A Samadhi or Tomb present in Tapiala Dost Muhammad Khan (2019)

 (All pictures and research belong to the author and should only be used after written permission)

Date of  visit:- 09 November 2019

Front view of Tomb

Tapiala Dost Muhammad Khan is a small town located 11.7 km on Muridka-Narang Mandi Road. In ancient times Grand Trunk Road passes through this town. I also found some remains of the old Grand Trunk in Tapiala. 

Remain of Old of GT Road Road 

 

GT Road from Tapiala (mausoleum) made the onward journey to Pul Shah Daula with an ancient bridge on Nullah Degh. 

 

There is an old, isolated mausoleum standing in an ancient graveyard of Tapiala Dost Muhammad Khan. Long ago, I read about this mausoleum in a book, "The Silk Roads Highway of Culture and Commerce" by Vadim Elisseeff. But not much written about its history. In the Urdu language, 'Tapi' means tree and the meaning of 'Tapiala' could be derived as' the town full of trees. 

 

The second question that came to mind was that who was Dost Muhammad Khan. 

In history, the most prominent personality by this name was of Dost Mohammad Khan (December 23, 1793 – June 9, 1863). HE was the founder of the Barakzai dynasty and one of the prominent rulers of Afghanistan during the First Anglo-Afghan War. With the decline of the Durrani dynasty, he became Emir of Afghanistan from 1823 to 1839 and then from 1843 to 1863. An ethnic Pashtun. However, the present tomb is not related to him as the Afghan king died in Afghanistan and has a burial tomb present in Herat. 

 

Meanwhile, we met an elderly guy from Tapiala. He was aware of the history of this place. He shared that Dost Muhammad Khan was a local chief appointed by Mughal Darbar.

 

The tomb's outer facade was plastered recently with cement. It has a double-dome roof, that is present almost in all Mughal mausoleum in the sub-continent.

Inside there were three graves present.

Three Graves

The most interesting thing found in this tomb was fresco paintings on the walls and roof.  One more thing which I noticed inside that there were no Islamic inscriptions are written on the tomb. That is one of the common elements seen in the Islamic architecture of tombs. I also observed that some portion of the paintings were erased and redrawn. The object is redrawn and added later with different types of fruit shapes.

Fruit Painting

Fruit Painting

 

After the decline of Mughals in Punjab, Sikh’s were the main ruler and Tapiala Dost Muhammad khan lies in the area where Sikhs have dominancy.

 

There is a possibility that the current structure might be converted into some Sikh samadhi for some period. Locals also told that in past it is also used for storing crops and excavated many times by treasure hunters. The graves which I found inside were not that old some local saint after pre-partition was buried there along with his family members.

 

The fresco paintings found inside are in very bad condition and can be erased if proper care not done. Hope the concerned department does some needful action before this site disappears completely.

Fresco Painting (image 1)

Fresco Painting (image 2)

Fresco Painting (image 3)

THE FIVE SMADHI'S OF PARNAMI SECT AT MALKA HANS (2018)

Date of visit:- 06-03-2018

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Given the history and heritage, it is easy to fall in love with ‘out of the way’ town like Malka Hans. Once an abode of Waris Shah, who stayed here and composed universal romance Heer Ranjha, Malka Hans is still serene, tranquil, and pollution-free. Legend has it that Malik Muhammad (Alia Malka) who was a member of the Hans tribe founded the town some 700 years ago. Hans became powerful when Mughal King Alamgir conferred a vast land around Malka Hans on Sheikh Qutab Hans. In 1764, Muhammad Azam who was the descendant of Qutab Hans became head of the clan. Ran Singh Nakka treacherously took Muhammad Azam prisoner where he died in confinement.

The dilapidated relics of the Parnami temple used to be one of the central ashrams of the Parnami faction of Hindus. Mahant Darbara Singh had constructed this five-story majestic building of the temple over 200 years ago.

On outer boundaries of this village five samadhis are standing. Out of five, one of the Samadhi belongs to Sri Bawa Daya Ram Sahib. Dya Ram was the founder of the Parnami sect, his name is also written on the outer front of this Samadhi. The other four Samadhi belongs to his family members’

In one of the Smadh, you can find fresco paintings, in which different stories of Hindus in character form were painted. Also, there was a painting in which ten Sikh gurus along with Bhi Mardana and Bala showed. A detailed elaboration of each painting is explained below.

PAINTING 1

Character in Painting

Vishnu with Mermaids

Vishnu, the Hindu deity present in the center of this painting, he is standing on top of the snake.

Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha. Shesha is considered a servant and a manifestation of Vishnu.

There are two mermaids and ocean as well in the picture.

PAINTING 2

Character in Painting

Shri Krishna and Surdas

Surdas was a 16th-century blind Hindu devotional poet and singer, who was known for his lyrics written in praise of Krishna. They are usually written in Braj Bhasha, one of the two literary dialects of Hindi.

The Vallabhite story states that Sur was blind from birth and neglected by his family, forcing him to leave his home at the age of six and live on the banks of the Yamuna river. It states that he met Vallabha Acharya and became his disciple while going on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan. However, the authenticity of this legend is disputed due to the absence of Vallabha Acharya from early poems of Sur and the awkward logic of the story. It is likely that Sur was an independent poet, suggested by his acceptance to all communities.

PAINTING 3

Character in Painting

Sudhama ji (Shree Krishna Childhood Friend)

Doojja Warrior Arjun from Mahabarta

Krishna at right

In the Mahabharata, a Hindu epic text, the Pandavas are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu, by his two wives Kunti and Madri, who was the princess of Madra. Their names are Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. All five brothers were married to the same woman, Draupadi.

Together the brothers fought and won the great war against their cousins the Kauravas, which came to be known as the Kurukshetra War.

PAINTING 4

Characters in Painting

Vishnu deity on sheesh Naag

Lakshmi goddess

Brahma

Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha. Shesha is considered a servant and a manifestation of Vishnu.

PAINTING 5

Characters in Painting

Ten Sikh Gurus along with Bhi Bala and Mardana

Bhai Bala  (1466–1544), born in Talvandi Rai Bhoi (now called Nankana Sahib in Pakistan), was a childhood friend and lifelong companion of Bhai Mardana and Guru Nanak. According to the Bhai Bala Janam Sakhi's, he traveled with Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana on all of their great journeys around the world including China, Mecca, and around India.

PAINTING 6

Not readable

with time

PAINTING 7

Characters in Painting

From Ramayan

Ram g and Janaki

PAINTING 8

Characters in Painting

BHAGAT PRAHLAAD

Prahlada was a king, the son of Hiranyakashipu and Kayadhu, and the father of Virochana. He belonged to the Kashyap gotra. He is described as a saintly boy from the Puranas is known for his piety and bhakti to Lord Vishnu.