Sufi Kabir | Bhagat Kabir
Chak # 281-83 WB a.k.a Chatta Pahur and Moza Jhandir Wah in tehsil Dunyapur of Lodhran share a common graveyard
It houses an ancient tomb attributed to one Syed Ahmed Kabir
This, dear reader is a 13th century Ghaurid Tomb
Built on a square plan the roof and dome are a recent reconstruction
With bricks as a primary medium of architectural expression it resembles other Ghaurid tombs
But then it differs from them for the generous use of Quranic Surahs coupled with animal motifs from Hindu Mythology
Master Niche (Gavashka) | Surahs Ikhlaas & Kausar
Crowned with word Allah under a trefoil adorned with a border containing Al-Mulk-O-Lillah in Kufic script we come across two Quranic Surahs in the center inscribed in Naqsh
Surah Kausar (Ch: 108) & Surah Ikhlas (Ch: 112)
Surah Kausar reveals onto the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) the longevity of the new faith and his elevated status in afterlife
Surah Ikhlas explains the purity of the concept of God in Islam
Both these Quranic Chapters are significant to Islam and for their usage on this tomb
Vertical Panels & their Quranic Verses
Another feature is the vertical borders on all four facades inscribed with select verses from Quran inscribed on high relief in Thuluth script
Other than Bismillah there are select lines from Surah Rahman Surah Shura on different facades
Medallions | Hindu Mythology
The first line of decoration above the plinth is unique for it embraces another faith
Alternating between triangular patterns these medallions have animal motifs in cut brickwork
Swan, Lion, Horse, Bull, Camel, Boar each animal has it’s own story
Swan
The Hamsa bird
There was a king named Nala, ruler of Nishada
There was a maiden named Damayanti with stories of her beauty
Then there was a swan who promised to sing praises of Nala to Damayanti
Dear reader, it’s not me but the epic Ramayana that tells this tale of love
Lion
The vehicle of Durga (Ma Sheran Wali)
There was a demon king, Mahishasura, blessed with a boon
No god, man or animal could kill him
It was then to Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati who combined to reincarnate as Durga, ten armed goddess to kill Mahishasura while riding a lion
Quite remarkably this tomb comes with complete foundation script giving us a date of construction
The master niche on south tell us it was built during the reign of Shahabuddin Ghauri in 4th month of Islamic Calendar Rabi Us Sani 600 AH
The date translates to December 1203 CE
Inside the tomb are two graves
Modern headstones introduce them as Syed Ahmed Kabir & Qasim Ali Shah
The tomb is popularly attributed to the former
Syed Ahmed Kabir gets mentioned by some as son of Jalaluddin Bukhari and father of Jahanian Jahan Gasht (prominent saints of Uch)
In the wilderness of Dunyapur in a Ghaurid era tomb adorned with intricate brickwork lies buried our saint Syed Ahmed Kabir
A sufi to his Muslim disciples, a bhagat to his Hindu followers
We don’t know much about his life and teachings
What we do know with certainty is that:
He is not a son of Jalaluddin Surkhposh Bukhari who died almost a century after him
He couldn’t have fathered Makhdoom Jahanian Jahan Gasht who was born a full one hundred and 5 years after his death
