186th Urs celebrations of Sachal Sarmast begin

[Moin91]

Friday, September 28, 2007
By our correspondent

KHAIRPUR: The Sindh minister for Auqaf Manzoor Penhawar on Thursday inaugurated the 186th Urs celebrations of Sufi poet Hazrat Sachal Sarmast by laying a wreath on the shrine in Daraza Sharif in Khairpur district.

On the occasion, the minister assured that he would try his best to get funds for the renovation of the shrine. He recalled that the prime minister released Rs 500 million for the renovation of the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai at his request.

He said the poetry of Sachal is unique and a message of love and humanity. He said the Sajjada Nasheen of the shrine of Sachal Sarmast is a man who has no political affiliations. He said there is need for the translation of the poetry of Sachal in English language because English is an international language.

DCO Khairpur Allah Ditto Shar in his welcome address highlighted the lack of funds and said that the Auqaf Department annually provides Rs 200,000 grant to the Sachal Memorial Committee for the Urs celebrations but this year the amount has not been released. He said Rs 200,000 is inadequate for the celebrations and it should be raised to Rs 800,000.

He said a portion of the shrine is about to collapse but the Sindh government is not bothering to release funds for renovation. He demanded construction of a rest house, hostel for the clerics of the shrine and a library.

He further sought construction of an auditorium and cultural complex. The DCO said there was no facility of drinking water for the devotees who come from all over the country. Sajjada Nasheen Sakhi Qabool said the shrine needed urgent attention as a portion of it is about to collapse.

 

[Moin91]

Sachal Sarmast (1739-1829) (Sindhi: سچلُ سرمستُ ) (Urdu: سچل سرمست ) was a renowned Sindhi Sufi poet during the Kalhora era. Abdul Wahab was his real name and "Sachal" was the name he used in his own poetry. Sachu means truth in Sindhi and Sachalu means truthful. Sarmast means mystic in Sindhi and Urdu. Suchal Sarmast literally means 'truthful mystic'. Sachal Sarmast was an ardent follower of Wahdat-ul-Wujood, an Islamic Philosophy synonymous with Hamah Oost.

 

[Moin91]

Poetry of Sachal Sarmast

The brave speak the truth

Let others like it or not;

For the talk of false friendship we care not.

"Sarmast" (pronounced Sarimastu in Sindhi, meaning leader of the 'intoxicated' or 'mad') is the title often used by his followers. The title, given to him first by Agha Sufi, a compiler of his Risalo (collection of poems), refers to the fact that Sachal was intoxicated by love.

Sachal Sarmast was an ardent follower of Wahdat-ul-Wujood (unity of existence), an Islamic Philosophy synonymous with Hamah Oost (all from One), and Advaita Vedanta philosophy. The concept of Hamah Oost (all from One) is similar to that found in Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Sachal says (translation by Gul Agha):

There is no other Beloved,

There is only what I see everyday!

I was sitting by the roadside,

When the path became clear to me;

In the palace the Beloved I saw,

a glimpse the Beauty gave;

Through the window was the vision,

a glimpse the Beauty saw;

Take care of the ignorant;

Our bond was made for a reason.

I truly recognized the Lord,

My companion He sure became;

'He is the Creator of all

and intrinsic to all',

All doubts in this perished;

With happiness shall I carry

Sisters, if your trust I have.

All the journeys, all the manifestations

The Dear One's own;

Friend 'Sachal' know this correctly,

Slumber has created illusions.

Like other sufis of Sindh, Sachal made no distinctions based on religion, but regarded love as the path to spirituality:

'Tis not in religion I believe

'Tis love I live in.

When love comes to you.

Say Amen!

'Tis not with the infidel

that love resides

Nor with the faithful.

Rather, Sachal advocated self-realization as the path to liberation. Sachal says (translation by Jethmal Parsram Gulrajani):

O friend! this is the only way to learn

the secrets of the path:

Follow not the road of another, however

virtuous he may be.

Rend the veil over thee,

Searcher expose thy being.

 

[Awesome]

What's "Urs"?

 

[niaz]

What's "Urs"?

Urs literally means Wedding - an old Arabic word. It implies union with the Almighty. . Most saints/sufis insisted that their goal in life was to achieve oneness with Allah, their passing away should therefore not be mourned. Their death anniversary is called URS. This converts a day of mourning to a day of rejoicing.

 

[Moin91]

Urs literally means Wedding - an old Arabic word. It implies union with the Almighty. . Most saints/sufis insisted that their goal in life was to achieve oneness with Allah, their passing away should therefore not be mourned. Their death anniversary is called URS. This converts a day of mourning to a day of rejoicing.

Thanks niaz to reply ans