Data Ganj Bakhsh

             Outside the Bhati Gat e of the city, to the west is the celebrated mausoleum of Data Ganj bakhsh, or the saint, the bestower of treasure.  His real name is Ali Mukhdum, Hujweri, of Ghazni, His father name was Usman, son of Ali Jalali Ghaznavi, and he was a disciple of Sheikh Abul Fazl bin Hassan Khutbi.  He followed the arms of Masud, the son and successor of Mahud, to Lahore where he settled in 431 A.H.  Having lived thirty-four years in Lahore, during which time he conferred great benefits on the people be his learning and piety, he died in 465 A.H., and was buried close to a mosque which he had himself bult.  The mausoleum was constructed by Sulatn Ibrahim, a successor of Musud.  Ali Makhdum was an eminent scholar, and was the author of many books on theology and religion.  Khwaja Moin-ud-din, chishti, the celebrated saint of Ajmere, passed forty days of seclusion and medication at the tomb of Ali Makhdum, and after the period was over, he was, it is said, deeply affected by the graces showered upon him at this holy place, and he repeated the following verse standing at the foot of the tomb out of respect for the saint:- 

            The bestower of treasure (Ganj Bakhsh) in both worlds, reflector of the splendour of God.

            An accomplished spiritual guide for the learned and a guide for the ignorant.

  The Origin of the name of Ganj Baksh:-

            From that date the saint of Ghazni come to be called Ganj Bakhsh.  The couplet is inscribed over the gateway leading to the tomb.  Maulana Jaml, in his Nafahat-ul-Uns and Dara Shekoh, in his Safinat-ul-Aulia, speak in high terms of the accomplishments of Data Ganj Bakhsh as a religious preceptor, and from the times of the Ghiznivide kings up to the present day his memory has been held in the greatest veneration by all classes of people.  He was a great author of his time, and among other works he wrote a book called the Kashf-ul-Mahjub, or The revelation of the Hidden.  A fair is held at the tomb each Friday, which is largely attended by both Mahomedans and Hindus.  The following Persian inscription is inserted on one of the arches of the mosque, previously referred to, in which he had put up on his arrival at Lahore, and which still stands to the west of the tomb.  Considerable alterations have been made to this mosque in subsequent times. 

            The Khangah of Ali of Hujver,   Gather up the dust of its portals

            (And) use it as antimony to thy truth seeking eyes,

            That the mysteries of the knowledge of God may be revealea unto thee,

            As he was the chief of the word of sanctity,

            The year of his death is obtained from the word Sardar (chief).

              The numerical value of the word Sardar gives the date of his death, 485 A.H. when the Punjab was still governed by the successors of Mahmud.

              The floor of the entrance to the mausoleum, and the doorframes, as well as the platforms to the right and left of it, are of marble.  This is the work of the Emperor Akbar.  Over the entrance gateway is inserted a slab of marble on which the following verses of the celebrated poet Maulana Abdul Rahman Jami are inscribed:-

            There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Prophet of God.

            This mausoleu, the foundation of which was laid through the bounty of God.

            Is intended as sepulchre for Makhdum Ali, who has joined the Divine essence. 

            Having departed from this transient world, he obtained eternal life;

            Therefore the pre0eminent date of his death was found in the word Hast (ever existent). 

            On the eastern side of the dome are written the following Persian verses:- 

            Oh what a fine tower resembling heaven,

            To clean which angels and nymphs

            Stand with their long musky side-lock,

            Their hearts being refreshed with fragrance.

            The year of the repair of this tomb

            Is found in the word Cheragh Jamal (lamp of elegance.) 

            The words Cheragh-I-Hamal give 1278 A.H. as the year of the repairs referred to.

             On the top of the next arch is inscribed:-

             O God ! may this temple over flourish,

            Through the grace of the (Kalima) witness that is no God but God.

 There is a small receptacle for water on the floor to the north of the tomb.  The devotees take this water as a sacred object to their homes for the sake of obtaining benedictions, and apply it to their eyes to benefit their souls.

            The quarters adjoining to the mausoleum of Data Ganj Bakhsh are still known as Shish Mahal, from the palace of mirrors which existed here in the time of the Mahomedan Emperors. 

            The mausoleum is highly popular with the residents of Lahore of allclasses.  The anniversary of the death of the saint is celebrated on 20th Safar, when a great fair is held at the shrine.  Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who held the saint in great reverence, used to make an offering of one thousand rupees on the date of the Urs, or the anniversary of death.  Maharani Chand Kour, wife of Maharaja Kharak Singh and mother of Naunehal Singh, built a vaulted chamber in this mausoleum in 1895 Samvat, and Ranjit Singh himself had it periodically repaired.

            Among the most interesting objects of the mausoleum are the ancient manuscript Kurans, presented by different Kings and Nawabs of Hindustan, which are preserved to this day, and are in the custody of the hereditary guardians of the shrine.  Most of these are excellent spciments of the art of calligraphy.