Chah Miran
Shrines Group 1
Hazrat Syed Shah
Hussain Zanjani
Hazrat Syed Mir Musa
Zanjani
Two of the most
ancient saints of
Lahore are buried in
an area which can be
located with some
difficulty. The
shrines of these
tenth-century
saints, Syed Shah
Hussain Zanjani and
his brother Syed Mir
Musa Zanjani, are
located in Chah
Miran—or Mauza Khoi
as it was once
known—a locality
situated on
southeast of Misri
Shah and northeast
of the railway
station. These tenth
century saints are
among the most
respected, and have
commanded universal
adulation over the
centuries. Kannahiya
Lal confirms that a
big mela (festival)
used to be held at
the shrine of Syed
Hussain Zanjani
during the Sikh
reign.
To reach these
shrines you will
need to begin at the
convergence of
Circular Road and
the famous Grand
Trunk (G.T.) Road.
From Circular Road
you can enter the
parallel G.T. Road
from under the Do-Muria
Pull (Two-Aperture
Bridge)—so-called
because it carries
the railway line
above. Going past
the roundabout that
is known as Do-Muria
Pull Chowk, and
veering left (west)
leads you to Rahim
Bazar. The gently
curving road leads
via Misri Shah Ganda
Nala, past Naukhuda
Chowk and Neelum
Chowk to the main
Bazaar Chah Miran.
Although most
buildings here are
of recent
construction, the
bazaar contains
overflowing shops
with tongas and
rickshaws traversing
the congested
street. The shrine
of Syed Hussain is
popularly known as
Durbar of Syed Miran
Hussain or Syed
Miran Shah. Shah
Hussain, along with
his brothers (his
brother Syed Mir
Musa Zanjani's tomb
is close by and is
described next),
after leaving Zanjan
in Iran and
wandering through
the subcontinent
finally settled in
Lahore, during the
reign of the Ghaurid
rulers.
The way to the
shrine of Syed
Hussain is marked at
the beginning of
Miran Shah Bazaar by
a green scalloped
gateway. Miran Shah
Bazaar itself is a
narrow pedestrian
street, covered with
fabric awnings to
provide shade to the
devotees who throng
there to reach the
Sufi's mausoleum.
Although you could
park your car in the
road just off Main
Bazaar Chah Miran
and walk a short
distance to the
shrine, you might
find the longer walk
through Miran Shah
Bazaar more
interesting,
providing you as it
does with a
foretaste of the
ambiance that
pervades the shrine.
The bazaar provides
the various items
necessary as
offerings at the
shrine: thus you
will see flower
stalls, fabric
lengths, books and
leaflets along with
food stalls.
The entrance to the
tomb is through a
doorway which leads
into a courtyard. It
is a shrine which is
populated by people,
trees and colorful
flags. The enclosure
exudes a sense of
veneration and
quietude, with
devotees offering
their prayers either
sitting or kneeling
by the side of the
tomb. Although not
as well maintained
as some other
shrines, it is in
the process of
renovation by the
Department of Auqaf
(custodian of
religious sites).
The tomb itself is
octagonal in plan
with a mosque
located on its west.
Originally these
were two separate
structures, however,
a roof of more
recent vintage today
connects them. For a
visit to the tomb of
Mir Musa Zanjani (b.
341/952), the
brother of Syed
Hussain, you will
need to retrace your
steps to the car
park and drive
south, turning right
(west) on Akram
Road, which leads
you to an area known
as Pak Nagar
(earlier called
Bharat Nagar).
The pointer to the
mazar is a highly
decorative
contemporary mosque
known as Jamia
Masjid Hanfia
Zanjani. A flight of
steps through the
gateway of the
mosque provides
access to the shrine
located on
northeastern corner.
As in the case of
the mosque, the tomb
is also faced with
marble tiles.
The saints belonged
to the Naqshbandia
silsila (school of
mysticism).Chah Miran Shrines Group 1
Chah Miran Shrines Group 2
Baghbanpura Shrines
Shalamar Link Road Shrines
Cantonment & Mian Mir Shrines
Shah Jamal & The ciry Shrines
The Walled City Shrines
|
