Rauza-e-Kazimain (Lucknow)

 tomb(s), islam, shrine, Rauza

This Rauza is the replica of (7th Shia Imam) Hazrat Imam Moosi-e-Kazim (A.S.) and his grandson (9th Shia Imam) Hazrat Imam Mohammad Taqi (A.S.) situated at Kaizmain, Iraq.The shrine of Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.) , popularly known as Rauza Kazmain, in Lucknow was built by Jagannath Agarwal ‘Sharf-Ud-Daula’ who belonged to a Hindu grocer Urai Lal Baqqal’s family.
Completed in 1852 during the regime of last Awadh King Wajid Ali Shah, the shrine has two adjacent cylindrical domes are in fact a replica of the original Kazmain in Baghdad( Iraq) where (7th Shia Imam) Hazrat Imam Moosi-e-Kazim (A.S.) and his grandson (9th Shia Imam) Hazrat Imam Mohammad Taqi (A.S.) lie buried. The entry to Rauza at Lucknow is through a large double-storied gateway. The main hall of the Rauza has galleries on all four sides. It also contains the grave of Jagannath Agarwal ‘Sharf-Ud-Daula’ and his wife Sharfun Nisa .Both the graves are not raised and in the level of floor.
It is believed that Jagannath Agarwal ‘Sharf-Ud-Daula’ enjoyed confidence of Nawab Amjad Ali Shah who was a devout Muslim. During his regime, he happened to visit Iraq and Iran. During his visit he also went to prominent shrines, including Kazmain at Baghdad.
Jagannath Agarwal ‘Sharf-Ud-Daula’ found Imam Musa Kazim’s personality so captivating that he not only expressed his desire to erect a shrine in his memory before King Amjad Ali Shah after his return to Lucknow. He also wished to be known as a follower of Imams and willed to be buried at the shrine which he proposed to build. Accordingly, Jagannath Agarwal who was bestowed with the title of ‘Sharf-Ud-Daula’ by King Amjad Ali Shah was buried in Kazmain’s main hall after his death in 1861 & His wife Sharfun Nisa also lies buried close to her husband. She too had become an ardent follower of Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.).
Jagannath Agarwal ‘Sharf-Ud-Daula’ also earmarked about 20 Bighas of land for Kazmain so as to accommodate the maximum number of devotees during Muharram. The masons also did full justice to his desire. Although Lucknow Kazmain does not have domes covered with gold but a sincere effort has been made to cover the shortcoming with gold plated brass. Yet another feature that differentiates Kazmain at Lucknow and the one in Baghdad is the existence of brick wall pattern in Lucknow but the domes' surface are plain and their capping is larger in the original shrine. Even the four minarets at Lucknow Kazmain are smaller and less ornamented as compared to Baghdad Kazmain. Like the original shrine, Kazmain Lucknow is dedicated to Imam Muhammad Taqi also. A large courtyard to the east of Kazmain is known as the ‘Qatlgah’ where tazias are buried every year.
Kazmain also remains hub of Muharram rituals throughout the mourning period of two months and eight days. The famous procession of 8th Rabi Ul Awwal also culminate at Kazmain and witness a very aggressive Seenazani and Zanjeer ka Matam by the devotees.