Ajodhan Intro
Ajodhan
In “The Sayings/Stories of the Revered Saints”, it is mentioned that Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya used to reside in a small room in the basement of the mosque of Hilaldar Tusht. Close by, was the home of Baba Fareed Ganj-e-Shakar’s younger brother, Shaikh Najibuddin Mutawakkil; a man renowned for his knowledge of the Revealed and the Hidden.
Such was the effect of Shaikh Najib’s company, that Hazrat Nizamuddin’s heart became filled wirh the desire to meet Baba Fareed Ganj-e-Shakar.
As it happened, a Qawwal named AbuBakar, who hailed from PakPattan (Formerly known as Ajodhan), described the Air of that place to Nizamuddin Auliya, who became overcome with the desire to pay his allegiance to Baba Fareed and so, he set off for Ajodhan, on a pilgrimage of sorts.
This incident is said to have taken place circa 655 Hijri; Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya stayed at Ajodhan for 9 months. If these dates are taken to be accurate, we know that, at this time, Amir Khusrow was only 5 years old. This would prove that the genre of Qawwali had made its way to Hindustan well before Amir Khusrow came of age[1].
The Afghans From the Arghasan valley (also known as Yakatut in the Akhbar al Awliya) brought with them the genre of ‘Sarod’, sung in large numbers(30-40 vocalist ) , with multiple sarangis and and tablas as accompaniment .The last maestros of this genre passed away recently.
Nawab Haider Ali khan Kasuri ,the present nawab of Kasur ,resuscitated the genre by commissioning traning of Nusrat Qawal and company , who are presently in their service . According to Nawab Fateh Kasuri ,Hazrat Nizamu din Aulia on his way from Delhi had the Sarodiyas of Kassur accompany him to perform ‘Sama’ at Ajodhan ,present day Pak Pattan Sharif .
The sarod presented here was Recorded at Nawab Sahib’s Dara in Kasur. [2]
[1] Page 195, Amir Khusrow ka Ilm-e-Mausiqi, Rashid Malik ,published by Gulshan House Lahore 2000 second edition 2018.
Translated By Bilal Zaman
[2] Interviewed and documented by Sarah Zaman, June-2022
In “The Sayings/Stories of the Revered Saints”, it is mentioned that Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya used to reside in a small room in the basement of the mosque of Hilaldar Tusht. Close by, was the home of Baba Fareed Ganj-e-Shakar’s younger brother, Shaikh Najibuddin Mutawakkil; a man renowned for his knowledge of the Revealed and the Hidden.
Such was the effect of Shaikh Najib’s company, that Hazrat Nizamuddin’s heart became filled wirh the desire to meet Baba Fareed Ganj-e-Shakar.
As it happened, a Qawwal named AbuBakar, who hailed from PakPattan (Formerly known as Ajodhan), described the Air of that place to Nizamuddin Auliya, who became overcome with the desire to pay his allegiance to Baba Fareed and so, he set off for Ajodhan, on a pilgrimage of sorts.
This incident is said to have taken place circa 655 Hijri; Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya stayed at Ajodhan for 9 months. If these dates are taken to be accurate, we know that, at this time, Amir Khusrow was only 5 years old. This would prove that the genre of Qawwali had made its way to Hindustan well before Amir Khusrow came of age.
The Afghans From the Arghasan valley (also known as Yakatut in the Akhbar al Awliya) brought with them the genre of ‘Sarod’, sung in large numbers(30-40 vocalist ) , with multiple sarangis and and tablas as accompaniment .The last maestros of this genre passed away recently.
Nawab Ali khan Kasuri ,the present nawab of Kasur ,resuscitated the genre by commissioning traning of Nusrat Qawal and company , who are presently in their service . According to Nawab Fateh Kasuri ,Hazrat Nizamu din Aulia on his way from Delhi had the Sarodiyas of Kassur accompany him to perform ‘Sama’ at Ajodhan ,present day Pak Pattan Sharif .
The sarod presented here was Recorded at Nawab Sahib’s Dara in Kasur.
Rashid Malik Page 195, Amir Khusrow ka Ilm-e-Mausiqi:
Translated By Bilal Zaman