IN THE SHROUD OF TIME'S EMBRACE, A SOUL VEILED FROM SIGHT, EVADING THE GAZE OF CENTURIES, RELUCTANT TO UNVEIL ITS ESSENCE TO THE LIGHT.

The term ‘Rishi’ itself is a derivation from Sanskrit and Indian traditions, though some medieval Muslim scholars have tried to show that it is derived from the Persian word raish or rish, meaning the feathers or wings of a bird. Baba Dawood Mishkati ???? ???? ????, for instance, gives a rather tortuous explanation. A bird whose feathers have been removed has no control over its movements and depends entirely on the wind. And this is also the case with Rishi; he is alienated from the world and lives alone, buffeted by fate. This and similar explanations have, however, failed to impress the average Kashmiri Muslim and he, by and large, accepts its Sanskrit derivation and uses it loosely like his Hindu brethren as synonymous with a sage. Many Kashmiris do not even associate the word with any order of Sufis but use the word to denote any and every Sufi saint.

The indigenous Rishi order of Sufis, however, does differ not only from the establishmentarian and fundamentalist Muslims but also from other Sufi orders in its philosophy and way of life. Many writers who have chronicled the lives and times of Kashmiris during this period have been attracted to the unique way of life and philosophy of the Rishi order of Sufis. An important chronicler of this period, Abul Fazl, is all praise for them. He writes: "The most respected class of people in this country (Kashmir) are the Rishis. Although they have not abandoned the traditional and customary forms of worship (taqlid), they are true in their worship. They do not denounce men belonging to different faiths. They do not have the tongue of desire and do not seek to obtain worldly objects. They plant fruit-bearing trees so that people may obtain benefits from them. They abstain from meat and do not marry.

Anantnag district is considered in Jammu and Kashmir due to its lifestyle, friendliness, and religious traditions. In the same district, a village named Anchidora has its own distinctive features. Many such personalities have passed through this village, to which this village has gained honor. Anchidora is revered at many Sufi shrines. The people of Anchidora are Muslims by faith, and there is no non-Muslim living in the village. All the Muslim population of Anchidora belong to the Sunni sect. Most people call themselves Hanafi and suggest their claim and relationship with Abu Hanifa ???? ???? ????. Many people from Anchidora can be seen visiting the local shrines. A woman can be seen carrying yellow rice (Tahri in Kashmiri) to shrines and distributing it there. The people of Anchidora are closely associated with Sufism, the belief that without Pir or Murshid one can’t attain spirituality and one can’t know the essence of Islam. Following and connecting with Peer is must for everyone. Since there are many lineages of Sufism such as: Suhrawardi, Chishti, Qadri, and Naqshbandi lineage. Most of the people of Anchidora mainly belong to the Qadri lineage founded by Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani ???? ???? ????. Anchidora had many local Sufis who played a very important role in spreading the fundamental principles of Islam in the region.

One of these personalities is the blessed character of Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? known as Hazrat Ghafoor Rishi ???? ???? ????. Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib’s ???? ???? ???? original name was Hazrat Ghafoor Khanday ???? ???? ????. It is said and history shows that “Khanday Quam” or Khanday’s were the first inhabitants of Anchidora, and they settled Anchidora, that's why Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? will also be among them. It is not recorded in any book nor in any historical magazine, however, something can be said about Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????'s life by barely knowing his ancestors and listening to their oral stories. The life conditions of Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? are not found in any history book, but now we have obtained some information by talking to many people who know history very well with increased effort and prepared a diagram about life conditions of Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????.

Historically, it is known that Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? was the caliph of Hazrat Sheikh Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? and was associated with him. It’s mentioned one of the research papers about “Anchidora” that Mr. Master Asadullah Sahib has also recorded the same in his book "Kashmir and Islam" that Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????, who is also attributed with the name of Hazrat Ghafoor Rishi ???? ???? ????, was the caliph and Mureed of Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ????. He received training from Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? and remained bound by his mercy. It can be speculated that Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? must have kept the company of Hazrat Nagrishi ???? ???? ????, the second caliph of Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ????, who is buried in Anchidora near Govt. High School, because he is also found in the same period, and he also has received training from Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ????. However, we cannot say how much truth there is in this because it is only speculation. The date of birth of Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? is not recorded in any book and no one has any information about his date of birth. Now it can be estimated that Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? must have been born in the middle of the 16th and 17th centuries because the date of birth and death of Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? falls around the same century.

It is said that Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? was religious and interested in religious studies since his childhood. He was always knowing and understanding things. His life was quite simple. As I have already stated that Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? had many lands in Anchidora, for the maintenance of which he made Hazrat Baba Nagrishi ???? ???? ???? "Kotwal" and entrusted these lands to him. Similarly, it is said that Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? also had many lands in which he used to cultivate and earn grain. Because if it is seen, it also seems to be true that Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? told his disciples that "do as much farming as you can for praying every day and settle the lands". It is known even today that the heirs of Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? have many lands and they are called by the common people of Anchidora as "Ghafoor Khanujan". The purpose is that Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? settled the lands of Anchidora and gave these lands as an inheritance to the people here, from which people are still benefiting today.

Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? had a great desire towards farming and used to work very carefully to get Halal sustenance. Due to his contentment, he used to wear simple clothes and sometimes walked barefoot and sometimes wore shoes made of grass. Since Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? was the successor and disciple of Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ????, that is why he also abstained from meat and followed the footsteps of his mentor. Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? was always engaged in prayers and austerities and was always in a state of fasting. If we talk about the virtues, their virtues will be many, but I will not describe them here because I think it will be impolite. It is a common thing for Allah's guardians to emanate dignity, and every guardian emanates dignity. That is why I do not want to describe anything about their merits.

We could not get any information about Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib's ???? ???? ???? family, but it is said that he was born in a noble and respectable zamindar family. No information could be found about their descendants; however, it can be said that most of the population of the Ghafoor Mohalla in Anchidora is from their descendants, who are still known as "Ghafoor Khanujan" today is known and this Mohalla is also attributed with the same name. If it is not out of place, let me also say that Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? spent his entire life for the survival of Sufism and the promotion of the religion of Islam and lit the lamp of Islam in Anchidora. The appearance of any saint in any region is proof that Allah Ta'ala sows His sign among mankind so that he realizes that he has been created for the worship of Allah and that he is purely Allah Ta'ala to be worshipped. This is the reason that Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? must have been planted or created by Allah Almighty for some purpose in Anchidora Islamabad which was fulfilled by his pure self.

Thus, no human being can talk about Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????, but if seen, his blessed name is present on the tongue of every person of the Anchidora, whether young or old, everyone glorifies him and praises him. Perhaps this is the hallmark of a saint because the people of the whole world automatically love whomever Allah the Almighty loves. Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? may or may not have met Hazrat Nagrishi ???? ???? ???? at that time or he may have had his company or not, we cannot say anything about it because it is not recorded in any book of history and no human being confirmed it. Nothing is known about the date of death of Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????, but now it can be estimated that just as the date of death of Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? has come to "Sheikh Bood", similarly Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? also died between the 17th century and the 18th century and must have left this mortal realm. This is a guess, and it could be wrong and everyone in the know is fully entitled to their own opinion.

If we talk about the lineage of Hazrat Baba Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????, then he was associated with the Owaisi lineage and the Suhrawardi lineage because his lineage also connects with Hazrat Sheikh Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ???? and through him with Hazrat Ahmad Mujtaba Muhammad Rasoolullah ?.

Because Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? was a resident of Anchidora and his life was spent in this village, so he was buried in this village on which a dome was also built later. It is said that the land on which his Aastaan-i-Alia is today was Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????'s own land which he made available for the public and on which a graveyard was later built. Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ????'s shrine is in the yard of this cemetery, which is open to everyone. Everyone can come here irrespective of any religion they belong to. His Urs was celebrated at his shrine, but it could not be held for many years. Now his Aastaan-e-Alia was built by the Awqaf Committee Anchidora with a new style and this pilgrimage was illuminated with various things and its adornment was decorated with lights. This shrine is located right in front of Jamia Masjid Sharif Anchidora Anantnag, and a graveyard is also located next to it. May Allah illuminate the graves of Hazrat Ghafoor Sahib ???? ???? ???? and his companions elevate their ranks and grant us the opportunity to follow in their footsteps. (Ameen)

Note: All this information that I have obtained is from some persons and some books, which are as follows:

1. Takrirah Awliya-e-Kashmir (Asrar ul-Akhyaar)

2. Asrar-ul-Abrar (Hazrat Baba Dawood Mishkati ???? ???? ????)

3. Sahifa e-Noor (Life of Hazrat Baba Hardi Rishi ???? ???? ????)

4. Hazrat Faqeer Ghulam Muhammad Khurda ???? ???? ????

5. Jinab Abdul Aziz Khanday Sahib

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