Erwadi Village in Kilakkarai Taluk of Ramanathapuram District is the location of the grave and shrine of Qutb Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Badusha, the then ruler of Madinah Al Munawwara.
The Journey of Shaheed Badusha
Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed is an 18th generation descendant of the Islamic prophet Mohammad. He was the king of Madinah when he began his journey to India in the early 12th century to spread Islam according to Muhammad’s wish. He had many followers from all over the Islamic community.
With an ultimare aim to spread Islam following the orders of his hereditary grandfather Muhammad, Shaheed Badusha started from Madina with his entire family. After encountering many difficulties while travelling by sea and through the forests on his way to India, Shaheed Badusha entered Kannanur in Kerala. Travelling via Kayalpattinam and Vaippar, he finally reached Bouthiramanickapattinam, now called Erwadi.
Shaheed Badshah, in his attempt to spread Islamic teachings, waged war against the Pandya ruler Thiru Pandian in Madurai and Vikrama Pandyan in Bouthiramanickapattinam. He won the battles, ruled the province for twelve years and spread Islam all over south Tamil Nadu.
The Erwadi Dargah
The main shrine in Ervadi is the holiest place in Tamil Nadu because it is mixed with the soil of Madinah. The graves of Emperor Sulthan Ibrahim Shaheed Badusha along with his kith and kin are found in the main Dargah campus. The Dargah premises also houses the holy graves of other important Shahudaas and in-laws of Badusha Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed. The main Dargah campus has a big mosque that can accommodate 10,000 pilgrims for every prayer-service.
The big hall of the shrine of Sulthan Syed IbrahimShaheed was constructed by Eiatibar Khan. The flag throne situated south of the main entrance of the Dargah is built surrounding the grave of Begum, wife of Eiatbar Khan. The main Dargah has three entrances.
The minaret of the mosque, around 250 feet, is a mammoth structure that adds to the impressive appearance of the Dargah. It also acts as a virtual lighthouse to the fisherman in Ervadi and the adjacent villages.
Urus Festival or Erwadi Santhanakoodu Festival
The Grand Urus Festival (Santhanakoodu Festival) of Erwadi Dargah is held every year in the Islamic month of Dhu al-Qi’Dah commemorating the shahadat anniversary of Qutb Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Badusha. The festival starts on 1st of Zul Qaida and ends on the 30th of Zul Qaida of every Hijri year.
This festival is celebrated by Hindus and Muslims as a mark of the religious harmony in Tamil Nadu. Millions of devotees throng the Dargah during the festival. It is also believed that people with satanic illness get cured after visiting the Ervadi Dargah.
How to reach Erwadi Dargah
Erwadi is well connected through road with all parts of Tamil Nadu. Frequent buses ply from Ramanathapuram to Erwadi. Ramanathapuram railway station (around 27 kilometres away) is the nearest station to Ervadi. Thoothukudi Airport (around 123 kilometres away) is the nearest airport from Ervadi Dargah.
Located in the coastal town Nagore in Nagapattinam district is the Dargah built over the tomb of Sufi saint Shahul Hameed. Nagore Dargah is known by different names – Nagoor Dargah, Syed Shahul Hameed Dargah or Nagore Andavar Dargah.
There are three Nagore shrines that are situated at Nagore, Vanjur and Silladi, Nagore being the prime shrine.
Image Attribution : Sundaramrajaraman
About Saint Syed Shahul Hameed
Nagore Miran, the 16th century Muslim Sufi saint was born as Shahul Hameed in Manikhpur in North India. He took to spiritualism early in his life and travelled through West Asia to Mecca, to Burma and on to China before he reached Ceylon and the South Indian coast.
Saint Shahul Hameed was venerated locally as Nagore Andavar (meaning the ‘God of Nagore’). He is believed to have performed many miracles in Nagore and cured a 16th century Hindu ruler of Thanjavur, King Achutappa Nayak, of his physical ailment due to sorcery or black magic. Local lore has it that Shahul Hameed believed that a needled pigeon in the palace was the cause of the king’s misery and so removed the pins from the pigeon. This resulted in the king’s improvement in health conditions. In remembrance of this event, the custom of setting pigeons free is still continued in the dargah.
The mysticism of the saint touched the lives of people across faiths, from the rulers to commoners.
History of Nagore Dargah
Once King Achutappa Nayak was cured of his affliction, he donated 200 acres of land to the followers of the Saint. The Dargah was built on a part of the land so donated.
Shahul Hameed is believed to have predicted his death and advised his adopted son Yusuf about his burial location. A mausoleum was built over his grave. The Dargah was built by ardent devotees of Shahul Hameed, with a major contributions from Hindus.
Architecture
Nagore Dargah covers an area of 5 acres enclosed by a compound wall. The main complex has four entrances, one in each direction. The Dargah has five minarets in different heights. The tallest one has a height of 131 ft. The other four minarets are Sahib Minara (77 ft), Thalaimattu Minara (93.5 ft), Muthubaq Minara (93.25 ft) and Ottu Minara (80 ft). The central part of the tomb houses the tomb of Saint Shahul Hameed. The tomb can be approached through seven thresholds, three of which are made of gold and the remaining four of silver. The dargah houses the tombs of Shahul, his son Yusuf and his daughter-in-law Saeeda Sultana Biwi.
Nagore Dargah Timings & Festivals
The outer doors of the dargah are always kept open, while the inner doors are open from 4:30 AM to 7:00 AM and from 6:25 PM to 9:30 PM. The inner doors are open additionally from 12 Noon to 2:30 PM on Fridays alone.
‘Kanduri Urs’ festival is celebrated in commemoration of the anniversary of the saint’s death. It is a 14-day event observed once in a year that includes saffron flag-carrying ceremony, procession in streets, recitation of Quaranic verses and observance of Fatiha.
How to reach Nagore Dargah
There are regular buses to Nagore from Nagapattinam (4 kilometres away), Karaikkal (12 kilometres away), Thanjavur (78 kilometres away) and Chennai (90 kilometres away). The nearest railway station is at Nagapattinam. The nearest airport is at Trichy, around 150 kilometres from Nagore.
Epilogue
Nagore Dargah marks a prominent and common place of worship for devotees of varying religions who flock to the dargah where the Sufi mystic lies buried. It is believed by Hindu fishermen that Nagore Andavan rescues them whenever there is turbulence in the sea and their life is at risk. It’s a noteworthy fact that fishermen living around 300 kilometres north of Nagore still name their boats after their patron saint of the seas. Considered as the ‘Ajmer of South India’, the shrine of Nagore attracts many devotees from different religions and communities, throughout the year.
Goripalayam Mosque
Goripalayam Dargah is one of the largest and oldest Mosques of India. Quite a famous Dargah and a tourist attraction place in Madurai, this Mosque is situated at about 70kms away from Madurai at Azhagar Kovil Road.
The Dargah is popular for it’s Hindu architecture and stone pillars. Located on the Northern banks of the Vaigai river, the Mosque houses two tombs of two great saints of the Madurai Sultanate namely: Syed Sultan Alavudeen Howlia and Syed Sultan Shamsudeen Haulia.
The dome of the Dargah is huge with a height of 20ft and 70ft Diameter wise. The Mosque was built by Thirumalai Nayak and in the 13th century, two brothers from Oman came to Madurai to spread the message of Allah who later became prominent saints.
Sundara Pandian king’s illness was cured by these brothers Syed Sultan Alavudeen Howlia and Syed Sultan Shamsudeen Haulia. Impressed by this, the King gave them the power of ruling nine villages.
Inside the Mosque, Tamil inscriptions can be seen. Now, it is believed that any prayer is answered at this Mosque.
People come here from various places to make their wishes come true. The Mosque is open from 5 AM to 8 PM on all days of the week.
The Kazimar Big Mosque is located very close to the Periyar Bus stand, and about one kilometer from the Madurai Railway station.
It is a huge Mosque that can hold up to 2500 people at a time. Hence, it is popularly known as Periya Pallivasal.
Inside the Mosque lies the Dargha which belongs to the descendents of Prophet Mohammed. This is known as Maqbara. Mr. Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin, from Oman constructed Kazimar Mosque in the 13th century on the land given by Kulasekara Pandyan of the Pandyan Dynasty.
Open on all days including public holidays from morning 7AM to 8PM, Allah welcomes you all to listen to your prayers and also answer them.
So, now on your list of places to be visited, add this one too and see for yourself the beauty and divinity of the Mosque.
Thousand Lights Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in India. It is the five-domed Mosque with two slender towers and is quite famous for its splendid architecture.
It is located at Anna Salai, in Chennai. It is believed that a thousand lights were lit in the hall for illumination. So, the Mosque got the name thousand lights Mosque.
A prayer Hall separately has been maintained for ladies.
On the walls of the Mosque, verses from the Holy Quran have been inscribed. This Mosque is one of the best tourist spots in Chennai.
Image Attribute : Richard Mortel
Kasi Viranna or Casa Verona built this Mosque in the year 1680 before he died. He was a Hindu merchant, who was a trader along with Sultanate of Golconda. They gave him a Muslim name, Hasan Khan as well since he was a very close acquaintance of them.
Casa Verona’s Mosque is located at Muthialpet, Georgetown at Chennai.
This is one of the oldest Mosques of Chennai.
Bahram Jung Mosque is located in the nearby locality of Nandanam area in Chennai. In between the years, 1789 and 1795, Muhammad Abdulla Qadir Nawaz Khan Bahadur Baharam Jung, built this Mosque when he was a poet at in a court of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Carnatic.
Makkah Masjid Mosque is located in a very prominent area ie; Mount Road of Chennai.
A very busy area at all times. Makkah Masjid is the largest Mosque in the country and can hold about five thousand devotees at a time. It is a five-storied mosque that is a real beauty to be watched.
Here, ladies are allowed to take part in Islamic speeches and prayers, as there is sufficient place in the hall. During Ramadan or Ramzan season, special Islamic speeches are offered by the Masjid imam (guardian or worship lead) and also special “Tarawee Namaz” is conducted.
Family disputes of the Muslim families are resolved in the “Family counseling center” here.