About Nizamuddin Dargah
Many Sufiana enthusiasts from all over the world visit the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, one of the most highly respected Sufi saints in India. Hazrat Nizamuddin died in 1325 and the original tomb does not exist anymore. Firuz Shah Tughlaq, an emperor of the Tughlaq dynasty, built his shrine, which underwent severe damage. In A.D. 1562-63, Fariuddin Khan, a high-ranking nobleman, rebuilt the present building. Since then, several repairs and renovations have been carried out on it. The compound also has many other tombs of nobilities like Amir Khusrau (famous poet) and Jahanara (daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan).
The Neighborhood
The dargah named after the saint divides the neighborhood surrounding it into two parts along Mathura Road: Nizamuddin West, where Muslim vendors dominate a lively market located near the Dargah complex, and Nizamuddin East, an upper-class residential area situated between Humayun’s Tomb and the Nizamuddin Railway Station.
The other important monuments in the Nizamuddin heritage area include Humayun’s Tomb, Chausath Khamba, Mirza Ghalib’s tomb, Barakhamba, Sabz Burj (Blue Gumbad) at the Nizamuddin Circle and Lal Mahal.
Drug abuse, crime, and poverty remain a big problem for the neighborhood.
Legend of Hazrat Nizammuddin Auliya
Shaikh Nizamu’d-Din, later known as Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. He was born in Budaun (Uttar Pradesh) in 1236. People believe he is the direct descendant of Hazrat Nizamuddin Chishti. After losing his father at the age of five, he came to Delhi with his mother to become a Qazi (Muslim priest). Later he became the disciple of the famous saint Shaikh Farid Shakarganj, who appointed him as his successor. He was the object of devotion for both Ala-ud-Din Khalji and Muhammad Tughlaq.
The sacredness of his shrine and the adjoining areas was so great that royalties used to compete for space to be buried in the shrine grounds. Some of the monuments that stand on the dargah’s grounds-
Jama’at-Khana Masjid
Chini Ka Burj or Bai-Kodaldai’s tomb
Tomb of Jahanara
Amir Khusrau’s Tomb, Mirza Ghalib’s Tomb
Kalan-Masjid, Khan-I-Jahan Tilangani’s Tomb
Ataga Khan’s Tomb
Chaunsath Khamba
Lal-Mahal
Khan-I-Khanan’s Tomb and Barapula.
Charity Work
Before entering the dargah premises, you have to remove your shoes and preferably cover your head. Here you will find many claiming to be the Sajjadah-Nashins (keepers) of the mausoleum, requesting money for their blessings. Royals would compete for the privilege of burying themselves in the shrine’s grounds because of the significance of their sacredness. Several NGOs including “The Hope Project Charitable Trust” are working to alleviate the plight of the disadvantaged dwellers of the Nizamuddin Dargah area.
Architecture
A square chamber surrounded by verandahs, each pierced by arched openings, forms the Nizamuddin mausoleum. A dome tops the roof, rising from an octagonal drum. The dome, crowned with a lotus-cresting ornamentation work, adorns with vertical stripes of black marble.