Shrine Shah Dana Shaheed Delhi Gate Multan

Shrine Shah Dana Shaheed 1270 A.D is a historic shrine insidedelhi Gate Multan.

Shrine Shah Dana Shaheed 1270 A.D inside delhi Gate Multan

SHRINE OF HAZRAT SHAH DANA SHAHEED

Monument

TOMB OF SHAH DANA SHAHEED

Location

MUHALLAH KAMANRAN INSIDE DELHI GATE

Status

PROTECTED.

Owner

PUNJAB (PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT).

Use

FORMER: TOMB

PRESENT: TOMB – mosque and shrine.

Period / Date

669/1270 AD.

Historical Notes

Folk stories and popular beliefs apart, very little is known about the life of the saint. Historians confirm that his real name was Sheikh Sa’adud Din bin Naseerud Din, that he belonged to a Mughal Barlas family and that he was born in a place called Khalj. But he is also known by several popular names such as Shah Dana Shaheed, Shadna Shaheed, Shad Shaheed and Shadi Shaheed. Date of his birth is not known. He was a disciple of Hazrat Bahaul Huq Zakriya and a confident companion of his son Hazrat Sadrud Din Arif to whom he is said to have served as servant. But some scholars deny this position. Similarly, his position being a sipahsalar of a Muslim army is also disputed. He was killed during one of the invasions of Multan by Mongols in the year 669AH/ 1270 AD and was buried in Multan. Like the life of the Saint, nothing is known as to who built the tomb on his grave and when. The story of a prince having built it has no credibility. But as the tomb is a conscious attempt of copying the essential features of the tomb of Bahahul Huq Zakriya; the date of its construction may be placed somewhere in the last quarter of the 13th century i.e. close to the date of its progenitor. Whatever the reasons, the building appears to have been left unfinished soon after the structural work was completed. There is no proof, internal or external, to show that if ever the building was embellished with any kind of decoration. Towards the close of the 20th century, there were only some signs of plain plaster on the exterior. There has never been recorded any evidence of application of glazed tiles or nakashi (painting) – the most common mode of decorating buildings in Multan even till today. Present surface plaster hardly dates back to 1980’s when only the exterior of the dome was plastered. However, a fresh research may reveal some hidden traces of original decorations, both on the inner and outer sides of the tomb.

Description / Main Features

This building is a typical representation of Multani tomb architecture having a square chamber with octagonal second storey and the dome. It has a low dome adorned with finial with heavy cylindrical base. Four cardinal sides in the octagonal storey have arched windows set in rectangular frames. In front is a veranda with three openings which are superimposed by ventilators. The building currently is completely white washed.

Access / Environs

Access is through the narrow streets. The tomb is set in a thickly built and populated area; however once within the site there is an open area which is quite serene.

Present Condition

The structure has several accumulated coats of whitewash but dome and its walls show marks of dripping of mud mortar. The old structure has been plastered and white washed from outside. Out of front three arches, one is supported by a middle column due to structural weakness of the arch. The Tomb is located within the domed structure at the back of this verandah.

INTERVENTIONS

With the exception of structure, nothing original in the form of architectural decorations now remain. Present surface plaster hardly dates back to 1980’s when only the exterior of the dome was plastered. The building has been heavily plastered and re-plastered and repeatedly white washed. It will be laborious task to scrap the layer upon layer of plaster to reveal what lay underneath in the form of glazed tiles and naqashi painting, if any. However, fresh research may reveal some hidden traces of original decoration, both on the inner and outer sides of the tomb.

Proposal

It seems that due to negligence and remissness of the authorities the original cladding of the tomb has been completely lost. An investigation is therefore recommended to find out the original finish and decoration.

References

Cunningham 131; Nazir 53; Huq 158; Aulia-i-Multan 235-36; Faridi, Tarikh-i-Multan 188;.Khan 199-205; Wasti 312-14, 430; Gazetteer 1926, 285-86

• Vehicular Access / Parking

  The shrine is in a dense bazaar area approx. 12’ wide, near Delhi Gate. It is located next to an old graveyard. Entrance to the shrine it through a gate approx. 8’ wide; there is no vehicular access and no parking. The site area is large and provides a peaceful and serene atmosphere to the setting of the domed structure.

• Use of Space

  The space around the mausoleum including the graveyard is being misused for throwing of large quantities of solid waste and building debris. Portions of the graveyard and the area behind the shrine are used for parking/storage of rickshaws and push carts.

• Visitor Facilities

  There are no facilities of any kind for visitors:
  Inadequate toilet facilities
  No boarding facilities
  No bathing or washing areas other than the mosque ablution area
  No shade or seating except that provided by a significant old ficus tree in front of the shrine.

• Electricity

  The electric connection to the shrine, mosque and hujra is unauthorized, without any kilowatt hour meter and approx. 25 appliances are being used regularly; more during urs. Several lighting fixtures are attached directly to the historic fabric of the building. A large transformer is located in the street immediately outside the wall of the shrine compound.

• Sewerage

  Two unhygienic temporary Indian style wcs are installed within the premises, which directly throw raw sewage into the open drains flowing outside the shrine. Two open drains flow each side of the bazaar, by gravity towards Delhi Gate. Two blocks of ice for sale were observed lying on the edge of the full flowing sewer drain which indicates the low level of awareness and hygiene in the area.

• Drainage

  The topography of the graveyard and the courtyard of the shrine is such that all surface run-off leads towards the main gate into the open sewer drains, on to Delhi Gate and the ring road.

• External threats

  A private residential building towards the north of the shrine is cracked and bulging outwards; it is at risk of imminent collapse during rains, storm or earth tremor and could seriously damage the shrine and its visitors.

• Solid Waste

  Solid waste, debris and building material are lying within the graveyard area. The area behind the small mosque is occupied by a collapsed and abandoned structure; it is full of large debris dumps and is used as a makeshift toilet area. The solid waste of the shrine is collected or swept towards the corners of the courtyard where it is collected.

• Condition

  The shrine is in fair condition with no major structural issues. Only a few minor cracks are visible. However, a supporting pillar has been placed under one of the façade arches; this requires further investigation.

Structural Condition Survey of the Shrine of Shah Dana, Multan

The monument is an old, traditional-brickwork, load-bearing, massive masonry structure constructed about 400 ~ 500 years ago.
Evidence of subsequent renovations and repairs do exist at site, the recent being reported as two decades back.
Main dome had been damaged and partially collapsed and had been renovated.
Roof of the verandah has been replaced by the precast RCC slabs and beams.
Evidence of the failure of the then wooden lintels/ rotten wood still does exist in the western wall of the verandah.
Structural crack and outwardly leaning wall of verandah on the western side of the monument states the degree of inner damage of the structure.
Main gateway of the shrine is a double storey structure and has wooden roof which has rotten since long. It is in a dilapidated state and may collapse without any warning.
A neighborhood building on the northern side which towers over the monument is badly bulging outwards and may collapse. It is an external threat to the monument.
The outer boundary wall on the southern side of the shrine is structurally in a bad condition. A running open drain flows westward along with the wall which may cause damage to the wall.
Old Hujra (Pir-Mureed Counseling rooms) where Murshid spiritually guides his mureeds are really in dilapidated state and a few have even partially collapsed.
Unclean environment, debris of collapsed buildings, parking of push-cars and riksha within the shrine premises, deposit of junk material over the graves, lack of public toilets, and illegal electric connection corroborated the neglect of monument by the authorities by the neighbors and the present descendent of the buzurg who lives adjacent to the monument