Colourful Cultural Hues of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh, owing to its geographical standing, has been a melting pot for many religions, such as – Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and Christianity. The co-existent traditions are evident in the city of Gwalior. The Gwalior fort has numerous places of worship inside, like the 11-century Sasbahu Temple or older Teli ka Mandir. The fort is situated on a solitary rocky hill, called Gopachal, there are eleven Jain temples, dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras, are around this hill. The fort is also home to the Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor. This gurudwara was built during the 1970s and 1980s at the place where 6th Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib was arrested and held captive by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1609.

To the east of the Gwalior city stands the mausoleum of Muhammad Ghaus. It is built in the form of a square with hexagonal towers at the corners surmounted by small domes. Shaikh Mohammad Ghaus, whose body lies within, is a well-known Muslim saint of the sixteenth century. Muhammad Ghaus, the 6th-century Sufi master of the Shattari order and Sufi saint, was a musician and the author of Jawahir-i Khams. Ghaus also translated the Amrtakunda (Pool of Nectar), from Sanskrit to Persian retitled as the Bahr al-Hayat (The Ocean of Life). This work introduces a set of yoga practices to Sufism. One of the most famous disciples of Ghaus, Miyan Tansen is also buried near the mausoleum.

Gwalior is just one example, but the whole of Madhya Pradesh is a testimony to this historically rich harmonious culture.

Vaibhav Bharadwaj