MANGHO PIR (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified cave of unidentified nature is reputed to have been used as a troglodyte hermitage retreat (temple cave) by the Crocodile Saint Mangho Pir (note 1), who came in the 13th century from Bokhara to Sindh. Having caused thermal springs to gush out of a rock (note 2) and date palms to spring out of the ground, he performed the miracle of making for 40 years his home in a cave, attracting visitors with entertaining crocodiles --or were it attractive crocodiles that entertained visitors?-- and spreading the message of Islam till he died young, at the age of 150 years, or so. There are many legends (back stories) connected with Mangho Pir and the Crocodiles, a successful band inhabiting a shallow pool near the saint's shrine below the mosque, which, dedicated to his successor Abdullah Shah Ghazi, lies on a rocky hill (note 3). SITUATION: At a distance of ten miles (some 15 km or so) north of Karachi City, between old and new Clifton (PROVINCIAL GAZETTEER, Sind: Karachi 1927: 7), and at that resort of all Karachi holiday-makers called Mugger Pir (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: MAHDIHASSAN, S (1973, illustration B) gives a photograph of what appears to be a natural cave, possibly a talus cave in gravitationally dislocated boulders. CULTURAL HISTORY - religotainment: The crocodiles are now reduced to a few in number but devotees often feed them with sacrifical meat (darvazey.com/Transcripts/Tourism/pakistan_1.htm, accessed 22.05.2004, hosting PTDC / Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation). POST AND TELEPHONE… (1994-95 edition): Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.– Situated on an ancient hillock between old and new Clifton this shrine of the patron saint of Karachi exudes the mystical character of the east. The shrine attracts a constant stream of scholars, quawwals, musicians, devotees and people from all walks of life who visit at almost any time of the day or night. Colour, light and music, fortune tellers and vendors of ornaments, flowers and shells lend inimitabe character to the shrine while the sweet water stream which runs underground in the rock below the grave is considered to be one of the miracles of the holy man (note 5). CAVE LIFE: BLANFORD (1888-1891, 1: 261-262): Mr. Murray found Xantharpia amplexicaudatus (note 6), the fulvous Fruit-Bat in unspecified old tombs and in caves near Karachi. The always confusing JUBERTHIE & DECU (1994-2001, 3: 1956) mislead to Rousettus [sic!] amplexicaudatus, Blanford 1891 [sic!]; grottes près de Karachi.), and at that resort of all Karachi holiday-makers called Mugger Pir (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: MAHDIHASSAN, S (1973, illustration B) gives a photograph of what appears to be a natural cave, possibly a talus cave in gravitationally dislocated boulders. CULTURAL HISTORY - religotainment: The crocodiles are now reduced to a few in number but devotees often feed them with sacrifical meat (darvazey.com/Transcripts/Tourism/pakistan_1.htm, accessed 22.05.2004, hosting PTDC / Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation). POST AND TELEPHONE… (1994-95 edition): Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.– Situated on an ancient hillock between old and new Clifton this shrine of the patron saint of Karachi exudes the mystical character of the east. The shrine attracts a constant stream of scholars, quawwals, musicians, devotees and people from all walks of life who visit at almost any time of the day or night. Colour, light and music, fortune tellers and vendors of ornaments, flowers and shells lend inimitab), and at that resort of all Karachi holiday-makers called Mugger Pir (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: MAHDIHASSAN, S (1973, illustration B) gives a photograph of what appears to be a natural cave, possibly a talus cave in gravitationally dislocated boulders. CULTURAL HISTORY - religotainment: The crocodiles are now reduced to a few in number but devotees often feed them with sacrifical meat (darvazey.com/Transcripts/Tourism/pakistan_1.htm, accessed 22.05.2004, hosting PTDC / Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation). POST AND TELEPHONE… (1994-95 edition): Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.– Situated on an ancient hillock between old and new Clifton this shrine of the patron saint of Karachi exudes the mystical character of the east. The shrine attracts a constant stream of scholars, quawwals, musicians, devotees and people from all walks of life who visit at almost any time of the day or night. Colour, light and music, fortune tellers and vendors of ornaments, flowers and shells lend inimitab), and at that resort of all Karachi holiday-makers called Mugger Pir (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: MAHDIHASSAN, S (1973, illustration B) gives a photograph of what appears to be a natural cave, possibly a talus cave in gravitationally dislocated boulders. CULTURAL HISTORY - religotainment: The crocodiles are now reduced to a few in number but devotees often feed them with sacrifical meat (darvazey.com/Transcripts/Tourism/pakistan_1.htm, accessed 22.05.2004, hosting PTDC / Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation). POST AND TELEPHONE… (1994-95 edition): Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.– Situated on an ancient hillock between old and new Clifton this shrine of the patron saint of Karachi exudes the mystical character of the east. The shrine attracts a constant stream of scholars, quawwals, musicians, devotees and people from all walks of life who visit at almost any time of the day or night. Colour, light and music, fortune tellers and vendors of ornaments, flowers and shells lend inimitab), and at that resort of all Karachi holiday-makers called Mugger Pir (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: MAHDIHASSAN, S (1973, illustration B) gives a photograph of what appears to be a natural cave, possibly a talus cave in gravitationally dislocated boulders. CULTURAL HISTORY - religotainment: The crocodiles are now reduced to a few in number but devotees often feed them with sacrifical meat (darvazey.com/Transcripts/Tourism/pakistan_1.htm, accessed 22.05.2004, hosting PTDC / Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation). POST AND TELEPHONE… (1994-95 edition): Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.– Situated on an ancient hillock between old and new Clifton this shrine of the patron saint of Karachi exudes the mystical character of the east. The shrine attracts a constant stream of scholars, quawwals, musicians, devotees and people from all walks of life who visit at almost any time of the day or night. Colour, light and music, fortune tellers and vendors of ornaments, flowers and shells lend inimitabe character to the shrine while the sweet water stream which runs underground in the rock below the grave is considered to be one of the miracles of the holy man (note 5). CAVE LIFE: BLANFORD (1888-1891, 1: 261-262): Mr. Murray found Xantharpia amplexicaudatus (note 6), the fulvous Fruit-Bat in unspecified old tombs and in caves near Karachi. The always confusing JUBERTHIE & DECU (1994-2001, 3: 1956) mislead to Rousettus [sic!] amplexicaudatus, Blanford 1891 [sic!]; grottes près de Karachi.