Harmony in Stone and Spirit: The Dargah of Peer Hazrat Shahaduddin and Its Legacy of Unity

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 26 February 2025 The Dargah of Peer Hazrat Shahaduddin in Panhala embodies Hindu-Muslim unity, renowned for healing rituals, sacred springs, and royal patronage. Its Urs and Muharram celebrations blend traditions, fostering communal harmony through shared faith and heritage. Main points: Blends Hindu-Muslim traditions, with rituals like using Nag Zari spring water for Islamic ablutions (wuju) and reverence for Nag Devta. Features Hauz-e-Khizr pond (linked to a subterranean river) and Nag Zari spring, both central to healing and spiritual practices. Associated with 12th-century king Silharaja Bhoj II and legends of Peer Shahaduddin’s victory over a demon, evidenced by his stone footprint. Soil from the dargah is believed to cure snake bites; barren women and farmers seek blessings through offerings. Annual Sarkari Urs and Muharram processions unite communities, with wrestling matches, langar, and cross-cultural rituals. Nestled within the historic town of Panhala, a hill station approximately 40 kilometers from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, lies the revered Dargah of Peer Hazrat Shahaduddin. Situated in the Muajawar Mohalla neighborhood, this spiritual site is a testament to the region’s rich cultural tapestry. Panhala, renowned for its ancient fort and status as a taluka headquarters, is home to a diverse population, including a significant Muslim community. The dargah, locally known as Khizr-e-Manzil, stands as a beacon of interfaith harmony, drawing devotees from across traditions. Architectural and Spiritual Features The shrine’s striking white structure, visible from a distance, features a large domed chamber housing the turbats (tombs) of Peer Shahaduddin and his disciple, Hazrat Khatarwalli. Within the compound, graves of the Peer’s wife, Mahsabi, and his son are also present. A ceremonial sword gifted by a local ruler rests beside the main tomb, symbolizing the saint’s revered status. Adjacent to the dargah lies Hauz-e-Khizr, a sacred pond believed to be fed by a subterranean river. Pilgrims attribute mystical properties to its waters, using them for ablutions (wuju) and healing. Nearby, the Nag Zari spring—associated with the Hindu deity Nag Devta, provides water that devotees collect for its purported curative benefits. Historical Legends and Legacy Oral traditions trace Peer Shahaduddin’s arrival to the region eight to nine centuries ago, journeying from the Iraq-Iran region alongside his maternal uncle, Khwaja Saheb (whose shrine is in Miraj). His mission centered on social reform and spiritual education. A popular legend recounts his encounter with a menacing demon near the pond. Challenged to prove his power, the saint pressed his footprint into a stone, a mark still visible today. The dargah’s history intertwines with local royalty. Silharaja Bhoj II, the 12th-century ruler who fortified Panhala, is said to have meditated here for 40 days. Pleased by his devotion, the Peer allegedly shifted the shrine’s location to fulfill the king’s wish: that visitors first glimpse the fort before the dargah. Folklore also speaks of a bygone era when the pond miraculously provided wedding utensils, a practice that ceased after greed led to dishonesty. Cultural Practices and Rituals The shrine serves as a focal point for communal faith, particularly in crises like snake bites, where dargah soil is applied to wounds to neutralize venom. Barren women seek blessings for fertility, offering rice, coconuts, and vermilion, though they refrain from entering the inner sanctum. Devotees present harvest grains, livestock (excluding beef), and the first milk of cows, poured over a stone near the entrance. Annual Celebrations and Governance The Sarkari Urs, the dargah’s grand annual festival, sees participation from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Government officials and local leaders honor the event, receiving coconuts from hereditary mujawars (custodians). A ceremonial shawl from the samadhi of Sambhaji II is presented, underscoring historical ties. The festivities include communal feasts (langar) and wrestling matches. Muharram is observed with equal fervor, featuring processions and symbolic panja (hand-shaped icons) carried by devotees of all faiths. Managed by a rotating council of 300 mujawar families descended from four original lineages, the dargah exemplifies shared heritage. Its enduring legacy lies in bridging divides, blending rituals, and fostering unity, a sacred space where water from Nag Zari cleanses Muslim worshippers, and Hindu traditions echo within Islamic walls. References ● Hindu-Muslim Syncretic Shrines and Communities - By J.J. Roy Burman ● shaan e wali karamaate auliya. (2022, Sep 28). Hazrat Pir Shahaduddin Khatal Shah Wali | Panhala | Kolhapur | Dargah vlog [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/SXgCFj3qw7k ● Kumar, A. (2022). Cultural Syncretism in South Indian Shrines. Heritage Journal of Kerala Studies, 8(1). https://www.heritageuniversityofkerala.com/JournalPDF/Volume8.1/16.pdf A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism and Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/dargah-peer-hazrat-shahaduddin-harmony/d/134727 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism