Maner Sharif
Encyclopedia
Maner Sharif is located 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) west of Patna
on NH 30
. It is also called Maner
(Hindi: मनेर, Urdu: منیر). It is a popular medieval site and a notified area in Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar
. Maner enjoys position of one of the chief spiritual
centers in India.
Maner Sharif houses two very popular Muslim
tombs:
, who was also his disciple finished the construction of his mausoleum
.
The building at Maner Sharif is a marvelous one. The walls of the building are adorned with intricate designs. There is a big dome on the top and the ceiling is full of inscriptions depicted from the Qur'an
. In the compound of the Maner Sharif you will find a mosque
which was also constructed by Ibrahim Khan in 1619. In the ancient times, Maner Sharif used to be the principal site of learning and knowledge in the region. The well known grammarian Pāṇini as well as Bararuchi were the residents of Maner Sharif, where they have completed their studies as well.
Maner is also famous for its sweet delicacy laddu
made with pure ghee. As the Halwai's quote - the groundwater is sweet as sugar (comes from the Sone river). When the final mixing is done with 'boondi', the groundwater acts as a catalyst - sugar to make it pure and sweet. Every 'boondi' which forms the laddu
has enough sugar that melts like a fresh sweet.
'Maner ka Laddoo' is famous in India and abroad. The sweet came into limelight in one of the Bollywood movies - Khudgarz
. Branding and popularity of the sweet goes to Bhojpuri comedy filmstar and owner of Maner Sweets - Late Sri Suresh Prasad Gupta (Suresh Bhai).
, Maner had a population of 26,912. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Maner has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 61%, and female literacy is 42%. In Maner, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age.
won the Maner seat (assembly constituency no. 192) defeating Sacchidanand Rai of JD(U)
in October 2005 and February 2005. Bhai Birendra of SAP defeated Srikat Nirala of RJD in 2000. Srikant Nirala representing Janata Dal
defeated Bhai Birendra (Independent) in 1995. Srikant Nirala representing Congress
defeated Suryadeo Tyagi of Janata Dal in 1990. Rajmati devi representing Congress defeated Suryadeo Tyagi representing LKD in 1985. Ram Nagina Singh (Independent) defeated Suryadeo Tyagi of Janata Party (SC) in 1980. Suryadeo Tyagi representing Janata Party
defeated Ram Nagina Singh representing Congress in 1977.
Maner assembly constituency is part of Pataliputra (Lok Sabha constituency)
.
187 Maner assembly constituency covers Maner community development block; and Aanandpur, Kateshar, Sikandarpur, Parev, Daulatpur Simri, Mushepur, Shri Rampur, Bihta, Dayalpur Daulatpur, Purshottampur Painathi, Bishunpura, Raghopur, Amhara, Kanchanpur Kharagpur, Sadisopur, Painal, Bela, Neora, Makhdoompur and Shri Chandpur gram panchayats of Bihta CD Block.
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
on NH 30
National Highway 30 (India)
National Highway 30 is a National Highway entirely within the state of Bihar, India that links NH 2 to NH 19. This long stretch passes through Mohania, Kochas, Dinara, Bikramganj, Arrah, Koilwar,, Maner, Maner Sharif, Danapur, Patna, Fatuha and Bakhtiarpur in Bihar.- See also :* List of National...
. It is also called Maner
Maner
Maner is a city and a notified area in Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Demographics: India census, Maner had a population of 26,912. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Maner has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male...
(Hindi: मनेर, Urdu: منیر). It is a popular medieval site and a notified area in Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Maner enjoys position of one of the chief spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
centers in India.
Maner Sharif houses two very popular Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
tombs:
- One of Makhdoom Yahya ManeriMakhdoom Yahya ManeriHazrat Makhdoom Yahya Maneri was an Indian Sufi saint of 13th century. His tomb lies in courtyard of a mosque, located in Maner, 29 km from Patna, Bihar, India....
, known as the Bari Dargah. - Another of Shah Daulat or Makhdum Daulat, popularly called Chhoti Dargah.
History
Maner Sharif is the place where Makhdum Daulat in 1608 breathed his last. It was then in 1616 that Ibrahim Khan, Governor of BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, who was also his disciple finished the construction of his mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
.
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. In the compound of the Maner Sharif you will find a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
which was also constructed by Ibrahim Khan in 1619. In the ancient times, Maner Sharif used to be the principal site of learning and knowledge in the region. The well known grammarian Pāṇini as well as Bararuchi were the residents of Maner Sharif, where they have completed their studies as well.
Maner is also famous for its sweet delicacy laddu
Laddu
Laddu or Laddoo is a ball-shaped sweet popular in South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh as well as countries with immigrants from South Asia. Laddu is made of flour and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe...
made with pure ghee. As the Halwai's quote - the groundwater is sweet as sugar (comes from the Sone river). When the final mixing is done with 'boondi', the groundwater acts as a catalyst - sugar to make it pure and sweet. Every 'boondi' which forms the laddu
Laddu
Laddu or Laddoo is a ball-shaped sweet popular in South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh as well as countries with immigrants from South Asia. Laddu is made of flour and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe...
has enough sugar that melts like a fresh sweet.
'Maner ka Laddoo' is famous in India and abroad. The sweet came into limelight in one of the Bollywood movies - Khudgarz
Khudgarz
Khudgarz is a 1987 Bollywood film starring Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Bhanupriya and Govinda. The film marks the directorial debut of actor Rakesh Roshan. The movie was based on Erich Segal's novel Kane and Abel. It was later remade into Tamil as Annamalai with Rajnikanth and Sarath Babu...
. Branding and popularity of the sweet goes to Bhojpuri comedy filmstar and owner of Maner Sweets - Late Sri Suresh Prasad Gupta (Suresh Bhai).
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Maner had a population of 26,912. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Maner has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 61%, and female literacy is 42%. In Maner, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Politics
Srikant Nirala of RJDRashtriya Janata Dal
The Rashtriya Janata Dal is a political party in India, based in the state of Bihar. The party was founded in 1997 by Laloo Prasad Yadav. The party came about as a result of Lalu Prasad Yadav, ex-president of Janata Dal, being evicted by Sharad Yadav, the then president, on corruption charges ...
won the Maner seat (assembly constituency no. 192) defeating Sacchidanand Rai of JD(U)
Janata Dal (United)
Janata Dal is a political party in India with political presence mainly in Bihar and Jharkhand. Janta Dal party mentor and patron is "Veteran Socialist leader" George Fernandes; George Fernandes broke away from the erstwhile Janata Dal and formed the Samata Party in 1994. Presently it is led...
in October 2005 and February 2005. Bhai Birendra of SAP defeated Srikat Nirala of RJD in 2000. Srikant Nirala representing Janata Dal
Janata Dal
Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger of Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal, Congress, and the Jan Morcha led by V. P...
defeated Bhai Birendra (Independent) in 1995. Srikant Nirala representing Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
defeated Suryadeo Tyagi of Janata Dal in 1990. Rajmati devi representing Congress defeated Suryadeo Tyagi representing LKD in 1985. Ram Nagina Singh (Independent) defeated Suryadeo Tyagi of Janata Party (SC) in 1980. Suryadeo Tyagi representing Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
defeated Ram Nagina Singh representing Congress in 1977.
Maner assembly constituency is part of Pataliputra (Lok Sabha constituency)
Pataliputra (Lok Sabha constituency)
Pataliputra is one of the 543 parliamentary constituencies in India. The constituency is located in Patna district in Bihar.-Election results:-Assembly constituencies:...
.
187 Maner assembly constituency covers Maner community development block; and Aanandpur, Kateshar, Sikandarpur, Parev, Daulatpur Simri, Mushepur, Shri Rampur, Bihta, Dayalpur Daulatpur, Purshottampur Painathi, Bishunpura, Raghopur, Amhara, Kanchanpur Kharagpur, Sadisopur, Painal, Bela, Neora, Makhdoompur and Shri Chandpur gram panchayats of Bihta CD Block.
Further reading
- Encyclopaedia of Sufism (12 volumes edited by Masood Ali Khan and S. Ram) ISBN 8126113111