The Poet · 1253 to 1325
अमीर खुसरो
Amir Khusrow
Region
Delhi
Language
Urdu
Signature rasa
Shringara
Works · archive
38
Amir Khusrow lived and breathed a syncretic culture centuries before the modern world even possessed the vocabulary for it. Born in 1253 in Patiyali, Uttar Pradesh, he served as a scholar, a musician, and a poet under the Delhi Sultanate.
Despite his royal appointments, his true allegiance remained with his spiritual master, Nizamuddin Auliya. He is widely recognized as the father of Qawwali and is traditionally credited with the invention of the sitar and tabla.
His most profound contribution, however, lay in language. He took the formal Persian of the royal courts and merged it with the everyday Hindavi spoken on the streets.
His riddles, verses, and ghazals are entirely alive today, still sung at shrines and in courtyards across the Indian subcontinent. Khusrow did not merely write poetry.
He shaped the cultural identity of North India, proving that authentic devotion bypasses all borders of language and religion.
Chronology
A life, paced like a poem.
1253
Born in Patiyali, near Etah, Uttar Pradesh
1272
Became a disciple of the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
1276
Began serving as a court poet under various rulers of the Delhi Sultanate
1290s
Composed pioneering riddles, pahelis, and geets in Hindavi
1325
Passed away in Delhi, shortly after the death of Nizamuddin Auliya
Essential
Start with these.
Three doorways into Amir Khusrow, chosen for how quickly they show you what this voice sounds like.
Shringara
01छाप तिलक सब छीनी रे
Chaap Tilak Sab Cheeni Re
The clearest statement of shringara in this catalogue, begin here.
Read the poem →1 verse
Shringara
02हजरत ख्वाजा संग खेलिए धमाल
Hazrat Khwaja Sang Kheliye Dhamal
A shorter turn in shringara, 1 verse long.
Read the poem →1 verse
Hasya
03दोहा पहेली
Doha Paheli
A shorter turn in hasya, 18 verses long.
Read the poem →18 versesFull Catalogue
Every composition, by mood.
38 entries · 4 rasas
View full catalogue →शृंगार
Shringara
22 compositions
- 011 verseRead →
छाप तिलक सब छीनी रे
Chaap Tilak Sab Cheeni Re
- 021 verseRead →
हजरत ख्वाजा संग खेलिए धमाल
Hazrat Khwaja Sang Kheliye Dhamal
- 031 verseRead →
अब आए न मोरे सांवरिया
Ab Aae Na More Sanwariya
- 046 versesRead →
मेरे महबूब के घर रंग है री
Mere Mahboob Ke Ghar Rang Hai Ri
- 055 versesRead →
दोहे
Dohe
- 065 versesRead →
आ साजन मोरे नैनन में
Aa Sajan More Nainan Mein
- 076 versesRead →
आज रंग है ऐ माँ रंग है री
Aaj Rang Hai Ai Maan Rang Hai Ri
- 081 verseRead →
सावन आया
Sawan Aaya
हास्य
Hasya
8 compositions
- 0118 versesRead →
दोहा पहेली
Doha Paheli
- 028 versesRead →
उलटबाँसियाँ
Ulatbansiyan
- 0313 versesRead →
बिन-बूझ पहेली (बहिर्लापिका)
Bin-Boojh Paheli (Bahirlapika)
- 0425 versesRead →
कह-मुकरियाँ
Kah-Mukariyan
- 0515 versesRead →
बूझ पहेली (अंतर्लापिका)
Boojh Paheli (Antarlapika)
- 068 versesRead →
ढकोसले या अनमेलियाँ
Dhakosale Ya Anmeliyan
- 078 versesRead →
दुसुख़ने
Dusukhane
- 0825 versesRead →
पहेलियाँ
Paheliyan
करुणा
Karuna
5 compositions
- 0110 versesRead →
काहे को ब्याहे बिदेस
Kahe Ko Byahe Bides
- 021 verseRead →
जो पिया आवन कह गए अजहुँ न आए
Jo Piya Aavan Kah Gaye Ajahun Na Aaye
- 031 verseRead →
बहोत रही बाबुल घर दुल्हन
Bahot Rahi Babul Ghar Dulhan
- 041 verseRead →
आ घिर आई दई मारी घटा कारी।
Aa Ghir Aayi Dai Mari Ghata Kari
- 051 verseRead →
परदेसी बालम धन अकेली मेरा बिदेसी घर आवना
Pardesi Balam Dhan Akeli Mera Bidesi Ghar Aavana