By Murtaza Ali Khan
After ensuring a most terrible death for his elder brother Dara Shikoh, Emperor Aurangzeb's attention turned to the Persian mystic and poet Sarmad who was a friend and mentor of Shah Jahan's beloved son Dara. Even before his ascension to the throne, Aurangzeb detested Sarmad for he would roam around naked and often ridicule him with his mystical ways. Dara, whom Aurangzeb saw as an infidel, had great love for mystics and poets and was probably as secular as Akbar the Great himself.
It is widely believed that had he succeeded the war of succession, the course of history of the Indian subcontinent would have been entirely different. Alas, it wasn't to be as Aurangzeb slowly but surely destroyed everything that the great Mughal legacy stood for! He not only killed his brothers and their sons but also imprisoned his father Shah Jahan as well as his own daughter Zeb-un-Nisa until their respective deaths, apart from exiling his own son Muhammad Akbar.
It is widely believed that had he succeeded the war of succession, the course of history of the Indian subcontinent would have been entirely different. Alas, it wasn't to be as Aurangzeb slowly but surely destroyed everything that the great Mughal legacy stood for! He not only killed his brothers and their sons but also imprisoned his father Shah Jahan as well as his own daughter Zeb-un-Nisa until their respective deaths, apart from exiling his own son Muhammad Akbar.
But probably none of these deeds haunted him more than his insidious act to get Sarmad beheaded. The sole act of killing the mystic robbed him of his inner peace and despite all his kingly comforts he was forced to live a cursed life. As per the legend, after being beheaded, Sarmad’s body took the severed head in its hands and started dancing, wandering across the city of Shahjahanabad, refusing to rest in peace. But just as it was about to enter the Jama Masjid, the saintly voice of Hare Bhare Shah pacified him as Sarmad's body finally laid to rest.
If you ever visit the Jama Masjid then make sure you also visit the the twin shrines of Sarmad Shaheed (aptly painted in red) and his spiritual guide Hare Bhare Shah (painted in green) sandwiched between the grand mosque and the tumultuous Meena Bazaar. And, befitting of the place, there are no restrictions on dress code or the entry of women.
P.S. Although, I have grown up listening to the story of Hazrat Sufi Sarmad Shaheed, today, I was reminded of it by a brilliant piece by Amit Ranjan in DailyO which can be read at the following link:
https://www.dailyo.in/arts/who-was-sarmad-naked-saint-aurangzeb-killed-dara-shikoh-sufis-same-sex-love-mughal-india/story/1/25142.html
P.S. Although, I have grown up listening to the story of Hazrat Sufi Sarmad Shaheed, today, I was reminded of it by a brilliant piece by Amit Ranjan in DailyO which can be read at the following link:
https://www.dailyo.in/arts/who-was-sarmad-naked-saint-aurangzeb-killed-dara-shikoh-sufis-same-sex-love-mughal-india/story/1/25142.html
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