Thiruparankundram Dargah
Situated at the peak of the Thiruparankundram hills, it is claimed that the dargah was deliberately built in a Hindu religious area, above the location of the Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, and has adversely impacted religious harmony in the area. However, Muslims claim that the hills, that they name as Sikandar Malai, was where the last Madurai Sultan, Sikander Shah, was martyred in 1377.
True History
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Thiruparankundram was likely the capital of the short-lived Madurai Sultanate. The south Indian sultanate was formed after the army of Ala al-Din Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate raided the Tamil country in 1310 under the pretext of helping Sundar Pandya, with Madurai as one of the primary targets. According to Mehrdad Shokoohy, over twelve months, the Muslim army devastated the Madurai region looting towns and demolishing temples. Before returning to Delhi, they had established a Muslim rule controlled from Madurai-Thiruparankundram.
After the Khalji era came the Tughluq era of the Delhi Sultanate, when Jalal al-Din Ahsan governed the Madurai Sultanate. In approximately 1334 CE, Ahsan rebelled and broke away from the Delhi Sultanate. He declared himself as Sultan Ahsan Shah, according to the memoirs of Moroccan traveller and scholar Ibn Battuta who visited the Madurai region. This was the start of the separate Madurai Sultanate. The Sultans who succeeded Ahsan Shah took the name "Shah". Islamic historians of the 14th-century refer to their 1334–1377 Muslim rule as the Ma'bar sultanate. These Sultans had lost the direct support of the Delhi Sultanate and struggled to rule the local population. The Madurai Sultanate armies "brutally repressed" the local Hindu populations, states Shokoohy, and found themselves in constant wars with neighboring Hindu kingdoms.
Sikandhar Badhusha's rule in Madurai
Badusha Sulthan Syed Ibrahim shaheed Labswh of Erwadi won the Madurai province against the King Thiru Pandiyan who refused to convert to Islam and made Sulthan sikandhar Badusha the emperor of Madurai. King Tiru Pandiyan went to Tirupati, met all his friends and briefed them about the invasion of the Arabs. They helped him form a large troop.
Ahsan Shah and several sultans who succeeded him were slain in these battles, or assassinated by their own nobles. In 1372, Ala al-Din Sikandar Shah became the Sultan of Madurai Sultanate. To the north in Karnataka, the Vijayanagara Empire had been founded and its large army joined the war against Sultan Sikandar Shah. They surrounded and closed in on Thiruparankundram in 1377.
War after Tirupandiyan's return
After forming a big and healthy troop to face the Arabs, King Thiruppandiyan started towards Madurai. The sultan, who was unaware about this turnaround, concentrated in spreading Islam rather than strengthening the army. Tiruppandiyan's strong army fought with Sulthan Sikandhar Badhusha vigorously. Thousands of soldiers were killed on both sides.
The Arabs needed more troops to face the Pandiyas. Sulthan Sikandhar Badhusha sent nine of his soldiers to inform Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed the ruler of Bouthiramanikkapattinam (now Erwadi) to inform about the war and the need of more troops. Afraid of more soldiers arriving from Ervadi, King Thiruppandiyan sent a large number of his soldiers to stop the Arabian soldiers. Syed Salaar Sha Shaheed was killed at Palli chandai near Keeladi Silaiman and Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Razi at Karseri near Sakkimangalam. The remaining seven soldiers fought and continued their journey towards Ervadi. Again a large group of Pandiyan soldiers followed them up and a rigorous war held at Manamadurai in which five of the Arabian soldiers called as Khamsatu Shuhadaas (Anjanamaar - Paanch Peer) were killed.↵The remaining two soldiers traveled hard to convey the message to the Emperor of Erwadi. Umar Khattab Shaheed was killed at Kilavaneri near Meesal. The only soldier alive was seriously injured by the Pandiyas. He managed to reach Bouthiramanikkapattanam and conveyed the message of Thiuppandiyan's invasion back to Madurai. Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Badusha was saddened by this and sent a large troop towards Madurai. Before the troop could reach Madurai, the war came to an end and Thiruppandiyan recaptured the throne.
Badusha Sulthan Syed Ibrahim shaheed Labswh of Erwadi won the Madurai province and Sulthan Sikandhar badhusha was the ruling governor of Madurai.
Sulthan Sikkandhar Badhusha Shaheed rested at Thiruparankundram caves for prayers and peace. Even after capturing the throne, King Thiruppandiyan suspected the resurgence of Sulthan Sikandhar Badusha and the Arabian forces. He searched for Sulthan Sikandhar badhusha shaheed. Thousands of soldiers were sent, and finally they could see a rock flying up and settling down regularly in the Thirupparagundram hill. When they followed that, they saw an Arabian horse which they confirmed to be of Sulthan Sikandhar badhusha. A few soldiers reached the cave where they found the rock to fly up while Sultan Sikandhar badhusha stood for prayers and settle down when he was prostrating. One of the mal'oon from the soldiers of Pandiya killed Sulthan Sikandhar Badhusha Shaheed during his prostration in prayers.
Site today
The death anniversary (or urs) of Sulthan Sikandar Badusha Shaheed is commemorated with the Urus Santhanakoodu Festival on the 17th night of the Islamic month of Rajab every Hijri year. Thousands of people visit the dargah on this day. Arrangements are made by the dargah committee and the local police for the welfare of the pilgrims.
In December 2024, Muslim were detained by police after they attempted to bring livestock to the dargah for ritual slaughter.
See also
References
- ^ "Madurai's Thiruparankundram Hills Stand As Confluence Of Religions". Outlook Traveller. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
External links
Media related to Tirupparankundram Dargah at Wikimedia Commons
- "Thiruparankundram Dargah". Dargah Info. 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple". Behind Every Temple. 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
