Indo Islamic Heritage
Aastana-e-Sarkar-e-Kalan, also known as the shrine of Hazrat Syed Mohammed Mukhtar Ashraf (Sarkar-e-Kalan), is a revered Sufi mausoleum located within the historic Dargah complex of Hazrat Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani in Ashrafpur Kichhauchha, Ambedkar Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. It serves as a key spiritual site in the Ashrafi Sufi order, attracting devotees for its association with Islamic mysticism and the Chishti tradition. The shrine is built near the main dargah and features simple yet elegant Islamic architecture, emphasizing devotion and reflection.
Aastana-e-Sarkar-e-Kalan is the sacred mausoleum of Hazrat Syed Mohammed Mukhtar Ashraf, fondly known as Sarkar-e-Kalan or Makhdoom ul Mashaikh, a prominent 20th-century Indian Sufi saint and Islamic scholar of the Ahle Sunnah tradition within the Ashrafi Sufi order. Born on August 4, 1916 (4 Shawwal 1334 AH) in Ashrafpur Kichhauchha, he was a direct descendant of the founder of the Ashrafi order, Hazrat Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani (1285–1386 CE), an Iranian Sufi saint who settled in India and significantly advanced the Chishti silsila (spiritual lineage). Syed Mohammed Mukhtar Ashraf received his early Islamic education at Kichhauchha Sharif and later studied Dars-i-Nizami under renowned scholars such as Maulana Imaduddin Wasi Ahmad Sasarami, Maulana Abdur Rashid Nagpuri, and Hazrat Maulana Naimuddin Muradabadi Ashrafi. He was nominated as the Vali Ahd (spiritual successor) by his grandfather, Aala Hazrat Ashrafi Miyan, at Khanqah-e-Ashrafia Hasania in Kichhauchha Sharif. As Sajjada Nashin (spiritual head) of the Dargah of Ashraf Jahangir Semnani, he dedicated his life to Sufi teachings, emphasizing Tawheed (Divine Oneness), ethical living, and spiritual reform, while authoring works on Sufism and guiding thousands in the path of Islamic mysticism. The shrine itself, constructed upon his demise on November 21, 1996 (9 Rajab 1417 AH), is an integral part of the larger Dargah complex established around 1386 CE following the death of Ashraf Jahangir Semnani. This complex, built on a small hill surrounded by a rhythmic enclosure, showcases traditional Islamic architecture adorned with marble, intricate tiles, and glasswork, reflecting the Chishti and Qadri influences of the Ashrafi order. The Aastana-e-Sarkar-e-Kalan specifically honors Sarkar-e-Kalan's legacy as a beacon of spiritual guidance, where devotees seek blessings for inner peace, healing from spiritual afflictions, and adherence to Sufi principles. His annual Urs (death anniversary) is observed on 9 Rajab, drawing pilgrims from across India and abroad to commemorate his contributions to Sufism. The site underscores the enduring role of Sufi shrines in promoting interfaith harmony and Islamic scholarship in Uttar Pradesh, with the mausoleum serving as a focal point for meditation, prayer, and the recitation of his discourses on topics like Sama (spiritual music) and Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Being).
Year of Built: Not Available
Address: CQMC+PRC, Ashrafpur Kichhauchha, Uttar Pradesh 224155
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Ambedkar Nagar
Pincode: 224155
Longitude: 82.5167° E
Latitude: 26.4333° N