SALIM CHISHTI (Cave of Sheikh)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Lost is the unidentified -cave- (hermitage office), where emperor Akbar visited the muslim religion worker Salim Chishti: Legend says that Akbar, despite his army of wives, was without a male heir when he made a pilgrimage to Sikri to see the Muslim saint Shaikh Salim Chishti. The saint foretold the birth of three sons, and when this came true Akbar was so impressed that he pledged to build a city at Sikri (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 374-375). SITUATION 1997: At Fatehpur Sikri (note 1), outside the Jama Masjid are the remains of the small stone-cutter's mosque. Shaikh Salim Chishti's cave was supposedly at this site and the mosque predates Akbar's imperial city. There is also a Hakim's House (Doctor's House) and a fine hammam, or Turkish bath, beside it (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 377). SITUATION 2001: In an unspecified direction immediately behind the Jama Masjid are the remains of the small Stonecutter's Mosque, which was supposedly erected on the site of Shaikh Salim Chshti's cave (LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 423). SITUATION 2005: Plenty of ruins are scattered behind the mosque, including … the remains of the Stonecutter's Mosque and a hammam (bath) … (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 366). CULTURAL HISTORY: Fattehpur-Sikri … The origin of the town, according to tradition, is quite interesting. When Akbar was returning from one of his military campaigns he camped at the foot of the hill and learned that a wise and holy Brahmin named Shekh Selim Chishti, who resided in a cave among the rocks, exercised powerful influence among the Hindu deities. Akbar was a Mohammedan, but of liberal mind, and had not the slightest compunction about consulting with a clergyman of another denomination. This was the more natural because his favorite wife was a Hindu princess, daughter of the Maharaja of Jeypore, and she was extremely anxious to have a child. She had given birth to twins some years previous, but to her deep grief and that of the emperor, they had die in infancy.The holy man on the hill at Fattehpur was believed to have tremendous influence with those deities who control the coming of babies into this great world; hence the emperor and his sultana visited Shekh Selim in his rock retreat to solicit his interposition for the birth of a son. Now, the hermit had a son only 6 months old, who, the evening after the visit of the emperor, noticed that his father's face wore a dejected expression. Having never learned the use of his tongue, being but a few months old, this precocious child naturally caused great astonishment when, by a miracle, he sat up in his cradle and in language that an adult would use inquired the cause of anxiety. The old man answered:-It is written in the stars, oh, my son, that the emperor will never have an heir unless some other man will sacrifice for him the life of his own heir, and surely in this wicked and selfish world no one is capable of such generosity and patriotism.--If you will permit me, oh, my fater,- answered the baby, -I will die in order that his majesty may be consoled.-The hermit explained that for such an act he could acquire unlimited merit among the gods, whereupon the obliging infant straightened its tiny limbs and expired. Some months after the sultana gave birth to a boy, who afterward became the Emperor Jehanghir.Akbar, of course, was gratified and to show his appreciation of the services of the hermit decided to make the rocky ridge his summer capital (CURTIS 1904).er,- answered the baby, -I will die in order that his majesty may be consoled.-The hermit explained that for such an act he could acquire unlimited merit among the gods, whereupon the obliging infant straightened its tiny limbs and expired. Some months after the sultana gave birth to a boy, who afterward became the Emperor Jehanghir.Akbar, of course, was gratified and to show his appreciation of the services of the hermit decided to make the rocky ridge his summer capital (CURTIS 1904).