Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya

By the 13th century, the belief that the spiritual powers of great Sufi saints were attached to their burial sites was widespread in the Muslim world, and so a shrine was built to commemorate the burial site of Bahauddin Zakariya. In keeping with Sufi tradition in Punjab, the shrine's influence is augmented by smaller shrines spread throughout the region around Multan. These secondary shrines form a wilayat, or a "spiritual territory" of the primary shrine. As home to the primary shrine, Multan serves as the capital of Bahauddin Zakariya's wilayat. The shrine's wilayat is noted to border the spiritual territory of the Shrine of Baba Farid, based in Pakpattan. The ancient pre-Islamic Hindu temple Prahladpuri Temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu is located adjacent to the walls of the shrine. A popular legend holds that the avatar manifested itself here and it is here that the popular Hindu festival of Holi commenced. ==History==

The shrine was built in 1262 before the death of Zakariya in 1268. Unusual for a dervish, the structure was paid for at the expense of Bahauddin Zakariya - highlighting his unique financial independence. Dara Shikoh unsuccessfully attempted to win the loyalty of Multan's citizens by donating 25,000 Rupees to the shrine following his defeat by his brother at the Battle of Samugarh in 1658. The shrine's sajjada nashin, or hereditary caretaker, Makhdoom Mahmud assisted British forces against Sikh forces during the Siege of Multan in 1848. The shrine's cupola and part of its upper tier were damaged during the siege by British cannonballs, ==Architecture==

File:Bahauddin Zakariya Tomb 03.jpg|thumb|The shrine features a two-tiered design, and became the prototype for Multan's distinct architectural style. The mausoleum is built of brick, and is the earlier building to be decorated with glazed blue tiles, who were active in the region in the 13th century. A spacious brick verandah with a painted wooden ceiling was added to the shrine in 1952. Large wooden doors provide entry into the inner sanctum of the shrine from the veranda. The shrine is surrounded by hundreds of secondary graves belonging to descendants and devotees of Bahauddin Zakariya. ==Traditions==

Qawwali songs and trance-like dancing are performed nightly after evening prayers at the shrine. The shrine is important to members of the Barelvi sect of Islam, while Deobandis shun the shrine and practices performed there. Devotees at the shrine perform the ritual of mannat, or tying threads throughout the shrine as symbols of prayer. A class of devotees known as Qureishi, associate themselves with Zakariya and claim descent from the Quraysh tribe of the Prophet Muhammed. The Qureishi are held in high-esteem throughout south Punjab in Pakistan. One of the Qureishi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, rose to the position of Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs. ==Administration==

Hereditary caretakers of the shrine, known as sajjada nashin claim descent from Zakariya. Some caretakers have been held in high-esteem, and have maintained influence in politics. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party, is Sajjada Nashin of the shrine. == See also ==

File:Shrine of Baha-ud-din Zakariya, Multan 11.jpg|Supplicants occasionally gather at the entrance to the mausoleum File:Front view of Bahauddin Zakariya Tomb 9.jpg File:Side view of Baha-ud-din Zakariya tomb Multan.jpg File:Shrine of Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya 01.JPG File:Dome interior of Bahauddin Zakariya Tomb.jpg|Underside of the mausoleum's dome File:Bahudin Zakriya (2).JPG|Devotees and pilgrims tie strings to the shrine as a supplication and request for intercession known as mannat ==References==