Hazrat Bokhari Baba (R.A.)

Name: Hazrat Bokhari Baba (R.A.)
Titles:
Silsila:
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Successor:
Date of Birth:
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Resting at: Kaipadar, Khurda, Orissa – India

The Dargah of Hazrat Bokhari Baba (R.A.) is located in Kaipadar, a village near the city of Khurda – it is the most significant Muslim Dargah in the region. During its most important festival, according to the Khadim on duty, 75 per cent of devotees are Hindus. One of the most remarkable features of this Dargah is that the flower garland providers as well as the providers of sweets for the daily offerings are Hindus.

The Hindu families of the garland-makers and sweet-makers are still in possession of the land given by King Ramachandra Deva (of 18th Century) and continue to discharge their duties at the Dargah. What this king institutionalized, namely the worship by two different religious communities at the same Dargah, was simply unthinkable in Europe. The most that Henry IV achieved with the Edict de Nantes was to allow the discreet performance of the cult of the minority religion and that did not last very long. Combined worship by two different religions has been inconceivable in European history.”

Khurda occupies a distinct place in the historical map of Orissa; Khurda is located at a distance of 29 K.M. from Bhubaneswar

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Bukhari Baba was a saint and came from Samarkand in the 17th Century. He was born in a Muslim family in Bokhara. His name has spread throughout Odisha and throughout India. He was believed to be Ishwar Premi and Ishwar devotee. He was not tied to the world, and he took to sanyas and wandered to different Tirthas. He had been to Mecca and Medina and then he came to India, Delhi, Ajmer, Meerut, Gujrat and then Odisha. From Sterling’s history we know that in 1953 the fort of Kaipadar was established earlier surrounded by Jungle. Baba entered there in the afternoon. At noon he did Namaz. For purification he needed water, so Baba met a long bearded, knotted hair Sadhu and asked him for water. The Sadhu knew that Baba was a Siddha Purusha. To test he told him that he had no water and advised him to get it himself. Baba had an iron rod in his hand and struck the earth with it. Water gushed out. The water is seen in the well in the courtyard of the shrine. The two stayed in the same place in the discussion of spiritual texts and philosophy. The Sadhu then left for a tirth Baba stayed there in this beautiful forest with fruits and flowers. He was old and practising meditation.

Gajapati Ramachandra Deva (the then King) was staying in the historic Barunei Hill. Once the King was hunting near Kaipadar fort and met the Baba. The King felt blessed seeing the Baba. Taking the permission from Baba the king built an ashram there and arranged for his food and drink in the flowered forest. The fame of Bukhari Baba spread everywhere. Baba was equally affectionate to the Hindus and Muslims. People got satisfaction from having Darshan. Baba gave Hukum (Order) fulfilled the desires of the devotees Baba shared with others the food and drink the king had given him. A cowherd boy, learning of the great deeds of Baba, offered milk regularly. Many people began staying there so a settlement grew in that area. The cowherd boy saw that while meditating an ant-hill was forming around Baba. He ran to the village and told the news. The villagers came and saw the Baba in deep meditation a brilliant glow on his face. They had their last Darshan and people offered flowers. Then the covered him completely and a hill grew. So he is a Zinda Pira ( living Pir). He is the great devotee of Khuda (Allah).

At dawn, the main door is opened. After ablutions, the Khadim plays the Nagara (drum). The door to the shrine is opened and the shrine is cleaned. The mali and the Gudia arrange their flowers and sweets. The Khadim offers sandal paste and flowers and lights a ghee lamp. Then sirki is offered. In the evening the drum is also played and the incense of offered. The shrine is open till 9 p.m. Thursday is a holy day. Khiri is given to the poor and the Fakirs are fed. Several annual festivals are observed such as Iurs, Ramzan etc.

There is no feeling of touchable or untouchable caste. Everyone can come and eat together. The Quran is recited on holy days. Muslims and Hindus forget their differences and live like brothers.

The present marble shrine was constructed in 1893 in Muslim style. The money was donated by a seafaring trader who received a boon from Baba. The architect Dohasasana Mangaraja was a Hindu. The villagers offered their labour and a new to temple was built in 1925. Ramachandra brought a Khadim from Kurupala. (Near Khordha). The information in the pamphlet confirmed what the Mali, the Gudia had told me. They confirmed that land was given to them by Ramachadnra Dev to perform the seva of the Baba.