Spiritual Haven

 Nearly a hundred years ago, when Bhendi Bazar in Mumbai was set up, probably, the roads were straight and the houses were aligned. The shops too would have not felt the urge to break the alignment. But today wee see a Bhendi Bazaar that screams of disorder . The narrow alleys are lined with garbage, buildings beg for support and no car can drive into the bazar without barging into a pedestrian. In this chaos, my taxi comes to a halt outside a lane that looks  a bit cleaner than it's surroundings. Down the lane is a large  structure covered in a white tent like material  protecting it from the dust and the rubble of the construction in the area. Raudat Tahera  mausoleum, built in 1975 and dedicated to Saint Syedna Saifuddin  is a landmarkonly a few Mumbaikers  know of. Beauty aside and thought and precision that have gone into building the structure is a matter of marvel. For visitors  and devotees  the mausoleum is a safe haven from the chaos outside. "On entering the mausoleum, one always feels a spiritual connect. The architecture  emanates a  radiance that gives a feeling of  peace and  tranquility," says Qureish Raghib, media adviser of Saifi Burhani upliftment trust. Inside the mausoleum complex, you first step into a courtyard. as you immerse yourself in the white marble surrounding of the mausoleum, you leave behind the grey hues of  Mumbai. The architecture is a fusion of Egyptian , Arabic and Indian. The four entrances of the mausoleum are similar to those of the  Al-Aqmar masjid in Cairo. And while the 52ft high dome is a crowing feature, the mausoleum itself rises to 108ft. It is believed that the marble used to  build the structure is from Rajasthan's famed Makrana quarries  which supplies marble to the  Taj Mahal. As you enter the sanctum, you see people kneeling down before the golden shrine , dedicated to Syenda. What sets the the Raudat Tahera apart from the other mausoleum is that here, the entire Quran is engraved in gold on the inner walls of the mausoleum. Excerpts from Syedna's interpretation of the scriptures are inscribed on 772 marble slabs and the 113 Bismillahs  are inscribed with precious gems. Each  measurement  in the mausoleum has a significance. The inner dimensions of the tomb are 51ft*51ft Syedna was the first 51st vice-regent of the Fatemi imams the grave measures 28 sqft it is the age t which he became the leader of the Dawoodi Bohras the inner height of the mausoleum is 80 inches above the plinth- the age at which the saint passed away. The opulence of the mausoleum does not intimidate, instead a visit  to the shrine offers comfort and  an opportunity for introspection. Says shopekeeper Mulla Shbbir. A Nemunch wala "If I do not visit the mausoleum y day seems incomplete and empty."