Hauz-i-Shamsi
| Hauz-i-Shamsi | |
|---|---|
View of Pavilion in Hauz-i-Shamsi
|
|
| Coordinates | 28°30′51″N 77°10′42″E / 28.51417°N 77.17833°ECoordinates: 28°30′51″N 77°10′42″E / 28.51417°N 77.17833°E |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | India |
| Surface area | 2 ha (5 acres) |
| Settlements | Mehrauli |
Hauz-i-Shamsi (Persian: شمئ حوض, literally "sunny watertank") is a water storage reservoir or tank built by Iltutmish of the Slave Dynasty in 1230 CE, at a location revealed to him in a dream by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. A palace called the Jahaz Mahal was built on the eastern edge of the same reservoir during the Lodi dynasty period in the 16th century as a retreat or Inn for use by pilgrims. Also at the edge of Hauz is the tomb of 17th century Persian writer in the Mughal court, Abdul-Haqq Dehlavi. The monuments are situated in Mehrauli, Delhi.
A popular legend narrated is of Iltumish’s dream in which Muhammad directed him to build a reservoir at a particular site. When Iltumish inspected the site the day after his dream, he reported to have found a hoof print of Muhammad's horse. He then erected a pavilion to mark the sacred location and excavated a large tank (reservoir) around the pavilion to harvest rain water.
Another version of the legend linked is that Muhammad appeared in a dream not only to Iltumish but also to the Muslim sufi saint KhawajaQutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki R.A. indicating the same particular location, where the hoof print of Muhammad’s horse was imprinted, for the construction of a water tank. Since drinking water supply was acute in the newly founded capital of Iltumish (the first medieval city of Qila Rai Pithora of Delhi) a tank was dug at the location indicated in the dream, which resulted in water jetting out from a spring source. It was, thereafter, named as Hauz-i-Shamsi, and Khawaja, the saint who divined it, came to be known as Hazrat Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki or simply 'Kaki'. The name Kaki was attributed to him by virtue of this keramat (miracle). The Khawaja died in 1235 AD. He is buried in Mehrauli (near the Qutab Minar) and it is inferred that Qutub Minar was also named after him. His dargah or tomb is considered one of India's oldest and revered shrines. His exalted divinity has also been extolled by Moinuddin Chishti who had said:
...
Wikipedia