated as it is a union with the beloved.🌹
Hazrat Amir Khusro (1253-1325) was the most beloved disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. He was a mystic, a Sufi musician, poet and scholar. Amir Khusro wrote beautiful verses in Persian & Hindavi. He has been called as the Father of Urdu Literature and Qawwali. Khusro introduced ghazals and invented the sitar, tabla & dholak. It was interesting to learn about his incredible contribution to creative arts. Meeta & myself are both involved in creative work, so it was a blessing of sorts! 😊
It is said that Hazrat Amir Khusro was very close to His Master & was buried at His feet. In the lifetime whoever comes to meet Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, must first pay their respects to Hazrat Amir Khushro.
Meeta & myself had the luxury of time as this was our special agenda for Friday night. Sharing some pictorial glimpses to transport you to this jewel.
Warmly,
Jalpa
