Editor: Murtaza Shibli

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Verses of Sheikhul Alam

Musavir Ahmed


Sheikh Nur-ud-din (RA), popularly known as Sheikhul Alam, Nund Reshi and Alam Dar is considered to be the founder of Rishism in Kashmir. For the people of Kashmir, Sheikh (RA) is the epitome of piety, devotion, character, spirituality, wisdom and many more things. Probably, there would no Kashmiri household, where his name is not re­membered, by virtue of his verses, sayings, character, piety and devotion.

Sheikh (RA) was born in 1377 AD in a village, called Kiamuh, two miles west of Bijbehara, a town around 35 kilometer south of Srinagar city. His father’s name was Sheikh Salar-ud-din and his mother is re­membered by the name of Sadra moj (Mother Sadra). Sheikh (RA) is believed to have meditated for twelve long years in a cave in Kaimuh village sustaining on water and chicory leaves. He preached his mes­sage of tolerance, love, patience and other virtues of Islam in the entire length and breadth of the valley. He converted a large number of peo­ple to the folds of Islam, some of whom became great saints. Sheikh (RA) is believed to have passed away in the year 1437 AD at the age of sixty one.

Sheikh (RA) expressed his message in verse form, locally called Shrukhs (knots). These verses are composed in common man’s lan­guage with examples based on common observations. Here I am pre­senting a few of his verses with its meaning and explanations.

          'Kangri' extinguished at the outset of dusk
          haven't lighted the 'gagee' what should I fill it (Kangri) with
          my eye sight became hazy and my ears turned deaf
          my tongue got twisted what shall I say. The lintels of my deodar shelter became rotten
          my doorway is covered with cobwebs, what shall I erect.

‘Kangri’ is the traditional firepot, used in winter by Kashmiris. It has a baked earthen pot in which contains burning charcoal. The pot is cov­ered with a beautifully woven intricate network of thin strips of a wicker that is raised to a certain height. This is to get hold of it as well as to prevent direct contact with the hot pot inside. ‘Gagee’ is the round opening of the Kashmiri kitchen hearth. The term is also used for the kitchen hearth itself locally called ‘dan’. It is the opening in which wood is placed. It also means a comparatively smaller opening at the back of this kitchen hearth.

Meaning; With my life near its end, I have no support in the hereafter. Since I didn't work towards salvation during my life my eye sight has become hazy and my ears have turned deaf. What shall I express, I lost the power of communication, the entire edifice of my being is about to crumble, what identity shall I present [before God].

Explanation: The ‘extinguishing of Kangri’ at the time of sunset sym­bolizes no deeds or virtues that one can take along with to the other life, after death. Lighting a 'Gagee' means the struggle that a person should do, so that he can secure his life after death. The ‘deodar shel­ter’ i.e. the home constructed out of the excellent deodar wood, refers to the 'being' of a person. The being of a person can decay like decom­position of wood. The ‘door’ refers to the introduction of one’s iden­tity. When introduction is full of blemishes what identity can a per­son present to others.

Cultural Explanation: Kangri is vital to Kashmiris in winter. One keeps it throughout the day and night as protection against cold. The Kangri is filled with charcoal and then fire-dust taken out of the kitchen hearth is spread over the charcoal. For several hours it acts as a heat convector, before it is refilled. Traditionally, the hearths were lighted twice daily, early morning and late afternoon.

          Persistently, the stonemill will is turning around
          'Ohuk' knows the art of turning the mill
          fine will come, as the stone mill turns
          the cereal will reach 'greatibal'.

‘Ohuk’ is a very small carved wooden rod that brushes along the lower surface of the large circular stone of the mill as it rotates and is used to control its speed. ‘Gratibal’ is the place where the windmill is located.

Meaning; The wheel of life is turning persistently, only an enlightened person is conversant with the art of striving, the person struggles and strives and ultimately the soul reaches its ultimate abode.

Explanation; Only an enlightened person masters over the enigmatic wheel of life. Through struggle and striving, the person unfolds the secrets of life. The ‘stone mill’ symbolizes the continuous struggle and striving of a person. 'Ohuk' symbolizes the art of striving, the right direction, the controlling of self etc. ‘Gratibal’ signifies the ultimate abode of the 'soul'.

Cultural Explanation; Water mills were a common right in Kashmir. These were run by water, drawn from brooks, streams, ponds and riv­ers. These were the easiest and cheapest means to grind wheat and rice. Many rural areas still have these mills catering to the needs of the locals. Now mills run by electricity have taken their place, but the ba­sic structure of these remains the same. The stone used for these mills is locally known as 'divor' and are locally prepared by stone makers called 'sangtarash'.

          O My youth, the fourteen moon
          time carved you and were made Halal
          old age is like an jendir with its planks dislocated
          disliked you were then by the family members.

‘Jendir’ is the wooden spinning wheel, operated with the hand by the Kashmiri women.

Meaning: In my youth, I was at the zenith of beauty, I enjoyed it in every respect. In old age, the body parts became stiff and lose their symmetry. The family dislikes the person and his presence is insufferable.

Explanation; ‘Fourteenth moon’ looks very beautiful and symbolizes the pinnacle of beauty. The youth has been referred to as the four­teenth moon. During the prime of life, a person is not only at the peak of beauty, but his body and mind are organized. The movement is swift and energy is enormous. The old age has been explained by means of the ‘jendir’ that has lost its symmetry and has become noisy and coarse in its movement. In old age, a person loses the vigor and energy due to ageing body parts, the sense organs lose their sensitiv­ity, and the body movement becomes sloppy. The person begins to sound noisy, due to ailments etc.

Cultural Explanation: The ‘Jendir’ i.e. spinning wheel has great signifi­cance in Kashmiri culture. It used to be a source of livelihood for a large number of households, especially in the Srinagar District. The famous 'Pashmina' and 'Shahtosh' shawls were woven from the threads spun on it. The women folk after delivering their household chores used it to earn some money for the family. It is operated, in a sitting posture, with the right hand rotating its wheel and the left hand holds the properly cleaned and softened aggregate of wool against the sharp pointed end of the rotating iron rod, so that fine threads of wool comes out. It is a structure, entirely made of wood except the iron rod that rotates when the wheel is turned. The wheel is made up of small planks, placed in two circles, with a joint in the centre holding them together at a certain distance from each other, such that it moves as a whole. It is an intricate structure and can be made by an expert carpenter only. When it is used for several years, the different joints holding the wooden plants and rods together be­came loose leading to an unsmooth motion. The structure starts to make rattling noise. At this stage, it is thrown away.

          I was disconcerted by my ego
          My ego lessened me to a perforated thatch
          My ego razed the bridges of my virtues
          My ego has played the Devil's havoc with me.

Meaning: My life was disorganized by my ego, I lost the shield under which my identity was protected, due to my ego. I lost the support which I had evolved to protect my identity, because of my ego. My ego has played Devils havoc with me.

Explanation: 'Nafis' refers to the ego, the materialistic self. This self created confusion in me, and I couldn't concentrate on my real objec­tive, the objective of living a successful life. The same ego destroyed whatever virtues and good deeds I had to shield myself from the wrath of Lord. The righteous and virtuous path, that I had chosen to attain salvation, was demolished by this ego of mine. It really played the Devil's havoc with me.

Cultural Explanation: The significant element that has a cultural im­portance is 'Zadal tsheai', the perforated thatch. Up to the closing dec­ades of the last century, majority of the houses had thatched roofs, in both towns and villages. These can be seen, on a considerable number of houses, cowsheds, and granaries in villages. Corrugated tin sheets have been taking their place, from the last several decades. A thatched roof lasts for 4-5 years before it is to be replaced. Snow, rainfall and sunlight creates gaps in it and a single perforation turns it useless.

          Ice, sheets of frozen water and snow
          Are created by GOD variously
          But the moment sun appears from the east
          Into one element are changed the three.

Meaning: The different races and castes appear different physically, but before God all are one and the same.

Explanation: ‘Ice’, ‘sheets of frozen water’, and ‘snow’ refers to the dif­ferent castes people belong to. ‘Sun’ refers to God. ‘Melting of these three into water’, after sun rise, refers to the equality and oneness of all castes, and races before God.

Cultural Explanation: The valley of Kashmir witnesses severe snowfall during the winters and the mercury dips several degrees below zero. During these months, water surfaces freeze and turn into ice. Tradi­tionally the Kashmiri society was highly caste structured. Castes were inherited, by virtue of hereditary basis. Castes in Kashmir were en­dogamous and status positions were rigidly defined.

          The beautiful one was be witched by Cupid
          Infatuation for flowers cost me my youth
          mountain glacier and wullar hurricane hemmed.
          Distressed am I, for the Robber has snatched my all
          my dish of Volga-rice has changed into chaff and unhusked grains.
          And my day of woe lengthened out into a year; me, the wretched one.

Meaning; My inner being was intimated by worldly greed, I lost my essence in search of material possessions. My identity wasted away its form and got dissipated. The Devil took me away from the righteous path. My pure self was blemished. Me, the Helpless suffered immeasurably.

Explanation; The ‘beautiful one’ refers to the inner being or essence that gets attracted towards the material, colourful things of the world. ‘Mountain Glacier’ refers to the true identity of a person. Just as the snow melts away gradually with sunlight, so a person loses the form of his identity when it gets engaged in the worldly affairs. Not only it loses its form, but it gets dissipated like a hurricane which takes away droplets from a water body and hurls them in different directions. ‘Volga-rice’ refers to the purity and excellence of the true self, and the chaff and unhusked grain attributes to blemishes the true self receives. ‘Wretched one’ means a helpless person who has no control over his fate.

Cultural Explanation; There are three terms in the above which have a great cultural significance. The first is Mountain Glacier. All the rivers of the valley have their origin in the Mountain Glaciers. These glaciers melt gradually through out the year and keep the rivers filled with water. The second is wullar-hurricane. Wullar is a fresh water lake situated in the Bandipora area of North Kashmir. The seasonal hurri­cane that arises from the lake, creates havoc in the adjoining areas. The whole area is known for this hurricane. The third term is Volga-rice. There are many varieties of rice grown in valley. Volga is consid­ered to be the finest variety of rice, as far as taste, flavor, and palatabil­ity are considered. Volga has many sub varieties and shah-volga is the best. It is also known by the name of 'mushki buduj' in Kashmiri.


Srinagar, August 2007