ON TOP OF HILL IN RAJA GIRAH SWAT – THE PROUD HERITAGE OF A GHAZNAVID AMIR

ON TOP OF HILL IN RAJA GIRAH SWAT
THE PROUD HERITAGE OF A GHAZNAVID AMIR

Inscription Ghaznavid Mosque 1048 AD
Inscription Ghaznavid Mosque 1048 AD

The legacy of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi

People live their lives. Few people leave heritages. The heritage of some people shine today as ever more. On top of the hill in Raja Girah, Swat, lies a mosque of Amir Nishtagin Jarib, the Amir of Hindustan, deputy of the legacy of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. It has survived the times and is a reflection of the spiritual quest of those people, paying homage to Allah, wherever they went in life.

Ghazanavid Mosque Raja Girah Swat 1048 AD (2)
Ghazanavid Mosque Raja Girah Swat 1048 AD (2)

Who was Amir Nishtagin Jarib. He was a proud General appointed by Sultan Masud son of Sultan Mahmud to the command of Punjab. He was the Governor of Lahore in those days. A lot of intrigues were happening in Ghazni in those days. Amir Nishtagin tackled the USURPER TUGHRIL and defeated him, and instead of takIng over Ghazni himself, proclaimed Jamal ud Daulah Farukhzad as the New Emperor. His loyalty to the Ghaznis was unquestioined now. Certainly if he built a mosque under the fortress in Swat, he must have built mosques at other places, and in all ways, in Lahore too. No mosque has been excavated in Lahore, but Dr Abdullah Chaghatai recalled seeing one like this in a basement near the Rang Mahal area. Other Ghazanavid Generals are buried in Lahore in Mohalla Shaheed Ganj, near Takia Sadhus in Lahore. Some are reputed to be buried in Mahmood Booti too, near Lahore.adresvar is only around

111-Sultan-Mahmud-Ghaznavi
111-Sultan-Mahmud-Ghaznavi

Comparing this mosque to other extant mosques in the region reveals startling information. The once considered oldest Mosque of Solahkhambi in Bhadresvar is only around 1160 and the one at Junagadh in Gujarat is around 1286. So the year of construction of this Swati marvel is much earlier and still intact in many ways, as the area became inaccessible because of its height. What a sight it would be the Azan early in the morning on the hills and the army people praying there in union where there was no Master or Slave, all people equal to each other. The blessings of Allah was on them!

There are skeletons in the hujra outside this mosque. Buried underneath, one can wonder the background of these people. Scholars perhaps, imparting their knowledge to a new world. Or part of some conspiracy surrounding the complex. Our minds are not innovative and we do not search for truth of this kind in any way. But there are stories to tell. No one to hear!

Allah fearing qualities were there in these Generals and that is the same today, as our Pakistani Army also has heritage of these Generals of the past.

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