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Last edited November 13, 2025
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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
[[File:Pir Gazi and his tiger in Sundarbans.jpg|thumb|Pir Gazi and his tiger in [[Sundarbans]], [[Bengal]], India, around 1800 CE.]]
{{Infobox religious biography
| name            = Gazi Pir
| image = Pir Gazi and his tiger in Sundarbans.jpg
| caption = An image of Pir Gazi and his tiger in the [[Sundarbans]] drawn around 1800 CE.
| birth_date      =
| birth_place    = [[South 24 Parganas|Adampur]], [[Sundarbans]]
| death_date      =
| resting_place  = [[Ghutiary Sharif]], West Bengal
| religion = Islam
}}


'''Gazi Pir''' (also called '''Ghazi Pir''', '''Gaji Pir''', '''Barkhan Gaji''' or '''Gaji Saheb''') was a [[Bengali people|Bengali]] [[Muslim]] ''[[Pir (Sufism)|pir]]'' (saint) who lived in the 12th or 13th century during the [[Islam in Bengal|spread of Islam in Bengal]]. He was known for his power over dangerous animals and controlling the natural elements. As the new local Muslim population of southern [[Bengal]] were settling in the dense forests of the [[Ganges delta]], these were important qualities. His life is shown on the "Gazi Scroll", a scroll with 54 paintings from circa 1800, which is currently in the [[British Museum]] in London, England.<ref>[[British Museum]]. ''[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?partid=1&assetid=563861001&objectid=233075 The 'Gazi' Scroll]''.</ref>
'''Gazi Pir''' (also called '''Ghazi Pir''', '''Gaji Pir''', '''Barkhan Gaji''' or '''Gaji Saheb''') was a [[Bengali Muslim]] warrior ([[Ghazi (warrior)|Ghazi]]) and ''[[Pir (Sufism)|pir]]'' (warrior saint) who lived in the 12th or 13th century during the [[Islam in Bengal|spread of Islam in Bengal]]. He was known for his power over dangerous animals and controlling the natural elements. As the new local Muslim population of southern [[Bengal]] were settling in the dense forests of the [[Ganges delta]], these were important qualities. His life is shown on the "Gazi Scroll", a scroll with 54 paintings from circa 1800, which is in the [[British Museum]] in London, England.<ref>[[British Museum]]. ''[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?partid=1&assetid=563861001&objectid=233075 The 'Gazi' Scroll]''.</ref>


In the villages of the [[Sundarbans]] jungles, Gazi Pir is worshiped alongside the [[Bonbibi]] and the [[Hindu]] [[Dakshin Rai]], to ask for protection from tigers. According to the legends, Bonbibi taught that everyone is equal, no matter the caste or religion that one has, and that they should live in harmony with nature.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jalais|first=Annu|title=Forest of Tigers: People, Politics and Environment in the Sundarbans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XIW3AwAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-19869-4}}</ref>
In the villages of the [[Sundarbans]] jungles, Gazi Pir is worshiped alongside the [[Bonbibi]] and the Hindu [[Dakshin Rai]], to ask for protection from tigers. According to the legends, Bonbibi taught that everyone is equal, no matter the caste or religion that one has, and that they should live in harmony with nature.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jalais|first=Annu|title=Forest of Tigers: People, Politics and Environment in the Sundarbans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XIW3AwAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-19869-4}}</ref>


==Kolkata memorial==
==Kolkata memorial==
[[File:Hazrat Barkan Gazi Pir Baba - Signboard.jpg|thumb|Plate at the shrine in Kolkata, outside the riverside gate of [[Belur Math]].]]
[[File:Hazrat Barkan Gazi Pir Baba - Signboard.jpg|thumb|Plate at the shrine in Kolkata.]]
[[Rani Rasmani]], who created the [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple]] in [[Kolkata]] in 1847, saw Gazi Pir in a dream. In this dream he instructed her to construct a shrine for him under a [[peepal tree]] which is located outside what is now the riverside gate of [[Belur Math]], which was built in the early 20th century. [[Ramakrishna Paramahansa]] used to offer "[[prasad|sinni]]" at this memorial.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chowdhury|first=Satyam Roy|title=Sri Ramakrishna For You|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GvyDAAAQBAJ|year=2016|publisher=Techno India|isbn=9789384561192}}</ref>
[[Rani Rasmani]], who created the [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple]] in [[Kolkata]] in 1847, had a dream in which Gazi Pir told her to build a shrine for him under a [[peepal tree]] outside what became the riverside gate of [[Belur Math]] in the early 20th century. [[Ramakrishna Paramahansa]] used make [[Prasad (food offering)|offerings]] (sinni) there.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chowdhury|first=Satyam Roy|title=Sri Ramakrishna For You|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GvyDAAAQBAJ|year=2016|publisher=Techno India|isbn=9789384561192}}</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[Bonbibi]]
*[[Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud]]
*[[Interfaith dialogue]]
*[[Mosque City of Bagerhat]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Bengali Muslims]]
[[Category:Bengali Muslims]]
[[Category:Ramakrishna]]
[[Category:Ramakrishna]]
[[Category:Indian Sufi saints]]
[[Category:Bengali Sufi saints]]
[[Category:Bengali culture]]
[[Category:Culture of Bengal]]
[[Category:Sundarbans]]
[[Category:Sundarbans]]
[[Category:Deities of the Sundarbans]]
[[Category:13th-century Bengali people]]

Latest revision as of 12:19, 13 November 2025


Gazi Pir
An image of Pir Gazi and his tiger in the Sundarbans drawn around 1800 CE.
Personal
Born
Resting placeGhutiary Sharif, West Bengal
ReligionIslam

Gazi Pir (also called Ghazi Pir, Gaji Pir, Barkhan Gaji or Gaji Saheb) was a Bengali Muslim warrior (Ghazi) and pir (warrior saint) who lived in the 12th or 13th century during the spread of Islam in Bengal. He was known for his power over dangerous animals and controlling the natural elements. As the new local Muslim population of southern Bengal were settling in the dense forests of the Ganges delta, these were important qualities. His life is shown on the "Gazi Scroll", a scroll with 54 paintings from circa 1800, which is in the British Museum in London, England.[1]

In the villages of the Sundarbans jungles, Gazi Pir is worshiped alongside the Bonbibi and the Hindu Dakshin Rai, to ask for protection from tigers. According to the legends, Bonbibi taught that everyone is equal, no matter the caste or religion that one has, and that they should live in harmony with nature.[2]

Kolkata memorial[edit | edit source]

Plate at the shrine in Kolkata.

Rani Rasmani, who created the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata in 1847, had a dream in which Gazi Pir told her to build a shrine for him under a peepal tree outside what became the riverside gate of Belur Math in the early 20th century. Ramakrishna Paramahansa used make offerings (sinni) there.[3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. British Museum. The 'Gazi' Scroll.
  2. Jalais, Annu (2014). Forest of Tigers: People, Politics and Environment in the Sundarbans. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-19869-4.
  3. Chowdhury, Satyam Roy (2016). Sri Ramakrishna For You. Techno India. ISBN 9789384561192.

Further reading[edit | edit source]