Hazrat
Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar
Among the earliest
followers of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) there was
a group called As-hab-e-Suffa (people of the pyol). These
men were celibates and had renounced the world. They
spent most of their time in prayers and meditation. They
received special instruction and training from the Holy
Prophet (peace be on him) and were given the important
job of bearing the banner during the battles.
The chaotic conditions in
India attracted the attention of the Holy Prophet (peace
be on him) and he selected a close disciple and member of
this group, Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Azeez Mecci to take the
message of peace to India. The Holy Prophet (peace be on
him) blessed him, prayed for his long life and called him
"Hayath-ul-Bahr" (one with the life of a sea). He was
ordained a "Khalandar" (a position of eminence in the
spiritual hierarchy), directed to proceed to India and
spread the message of peace, with Chandra Drona Parvata
in South India as his head quarters. Hazrat Sheikh Abdul
Azeez Mecci is the first Khalandar and he was known as
Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar in India.
Dada Hayath came to this
mountainous region with a few companions and selected a
cave for his residence. This cave was believed to be the
abode of Sri Dattatreya Swamy by the Hindus. He cleaned
it and made it habitable. He needed water to perform
"Wazu" for his prayers. He was a stranger in the area and
did not know where water was available. He prayed to God
and started digging the ground in front of the place he
had selected as his seat for meditation, and found a
perennial spring within two feet. It exists even today.
He thanked God and spent the night in prayers and
meditation. Early in the morning the next day, a Brahmin
and a Jangam entered the cave as per their custom for
worship. Both of them saw Dada absorbed in meditation,
and thought he was an incarnation of Sri Dattatreya
Swamy. They were proud of their good fortune and
prostrated before Dada, and became his devotees. Slowly
the news spread and day by day the number of devotees,
began to increase. For a few days they just listened to
his teachings and watched his ways. It did not take much
time for them to be convinced of his sincerity and the
truth of his teachings. When the Palegars (Chieftains) of
the neighboring areas learnt that a stranger had settled
down in the holy cave and was teaching a new religion to
the people, they became furious and spared no efforts
(including Black magic and witchcraft) to tease Dada and
torture his companions and devotees. Their object was
either to drive away Dada and his companions from their
holy cave or kill them. But the patience and fortitude of
Dada and his companions were a match to all their
efforts.
The failure of all their
attempts and those of their magicians increased the faith
and the number of Dada's devotees. Many of them were so
much impressed that they embraced Islam. There were many
others who were in a dilemma. They loved their own old
ancestral religion and at the same time were devoted to
Dada. Dada understood their reluctance to change their
old religion and never compelled them to change their
faith. He treated them with the same affection that he
bestowed upon those who had embraced Islam. His paternal
attitude towards one and all earned him the title of Dada
(grand-father) with which he is universally referred to
even today. These people continued to follow their old
faith and observing his miraculous powers began to look
upon Dada as the incarnation of Sri Dattatreya. The
belief exists even today and the cave is held sacred by
both Hindus and Muslims.
It is difficult to guess
how long Dada stayed in this cave. After some time he
felt that the institution he had established could
function satisfactorily even in his absence. He brought
suitable people from Arabia and other countries and
placed them in charge of the institution. It became his
practice now to visit different parts of the country,
helping people in distress, and returning every now and
then to this center. It is no wonder that one hears of
Dada's visits and seats of meditation not only in
different parts of Karnataka but also in other parts of
India. But none has come across or heard of his tomb.
Since Dada was blessed with a long life, it is believed
by many that Dada is still alive and people in distress
can always rely upon his help. There are thousands who
narrate how Dada came to their rescue when they were in a
tight corner. It is impossible to describe the various
types of problems pilgrims bring with them. Some suffer
from ailments which have not been diagnosed even by
eminent doctors or considered incurable; some are
entangled in spiritual problems; some are possessed by
evil spirits; some suffer from lunacy; some suffer in
business continuously; some are worried about employment
or their children's marriages. All come here dejected,
get consolation and return hopeful. Some time later they
come back to express their gratitude to Dada for the
relief they get. Human intellect cannot explain, how all
their problems which had defied all solutions got solved
after their visit to Dada. No wonder that these devotees
call Dada and seek his blessings at every hurdle in
life.
History records that
there trade relations between Arabs and South India,
since time immemorial, which continues even after the
advent of Islam. People in Malabar Coast who came in
contact with these Arabs as Muslims were very much
impressed by the change in their outlook and behavior.
But these Arabs were essentially traders. Dada was the
first to come to India with the sole purpose of settling
down in India and preaching Islam, at the behest of the
Holy Prophet (peace be on him). Hence this cave in Baba
Budan Hills is the first Islamic center in India. In
addition to this, it has been a spiritual academy where
many eminent saints like Hazrat Shihabuddin Rumi, Hazrat
Syed Khizar Rumi, Hazrat Nut-Har Wali of Trichinopoly,
Hazrat Makdoom Jan-e-Jahan Gashth, Hazrat Shah Latheef
Berri, Hazrat Syed Meeran Mahmood, Hazrat Sheikh Khizar
Paidoz, Hazrat Baba Tajuddin of Nagpur and many others
spent some time here and were blessed by Dada.
Dada's personality has
been a mystery to one and all. After learning a few facts
about him every one become's anxious to know more and see
him if possible. Some have realized subsequently that the
person who helped them in distress was Dada himself. In
an attempt to explain Dada's personality many stories
have become current, none of which is true. Some are
given below:-
