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Keywords: Sub-continent, Local musical culture, Spiritual music, Religious festivals.
Introduction
In chishtiyah order Zikr and Saama hold a sacred ritualistic status. Saama is considered as one of the key modes for obtaining divine union, solace, and spiritual consummation. 1 According to Dr. Muhammad Fadil Khan "Mehr e Munir" singing in melodious voice is generally called ghina whereas listening to verses thus sung is commonly termed as Saama. Muhammad Tanvir Jamaal Chishti declares ecstasy as an important thing in Saama and it can be achieved through a high level of love-a form of communion-with Allah. He has also discussed three demands for Saama which were discussed by the esoteric Sufis in different periods of early Islamic Sufism and these are; time, place and company. 2 Kenneth S. Avery has also discussed early Sufi literature on Saama in his work entitled "A Psychology of Early Sufi Saama". Anne Mari Schimmel's work is equally remarkable and brief discussion on Saama in "Mystical Dimension of Islam".
Schimmel presents Saama with its literal meaning "hearing", "to hear with the ear of the heart" and declared it as a source of increasing spiritual level. Carl W. Ernst, Shambhala guide to Sufism, has done work on Sufism and Saama with the reference of primary and secondary sources. Abdu Nasr al-Sarraj al-Tusi, a leading Sufi of the 10th century, regarded saama as the best practice of achieving spirituality in his book "Kitab al-Luma' fil-Tasawwuf". He divided saama in different sections like the importance of sweet voice, saama according to Quran, the tradition of the holy prophet, views of the Sufis, the degree of saama and the type of auditors. He has also given two types of Saama as well as auditors. One those who listen saama carelessly and second those who listen saama with full devotion and concentration. Abu Talib Al-Makki, a leading esoteric Sufi, has discussed the role of poetry in saama. He also presents some condition for auditors i.e. to make an ablution and wearing of clean clothes. 3
The book "Kashf al Muhjub" is basic source on the teachings of Ali bin Usman al Jullabi al Hujwiri in which saama has been discussed in detail and he preferred saama oversight or vision. He has also discussed two types of auditors...