Chirag-i-Delhi-Dargah

Address: Malaviya Nagar-Kalkaji Road
City: New Delhi
State: Delhi
Location: North India
Constructed By: Nasiru'd-Din Mahmud
Type of Construction: Medieval
Type of Building: Mosque
Religion: Islam

The Chiragh-i-Delhi Dargah is a mausoleum which was built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq dynasty (1351 - 1388) as a token of respect for the Chisti preacher Hazrat Nasiruddin as the emperor was a religious follower of his teachings. B wing located in the Village of Chirag Delhi this can be reached from the Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg (Road) and from this road one needs to travel through the outer ring road also called Chirag Road while passing through the Soami Nagar South Colony.

One can either drive using own vehicle or even use a public transport like a taxi or a bus. Being born in 1274 in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh Hazrat Nasiruddin Mahmud Chiragh Dehlavi who was known by the name of 'Nasiruddin' was born to a small Trader of Pashmina wear and textile named Sayed Yahya and was single-handedly raised by his mother. He received his education from Maulana Abdul Karim Sherwani as well as Maulana Iftikhar-ud-din Gilani.

Having left Ayodhya around 1314 he came to Delhi at an age of 40 in order to become the follower of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya and also decided to spend the rest of his life in his service as a 'Murid'. He succeeded Khwaja Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya after his unfortunate demise and continued preaching Chisty with integrity and also became a well-renowned Persian poet. He was strikingly different from his master as he refused to promote ‘Sema’ which was considered to be a Non-Islamic act of his and favoring that even today 'Quwwalis' are not sung beside his Tomb and Dargah in South Delhi. Hence, most of his descendants fled to Hyderabad and his sister was buried in Ayodhya and her mausoleum being named ‘Badi Bibi’Chirag Delhi has been named after the title which he was honored with that is ‘Roshan Chiragh-e-Delhi' which means the 'Illuminated Lamp of Delhi'. Finally 1356 Ad marked his demise when he was at the age of 82. The date is also known as '17 Ramadan 757 Hijri’.

The walls of the Dargah of this saint have been strengthened using rubble stone and have been allotted a rectangular shape. The Dargah was later renovated by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (successor of Feroz Shah Tughlaq) when a chamber and two gateways were also added on either side of the Mausoleum. Having undergone several renovations this mausoleum today stands comprising of a chamber square in shape which is further supported by Twelve Pillars. At the corners, there are some small towers displaying dome shapes and are also supporting a large dome located on an octagonal shaped drum. A perforated screen encompasses the chamber through which one can look through.

It faced even more reformations when Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar constructed a 'Majlis Khana' or an 'Assembly Hall' which was also called as 'Mahfil Khana' of which the literal meaning is the 'Symposium Hall’ and also a mosque.

As a positive after effect of the phenomenon of Urbanization this area saw developments of settlements surrounding this Dargah and the area around it came to be known as 'Chirag-i-Delhi' which lies very close to Greater Kailash in South Delhi.