Pakistan, June 18 -- This is the ninth article in a special series by Ally Adnan that brings to life memorable incidents from the rich and fascinating life of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, whose timeless legacy continues to inspire the world.

The doha can be traced back to the Abhiras of the Gandhara region, as far back as the second century BCE.

It gained popularity in the Prakrit and Apabhramsha languages in medieval India and was widely adopted by Buddhist monks and Jain and Sufi poets. The form of poetry flourished during the Bhakti and Sufi movements, where it was used as a natural and rhythmic medium for the oral transmission of ethical, spiritual and devotional teachings.

Svayambhudev, Hemchandra, Pushpadant and Gorakhnath composed dohas...