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The Nila Gumbaz
The Nila Gumbaz, or the blue tower, is a lofty and spacious dome surmounted
by a cupola of porcelain. It is situated on the dome surmounted
by a cupola of porcelain. It is situated on the cross road leading
from Anarkali to the Senate Hall. Beneath the roof of the vault
are enshrined the remains of a Ghiznivide saint, named Abdul Razzak Makai,
of Shabzwar, who, coming from Ghazni, settled in Lahore, in the time of
Humayun. The mausoleum was erected to his memory by his disciples,
who also constructed the large mosque attached to it. The name of
the architect, who was a pious man, is preserved. During the Sikh
period the Masjid was used as artillery quarters, and in the commencement
of the British period as a Mess house. But it was restored to the
Mahomedans in 1856, and has been kept in good repair by the Mahomedan
merchants of Anarkali, though the mausoleum itself has been ver much neglected.
The dome is situated in the serae of the late Sheikh Rahim Bakhsh, merchant.
The
saint, according to his will, was buried in the closet in which he was
accustomed to say his prayers. The tomb remained without a dome
for a long time, and the story is still current that a lion used to come
there every Thursday and clean the place, using his tail as broom.
At length the saint Mauj Daria, Bokhari, was seen in a dream by the guardian
of shrine, and it was intimated that a large dome should be constructed
over the remains of Abdul Razzak. This was accordingly done.
The Masjid is large and commodious, and provided with a spacious court-yard
and a large reservoir for the ablution of the devotees. A school
for reading the Koran is attached to it. Both the mosque and the
school are in a very flourishing condition. |
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