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Sarwar Sharif

Sarwar Sharif also known as Sarwad Sharif is the mazar mubarak (grave) of the eldest son of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti(d. 1236), Hazrat Khwaja Fakhruddin Chishti (d. 1265). The dargah is located in the Sarwar city, which is around 63 KM from Ajmer.

Khwaja Fakhruddin Chishti

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Khwaja Fakhar was the eldest son of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti among Khwaja Hissamuddin Chishty, Khwaja Ziaadin Abu Saeed and Bibi Hafiza Jamal.[1] He was the son of Bibi Amatullah one of the two wives of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.[2] According to Hasht-Bahisht Khwaja Fakhar was appointed as the Sajjadanasheen of Ajmer after the wisalof his father Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.[3] Although this claim was challenged by later historians like Curie, based upon the fact that the final resting place of first sajjadanasheen is in Sarwar contrary to Ajmer. [4]

Instead of taking bayah (oath of allegiance) to his father Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Chishty Sufism, per the instructions of his father he took bayah at the hand of Khwaja Qutubuddin bakhtiyar Kaki, the spiritual heir and caliph of Khwaja Moinuddin in Chishty Sufism.

There is a famous anecdote regarding the life of Hazrat Khwaja Fakhruddin Chishty, where his father Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty had ordered his son to carry his tabligh (missionary) activities a bit far from Ajmer because of his jalal (anger).[5] According to author Gayatri Vohra, pilgrims usually do not stay longer in Sarwar, because the longer they will stay the more there will be a chance of any inadvertent, Be-adabi (disrespect), which can invite unnecessary wrath of this short tempered Sufi Soul. [6]

According to Author Mehru Jaffer, Khwaja Fakhar spend most of his time in spiritual solace and took the role of agriculture to support his livelihood. He spends a large portion of his life in a nearby village to Ajmer in Mandal before finding his final resting place in Sarwar.[7]

He received wisalin 1265 A.D.[8] His younger brother, Khwaja Ziaadin Abu Saeed succeeded him as sajjadanasheen of Ajmer Sharif Dargah.[9]

Khwaja Hushamuddin Chisti was his son, his mazar is in Sambhar Sharif.

Sarwar Sharif Dargah

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Sarwar Sharif Dargah is located on Ajmer-Kekri road in Sarwar attracting thousands of pilgrims during the annual urs.[10] The inside of the tomb are made with finely carved silver; whereas as the main gate (buland darwaza) itself weighing 14 kilos.[11] The annual urs festival is characterized by foot march by pilgrims from Ajmer to Sarwar carrying chadar (holy tomb cloth) on 3rd Shaban with parcham kushai (flag hoisting) on 4th Shaban and have a main festival on 6th of Shaban. Various celebrations like funfair started far before 3rd Shaban from 1st Shaban onwards. Freely offered sacred meal also known as Sarwar Sharif langar is often distributed to the pilgrims during the festival.

Apart from urs dargah also witness massive annual Ashura on 10th of Muharram characterized by various colourful paper models depicting Imam Hussain Shrine known as Tazia.

The dargah is located on the bank of a pond called Dargah Talab aka Sarwar Talab. It acts as a tourist spot for the pilgrims enjoying boating in the pond. Some pilgrims also use it as an alternative to road transportation to reach the shrine.

The dargah is also believed as the important hub for exorcism and Dhamal during urs. Various Malang can be often observed performing Dhamaal outside the shrine complex.[12] Many pilgrims are noted in the state of Hazri in the hope of exorcism.[13]

Dhamaal outside the shrine complex.[12] Many pilgrims are noted in the state of Hazri in the hope of exorcism.[13]

References

  1. Khwaja Garib Nawaz Wife Name & Married Life in Ajmer". Ajmer Sharif Dargah Website. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
  2.  Begg, Wahiduddin (1960). The Holy Biography of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti, the Holy Saint of Ajmer. W. D. Begg
  3.  Singh, Surinder; Gaur, Ishwar Dayal (2023-12-01). Sufism in Punjab: Mystics, Literature and Shrines. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-003-83414-4.
  4.  Ibid.
  5.  Vohra, Gayatri (2024-08-30). India On My Wheels - My Travel Stories. Blue Rose Publishers
  6.  Ibid. For the concept of Sufi beliefs regarding the departed soul of the Sufi Saints. see, https://www.qadrishattari.xyz/p/wisal.html?;;
  7.  Jaffer, Mehru (2006-07-20). The Book of Muinuddin Chishti. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-146-0.
  8.  Mehru, 2006
  9.  Singh, Surinder; Gaur, Ishwar Dayal (2023-12-01). Sufism in Punjab: Mystics, Literature and Shrines. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-003-83414-4.
  10.  Mehru, 2006
  11.  Gayatri, 2024.
  12.  Dhamaal is an ecstatic, rhythmic devotional trance whirling performed at Sufi shrines to honor saints and connect with the divine.
  13.  In South Asia and Sufi context, Hazri refers to jinn possession or black magic possesion, or simply summoning the spirit on human body.