[jyotirmoy]

Hazrat Nizamuddin was born in 1238 A.D. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia's father expired when Hazrat Nizamuddin was five years old. His mother brought him to a school where he learned to recite the holy Qur'an. In a short time he mastered the seven ways of recitation of the holy Qur'an. Then he studied Arabic grammar. In his eighteenth year he traveled from Badayun to Delhi. When in Delh he stayed by chance near Hazrat Baba Fariduddin's brother and caliph Hazrat Sheikh Najibuddin Mutawakkil. For approximately three years he stayed in Delhi. In the house of the Sheikh he heard of  Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar, great saint. In those days, Hazrat Nizamuddin used to spend the nights at the Jama Masjid. One morning, the muezzin (the one who calls to the prayer) recited the following verse from the minaret:

"Has not the time come
For the faithful
That their hearts should bend
For the remembrance of Allah"
Hearing this, Hazrat Nizamuddin’s  condition changed. It was as if he received spiritual illumination from every direction. And, without any food, he left Delhi in order to present himself to Baba Farid. At the age of twenty Hazrat Nizamuddin was honoured to be accepted as the spiritual disciple of Baba Farid.
It is said that Baba Sahib remarked: "O, Nizamuddin! I wanted to entrust the domain of Delhi to someone else. When you were on the way I heard a voice to the effect that I should wait as Nizamuddin is coming. He is fit for this domain.

Nizamuddin returned to live in Delhi. After residing in Delhi for a few days, he disdained the crowds of people and desired to withdraw himself to a secluded place. He moved to Ghiyaspur, a small village outside the city of Delhi. First he had raised a temporary shed with a straw roof for himself and all his companions. After some time, a better place was constructed for him by one of his disciples, Ziauddin Wakil Mulk. Hazrat Nizamuddin lived here for more than sixty years and never changed his place of residence. Now this area is named after him. After an illness of about four months he expired in 1324 A.D.

Hazrat Nizamuddin was a great patron of Sufi music. His abode was always thronged by Sufi mystics who came from all parts of India as well as faraway places like Iran. Sufis believe that everything is created with and from sound, which is vibratory in nature, and our bodies and the world around us are also composed of vibrating items, so it is possible to harmonize with the universe. A spinning dervish is of the opinion that his swirling brings him into closer union with God. As everything in the Universe has a circular moving pattern, Sufis feel that turning is one way of relating to the Universe around them. They consider that this is a way of remembering God. On every Thursday Sufi musicians gather at the Dargha of Hazrat Nizamuddin. Here often one can see a Dervish going in to a trance during recital of Sufi music. You also hear legends associated with Hazarat Nizamuddin.

Once Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah asked Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia to come to him on the last day of every month. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia responded: "It is against the tradition of my sheikhs. I will never go to meet the king." His friends advised him to turn for help to his Sheikh Baba Farid, so that the problem would be solved. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia refused to do so, saying: "The tasks of religion alone are many. I feel ashamed to give pain to the Sheikh for a worldly affair." He then said: "The king will not be victorious over me for I have had a certain dream. I saw that an animal with horns was attacking me. Upon it coming closer, I took hold of its horns and threw the animal on the earth in such a way that it was killed." That day, after the noon prayers, he again declined to visit the king. When two hours of the day remained, he was asked again to visit the king. He gave no reply. But it so happened that upon that very night, the king was murdered by Khusru Khan.

Another Sultan by the name of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, wanted Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia to leave Ghiyaspur before the Sultan's visit to Delhi. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia, was saddened by this and remarked: "Delhi is still far away." Then just before the arrival of the king in Delhi, the roof of a palace of Tughlaqabad fell upon Ghiyasuddin and he was killed.

[Shilpaks]

i have been to the thur sufi recritals at the durgah....awesome...the best part about it is that its the real thing, its not a concert that is made with an audience in mind and so not commercialised at all
one of shah jahan's daughter is also buried in front of the durgah, not sure which one...jyotida will have to throw light on that.

[jyotirmoy]

The humble grave of Shahjahan's elder daughter Jahanara, a Sufi mystic herself is situated here. You may read about her in my post on Jahanara.
The epitaph inscribed above the tomb entrance reads:
He is the Living, the Sustaining.
Let no one cover my grave except with greenery,
for this very grass suffices as a tomb cover for the poor.
The annihilated faqir Lady Jahanara,
Disciple of the lords of Chishti,
Daughter of Shah Jahan the Warrior
(may God illuminate his proof).