[1]. Literally a Pillar of Victory. See “Qanoon Islam” for tribes of Fakirs.
The practice of religious veneration for rivers by these races no doubt preceded that given to them by the ancient Greeks and Romans. We read of Xerxes of Persia offering sacrifices to the River Strymon, on his way to Greece.
Kwaja Khizr, a Mahomedan Saint, is acknowledged to be the special god of water, with whom it is well to keep on the best of terms. In one of their trite sayings they express themselves thus:
Khuddhee thay vusnah
Thay Khawja hat baiyr!
“What! live on the River bank, and be at enmity with Kwaja!”
Opposite to Rohri, on the Indus, is the Island of Khawja Khizr, and there is now a Mosque on it, with an inscription dated 952 A.D.
—(See Crooke, Murray, and Balfour).
The Mahomedans, on Thursdays in the month “Bhādon,” float little lamps on rafts called Bērah, as an offering to this Saint. Sometimes they have the face of a female, and the crest and breast of a peacock at the prow.
Kwaja Khizr is thought by Moslems to be immortal, and to perambulate the earth in a green garment, and to appear to different people. By some he is supposed to be St. George of England, and they term him Khizr Elias.