Pir Damir Sahib Khanqah

Pir Damir Sahib Khanqah is an important building built during the Muslim rule in India. It is located in Rajasthan. The building is in an old graveyard area that measures 100 meters and is located outside the Mahi Gate on the northern side of the town. The area earlier belonged to the Khanqah of the Sufis of the Suhrawardi Order. The community was established in the 13th century by Qazi Hamiduddin Nagauri. He had selected the particular spot for being a Muslim site that was also related to the Islamic community living in Nagaur. The Muslims resided there prior to the Ghurid conquest. During his return to the Delhi Qazi Hamiduddin handed the responsibility of the Khanqah on the shoulders of his follower. His son Maulana Ahmad Zahir-ud-din also looked after the Khanqah. Ahmad spent the rest of his life in Nagaur. When he died he was buried in the Khanqah. The tomb of Maulana Ahmad serves as the main source of attraction or the pilgrims. However, the original structure has been completely reformed because of several restoration works that has been carried out. The recent included structures in the building are a small mosque and rest rooms. The original enclosure wall has been preserved till date.

Architecture of Pir Damir Sahib Khanqah
Pir Damir Sahib Khanqah is rectangular in shape that measures 125 x 55 metres. The chief entrance on the eastern side is worth noticing. The thick walls are almost two meters high. However, now the ground level has become uneven. The walls are now less than 3 meters above ground. Huge sized rubble stone and mortar have been used for building the wall. These are all over plastered and are semi circular in pattern. The exterior portion is plain while several arch niches can be seen inside. Most of the niches have been buried under ground but some of them have retained their original form. The niches have been decorated with slab of carved red stone. Few of them are visible within the compound. The niches having ogee arches are all two centred. The central portion has been kept close to each other which make it appear semicircular in design. These can be closely related to the arches of Nagaur of the 14th and early 15th century. The peak point of each of the arch has been embellished with motifs that have been carved below three leaves in the form of two spirals. Large rosettes have been used for decorating the spandrels of each arch. Inside the enclosure there are several graves that date back to the 15th and 16th century. When the town walls were destroyed two inscriptions inscribed during the Shams Khan dynasty that were fixed in the walls were carried to the shrine and kept there safely.

Pir Damir Sahib Khanqah does not have any inscriptions engraved on it but the structural pattern and the architectural work of the building suggest that it was built in the early 15th century.