We visited Bidar fort early in morning at 6.00 am to get few photos during sunrise. After fort we traveled few kilometers to reach Ashtur village.
I didn’t have a feeling that it would leave an everlasting impression in my heart. What’s there in the village, nothing expect few lightening stuck tombs. We very pretty early to place well laid roads with few archeological surveys of India boards welcomed us.
Early morning with few rain drops gave us a good scene for taking few snaps. We started studying the details of each tomb and was passing by each one of them. After few minutes we found a person who was about to perform his morning namaz came towards us and said “Do you want to know about this place” . We were surprised and said “Yes please”.
He said can you please wait few minutes before I perform my morning payers to my ancestors. We just sounded blank. He was carrying a jug of water and few flowers. Starting with the first tomb of Ahmed shah Al Bahamani wali he visited all the 11 tombs. While he was doing his prayers we just admired him and we were wondering did he say “His ancestors”
After payers he said he is one of direct decedents of Ahmed shah Bahamani . He gave us a big genealogical list from Ahmed shah to his name. He also showed us few of the papers cutting written about him by Hindu and Deccan chronicle daily’s. We were just surprised that he is leading a very noble life working as a carpenter.
It’s not the money but it’s a thought which makes you bigger. He starts with saying there is huge history behind this place. This place is example of great communal harmony for last 600 years.
“When sun comes in the morning the first ray doesn’t see if you are Hindu or Muslim it treats every body and everything in one line”
My ancestors has treated every human being with due respect irrespective of their caste and creed and I will try to follow them. He says with agony that today people think that I am mad because of his thoughts.
He takes us to each and every tomb and starts explaining about each of the qualities and specialties. He also said the story how lightning has stuck few tombs and destroyed them. He walks some distance and shows us the Persian painting of early Sufi saints who visited ashtur.
“Faith is the strongest force of earth”
Muslims find this place holy as they believe that the body of Sultan Shah lies here. Hindus believe that the Sultan's virtues made him a Sharana and he became one with the God after death. That he was born a Muslim is irrelevant to them.
The urs marks the king's death anniversary. The term urs literally means wedding with the divine. The concept is influenced by Sufism. While the Muslims organize a `Sandal Sharieff,' the Hindus participate in a late-night `arati,' in front of the tombstone.
The Muslims conduct the `Sandal Sharieff' to observe the king's death anniversary. The tomb is washed in rose water and decorated with flowers. Verses are read from the Koran, `Fajar Namaz' and `Salam.' `Chirag,' the holy lamp, is lighted.
The Hindus believe the benevolent king was an incarnation of Lord Mallikarjuna. The highlight of the observance is that it is inaugurated by a Hindu preacher.
May the spirit of secularism spread all over, May mankind rest in peace.
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