As part of the curriculum, the department of Islamic Studies (Semester 5th; Islamic Culture Society in Kashmir), Govt. Degree College Kulgam, visited the sacred places/ Shrines of prominent Sufi Saints of the valley viz. chrar-e-Sheriff and Pakherpora of Budgam district in context of religious cum educational tour. The college bus, driver Mr. Farooq Ahmad, Faculty member of Urdu (Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Malla), faculty of English Department, Dr. Arif Hussain Rishi including the Students and the Faculty of Islamic Studies (Dr. Sartaj Ahmad Sofi) departed at 08:00 AM from Degree College Kulgam towards Chrar-e-Sheriff via Shopian—Pulwama. After three hours, reached at 11:00 AM to the shrine of Shaikh-ul-Aalam—a place of solace where not only enjoyed but refreshed inner selves with the blessings of Allah. In between the Chrar-e-Sheriff and Pakherpora, paused and enjoyed the scenery of lush green forests and calm environment for a while. Famous shrine of Syed Ali Aali Balkhi R.A. at Pakherpora served as a source of recreation besides refreshment for the soul and mind. Both these places are known and confirm prominence throughout the valley. Both the places are visited by hundreds of people on daily basis. Not only by the Muslims, but by the non-Muslims too visit to these places with more enthusiasm and regard. People of the valley mostly visit to these shrines (especially to Chrar-e-Sheriff) to perform the ritual of ceremonial tonsuring of new born babies. The visitation to these shrines paved a way for us to comprehend the contribution of Sufis in Kashmir and the role of shrines in the socio-political and religio-economic aspects of the valley. It reflected that Charar-e-Sheriff is not just a “geographical location” and a “tourist destination” but an esoteric centre of “Islamic Civilization”. It is an epitome of Islam, spirituality, language, culture and civilization of the valley. It is the place which reflects the zenith of Islamic spirituality and Islamic sociological grandeur.
The square shaped wooden structure of Char-e-sheriff, in the past, was rich in aesthetic beauty especially to those of having aesthetic taste. Unfortunately, in 11May, 1995, in a fierce encounter, the shrine caught fired and suffered extensive damage. It has now renovated but on the same pattern and style. The nature and culture of the local villages in and around these shrines was also observed and analyzed keenly.
Charar-e-sheriff—a place, essentially delineates the “nourishment” and “perfection” of the “Kashmiri language”. That still bears the testimony and, also serves as a base for its future. It is a sacred “space” which fragrances the inner self of an individual and sluices exoterically. It is not just a physical place based on a piece of land but actually a hope for despaired and depressed ones. Somewhat same is the shrine of Syed Ali Aali Balkhi (R.A). Both these shrines, besides the other shrines of Kashmir, depict the architectural grandeur which can’t be underestimated in anyway. The square shaped wooden structure of Char-e-sheriff, in the past, was rich in aesthetic beauty especially to those of having aesthetic taste. Unfortunately, in 11May, 1995, in a fierce encounter, the shrine caught fired and suffered extensive damage. It has now renovated but on the same pattern and style. The nature and culture of the local villages in and around these shrines was also observed and analyzed keenly. It was evident that the local People (shopkeepers) used to sell dried vegetables (Houk Seun) including tomatoes (Ruwangan Hachi), bottle gourds (Alle Hachi), turnip (Gogji Aare), dandelion greens (Hooch Handh), quince (Bam Choont) and firepot (Kangrri) etc to the visitors which they buy with great fervor. Precisely speaking, it was not just a physical journey from Kulgam to Budgam but a spiritually voyage from Brahmanical Rishiism to Islamic Rishiism which confirms the deep roots in Islamic traditions. It experienced a kind of transition from passive mode of Sufism to activism. It can, indeed, be considered as a transition from materialism to spiritualism.
(The Author is working as Assistant Professor (Contractual) in Govt. Degree College Kulgam. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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