News without borders, for a connected world.

The Religious Truism

Pakistan is home to a rich tapestry of religious diversity, with many different faiths represented across the country. It has significant communities of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and other religious minorities as well as the Muslims. As a result, there are numerous religious icons, archives, and sacred sites spread across the country, often serving as symbols of faith, history, and cultural heritage. Here’s a broad overview of religious icons from the major religious communities in Pakistan.

It is believed that several notable companions (Sahabah) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are buried in Pakistan (Sindh, Panjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), the number 25 is often cited in various reports and sources, though the exact number can vary depending on how individuals and graves are counted including the five (5) are believed in the city of Panjgur. It is believed that the grave of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar, the son of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), is located in the area of Umar Kot in Sindh, Hazrat Qasim bin Mohammad (RA), the grandson of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) is believed to be buried in Mandi Bahauddin (Punjab), Hazrat Ma’qal bin Abi Ma’qal (RA), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is believed to be in Multan, Punjab, Hazrat Bilal bin Harb (RA) (as per some sources) and others. It is also said that there are five (5) graves in Pakistan of the beloved PROPHETS. Pakistan has a vast number of mosques, many of which are significant for their architectural grandeur and religious importance. Notable mosques include the Badshahi Mosque (Lahore), the Faisal Mosque (Isb), Shahjahan Mosque and the Sohawa Mosque. And furtherance hereto, Pakistan has many Sufi shrines which are highly revered, such as the Data Darbar in Lahore, Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s shrine in Bhit Shah and Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi at Karachi.

There are numerous Hindu temples in Pakistan, including the Katas Raj Temples (Chakwal, Punjab) associated Katas-lake is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in Pakistan, also is believed to be associated with legendary Mahabharata and Hindu god Shiva, mentioned in Hindu scriptures, this site has been a place of worship for centuries. The inscriptions and temples here provide important evidence of the history of Hindu worship in the region. The Hinglaj Mata Mandir (Baluchistan) is dedicated to Hinglaj Mata, a goddess worshiped by Hindus in the region and is part of a larger network of sacred sites in the coastal areas of Pakistan. The Mohenjo-Daro predates the development of Hinduism as a distinct religion, the ruins of this ancient city from the Indus Valley Civilization offer significant insights into the early practices and religious life that would eventually influence Hindu traditions. The Shivala Teja Singh Temple (Lahore, Pakistan) is one of Hindu temples in Lahore, originally built in the 19th century dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Temple of Lord Rama (Ram Mandir) (Lahore, Pakistan) dedicated to Lord Rama, the Hindu Burial Sites and Archives (Lahore, Pakistan) is also home to several old Hindu burial sites, the Hindu Sites and Archives in Mehgarh (Balochistan) is more famous for its association with the Mehrgarh culture has connections to early Hindu civilization and religious practices (back to 7000 BCE). The site provides evidence of early human settlements as well.

Pakistan is home to ancient Buddhist archeological sites e.g. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Taxila, wherefrom the archaeological findings, artifacts, seals, iconography, manuscripts, statues, sculptures, inscriptions, coins, mythology, pottery, holding the immense importance of ancient Buddhist signs are often preserved, which got the status of world heritage site by UNESCO. It was a thriving metropolis with several Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and educational institutions. The ruins of Taxila contain key Buddhist archaeological sites, including, Dharmarajika Stupa, which is the most significant Buddhist monuments, believed to house relics of the Buddha. This stupa is a symbol of the Gandhara Buddhist culture. The Jandial Temple dedicated to Buddhist deities, showcasing the influence of Greek and Persian architectural styles blended with Buddhist traditions. The Monastic Complexes, wherein Several monastic ruins in and around Taxila, such as the Bhir Mound and Sirkap, where Buddhist monks lived and studied. The region of Gandhara played a key role in the spread of Mahayana Buddhism. The ancient Gandhara civilization is known for its unique art style that combined Greek, Persian, and Indian influences, often seen in the sculptures and architectural remnants from the region. The Butkara Stupa (Swat Valley), is another important Buddhist site associated with the early spread of Buddhism in the region and Udegram Buddhist Monastery (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Fayaz Bagh and Shingardar Stupa.

There are several important and historic archives and sites related to the Sikh religion, which hold immense cultural, religious, and historical significance. The most significant is Gurdwara Janam Asthan, the Birthplace of Guru Nanak (Nankana Sahib) the founder of Sikhism, having the artifacts related to the life of Guru Nanak and the early Sikh Gurus. The site is also a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs from all over the world, where they can learn about the life and teachings of Guru Nanak. The Dera Sahib Gurudwara (Lahore) is primarily a Sikh religious site, this area reflects the multicultural and multi-religious nature of Lahore’s past, wherein Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims coexisted. The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) is one of the most revered Sikh pilgrimage sites and is the place, where Guru Nanak spent the last years of his life and where he passed away. The Gurdwara Sacha Sauda (Farooq-Abad) has historical importance and is considered to be a significant part of the Sikh tradition, showcasing religious texts and teachings related to Guru Nanak’s philosophy and the early days of Sikhism. The Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib (Hassan Abdal) is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. It is believed to be the site where Guru Nanak performed miracles, and the imprint of his hand can be found on a rock at the site.

Smaller religious communities such as the Zoroastrians (Parsis), Bahá’ís, jews, Christians and some other religious faith holders and their archives e.g. Temples, cemeteries, church, synagogues and historical sites related to these groups are preserved in various parts of the country. It is clear that there are thousands of sites, artifacts, and records spread across the country that represent the religious and cultural diversity of Pakistan’s population. Many of these icons are preserved in religious centers, museums, archives, and libraries, both for their historical value and for the spiritual significance they hold for different communities.

Although those religious & spiritual places in Pakistan are the icons for the religious pilgrims for their spiritual journey and elevation therefrom yet are to be preserved well, represented in a well-mannered way in accordance. That why unfortunately only five to ten (5 to 10) thousand (5,000-10,000) out of 520-530 million Buddhists do visit, and fifty to sixty (50 to 60) thousand out of 102 billion Hindus and twenty to thirty (20-30) thousand out of 30 million Sikhs pilgrims do come. And very few Muslims do visit the historical graves of the companions and the Prophets as are believed. As to why the competent/relevant authorities and the organizations are being failed to take steps in the right direction to serve the international pilgrims for their spiritual journey thereupon in assisting/easing visa flexibility, free of fee with public airlines, hotels, vehicles, touristic companies, food, communications and trustworthy environment, which would bring huge international investments through just one sector, the religious tourism. The public and the private sector in this regard may very kindly be pushed/shacked, while investing a million and attracting billions in competing the international market over the subject.

Leave A Reply

You cannot copy content of this page