Contrary To The Current Communal Narrative, Temples, Mosques And Dargahs Have Been A Part Of India's Syncretic Culture For Centuries

Temples And Dargahs Never Divided People Of India Main Points: 1. Many temples and mosques are located side by side for centuries. 2. Many temples were built by Muslim kings and Nawabs. 3. Many Dargahs are visited by both Hindus an Muslims. 4. Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula donated land for Hanumangarhi temple. 5. In Kashmir, many temples are maintained by Muslims. ---- New Age Islam Staff Writer 30 March 2022 Temple ---- The recent call for ban on Muslim traders in the premises of Hindu temples has stirred a controversy. The move has religio-political undertones and so the move is being opposed even by Hindus who keep India's centuries old syncretic culture close to their heart. Temples, mosques and Sufi shrines called Dargahs have never divided the Hindus and Muslims, rather they have played an important role in strengthening the cultural bond. Many Sufi shrines in the country are visited by both Hinds and Muslims. In fact, Urs at many Dargahs are jointly managed by Hindus and Muslims. Many Hindu temples were either built by Muslim emperors and Nawabs or funded by them. Many temples in Kashmir are maintained by local Muslims. Particularly, after the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir, many Shiva temples have been maintained and protected by Kashmiri Muslims and have been functioning as usual. There are many Dargahs, for example, in Maharashtra which are revered and visited by the devotees from all castes. Dargah of Zinda Pir in Kaigaon in Jalgaon district and Dargah of Dada Ghulam Ali Shah in the same district are centres of communal Harmony. The entrance gate of Dargah Ghulam Ali Shah was donated by a Hindu trader of the locality. In Karnataka where the move for ban on Muslim shop owners has been introduced, the syncretic culture still remains strong. The Dargah of Sufi saint Dawal Malik in Domanal village in Bijapur district is revered by both Hindus and Muslins and during the Urs, it is the Hindus who take the lead in managing it. Another Dargah in Kalburgi in Karnataka is that of Hadhrat Ruknuddin Tola. Since the sufi is revered by Hindus as well, devotees are instructed not to visit the Dargah after having non-vegetarian food. In Malegao, Maharashtra, Mahadeo Temple and Jama Masjid are situated side by side in the densely populated area where shops and looms of both Hindus and Muslims exist. Jama’ah Masjid, Delhi ---- When Kashmiri Pandits left Kashmir amid insurgency, they requested their Muslim neighbours to take care of the temples and the Muslims pledged to them that thay will protect them at every cost. They kept their promise and have been protecting the Shiva temples. For example, the Shiva temple on Zobaria Hills in the outskirts of Srinagar is being maintained by Nissar since 2004. Before him his father was the caretaker of this temple. Another Shiv temple at Payar, which is very old is being maintained by one Mushtaque Ahmad Saikh It is 45 km from Srinagar. Mushtaque and his family protected the temple during the height of the insurgency in the 1990s. Another temple, Mamalaka Temple which is 900 years old is situated on the bank of Lidder river. Since there is no priest in the temple, two Muslims, Md Abdullah and Ghulam Hasan have been serving as priests. They clean and sweep the temple every day and serve the Prasad to every visitor. While leaving Kashmir, the Pandits had requested them to keep the temple open and they have kept their request. Dargah Khanqah-e-Maula and Rama Kaul Temple stand face to face in Kashmir and remind Indians of the glorious history of religious harmony in the country. The Mughal emperors, particularly, Akbar and Jahangir promoted religious harmony by granting financial assistance and land to Hindu temples. Jahangir is even said to have visited Vrindavan and granted land to the Sewaks of the temple. The Mughals and Nawabs of Awadh patronised many temples in Ayodhya and elsewhere. Dargah, Ajmer Sharif ----- These are only some of the examples of religious harmony promoted from temples, mosques ad Dargahs in India. Within the premises of every Dargah and temple, markets have sprung up where shops are owned by the members of all castes. As Muslims set shop in the premises of temples, so Hindus have shops within the premises of Dargahs. The controversy of Hindu shopkeeper versus Muslim shop keeper has never before been heard. During Urs at famous Dargahs, fairs are held in which traders and artisans belonging to different castes from across the country set shop and do business together. Never ever the question of banning Hindu traders occurred to Muslims. Therefore, the communal move of banning the traders of a particular community from the premises of places of worship does not augur well for the multicultural fabric of India and is also bad for the economy. 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