JOIN USAmong the prominent Sufi shrines in Bengaluru are the dargah sharifs of Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan Baba and Hazrath Manik Mastan Baba. Situated at the most congested shopping lanes of City Market (KR Market) area, these 18th century dargah sharifs have long been known to be the holy shrines of mystic Babas.
Locals apart, Muslims and Hindus alike, hundreds of people from all over the country are known to frequent these dargah Sharifs, particularly during the months of Ramzan and the annual urs (death anniversary) of the Sufi saints during Muharram.
At Upparpet, on the OTC Road connecting Chickpet and Cottonpet, is the famous dargah of Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Baba, who was the follower of the 12th century Sufi philosopher Baba Fakhruddin of Penukonda. This 200-year-old Sufi shrine has a historic link with the Kalasipalya Fort rebuilt by Hyder Ali, while the dargah of Tawakkal Baba is popularly known for many legends associated with the famous Dharmaraya Karaga of Bengaluru.
Also, many among the poor, suffering from health problems, are known to religiously pray at the dargah of Hazrath Tawakkal (a much revered healing Baba) seeking cure for their ailments. Devotees bring metal locks when they visit the dargah, for it is believed that by hanging a lock to the railing inside dargah, one can get one’s wishes fulfilled.
Where it started
It is believed that the wandering Sufi saints,Tawakkal Baba and his brothers Hazrath Tipu Mastan and Manik Mastan migrated to Bengaluru some 300 years ago, during the reign of Hyder Ali. In the early 1770s, Hyder Ali decided to rebuild an old fort which was originally a mud fort constructed by Kempegowda I at Kalasipalya in the year 1537.
It is believed the three brothers migrated to Bangalore from Andhra Pradesh and worked as masons when Hyder Ali was rebuilding the old fort of Kalasipalya. Hyder Ali later learned of their true identities and also came to know that the masons took no wages for their labour.
Having learnt all about the mystical life of the mastans who used to do volunteer masonry work at his fort site, Hyder Ali penitently built a mosque as wished for by Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan Baba. This heritage mosque, which has since been rebuilt, now stands tall beside the Tawakkal Baba dargah at Upparpet. Inside the mosque is a tomb with an inscription that reads: “Tawakkal Baba prayed here and passed away in 1777”.
It is interesting to note that it has been an age old custom and tradition that three days prior to the Karaga festival the Karaga bearer visits the dargah for pradakshina (circumambulation) and for exchanging sacred lemons with the Muzaveer (priest ) of this holy shrine. A ritual called fateha is performed at the dargah before the Karaga bearer goes round the tomb and exchanges the customary lemons with the priest.