Dada Hayat Qalandar
By Dr. ASHHAR MALIK published October 5, 2024
Dada Hayat Qalandar is a Qadri Sufi resting in Mangrulpir. Chilla of Dada Hayat Kalandar is located at Chikmagalur. According to primary sources, he travelled from Mecca and settled in Mangrulpir taluka of Washim district of Maharashtra till his wisal. His actual name was Syed Ahmed Kabir. Primary sources claim that he travelled from Palestine to Madina, and with the ishāra (order) of RasulAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam, he moved towards India. He first settled in Karnataka and carried out his various religious activities before moving to Mangrulpir. Urs of Dada Hayat Qalandar is celebrated on 21st, 22nd, and 23rd Jamadi-us-Sani annually on Dargah premises.
Hagiography
It is said that before reaching the current location in Maharashtra, there was a man eater before the arrival of the saint in Mangrulpir whose name was Mangrul. Dada Hayat Qalandar faught with that man eater and defeated him and killed him, freeing the locals from the clutches of the demon. Due to this incident, that area received the name of Mangrulpir.
Another hagiography claimed that he was the Sahabi of Badr (warrior of the Battle of Badr) and companion of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave him the blessings of long life. So due to his long life, he met Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani around 500 Hijri and endorsed Qadri Sufism.
Traditions and beliefs
Local Hindus consider Dada Hayat Qalandar as Kuldevta. They offer Haldi (turmeric) on Dargah before their marriage. Whereas the Sajjadanasheen (caretaker) of Dada Pahad believes that he was a Sahabi (companion of Prophet Muhammad) named Aziz Makki who meditated on Dada Pahad in Chikmagalur. He is also considered to be the first Qalandar by some who reached India.
Tabarrukat
There is a handwritten Quran in the dargah premises, which is said to be written by the Saint himself. Research claims that it was an 800-year-old Quran Sharif, which is now preserved at Dada Hayat Qalandar Dargah. Gadi (cushion) of dada Hayat Qalandar is also there in the dargah premises on which the Dada used to sit. A special iron chain kept at Dargah is also famous among the visitors for its blessed attributes. Flour mill (atta chakki) during the time of Dada is also available there.
Dada Pahad
There is a blessed chilla of Dada Hayat Kalandar on a hill named Dada Pahad in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. It is regarded as the chilla gah of Dada Hayat Qalandar, which means Dada used to meditate on that hill tract. Mausoleum is constructed over his chilla.
Urs
Urs on 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of Rabiusaani is characterised by Sandal Sharif on 21st Rabiussani. Sandal is characterised by the presence of a mare. It circles the area around Dargah. 22nd Rabiussani is characterised by Langar where consecrated vegetarian food is distributed. The reason for the vegetarian is because of Hindu devotees of Dada who don't eat nonveg. On 23rd there is a Fatiha Sharif on ajwain and sweets.
See also
* The role of Sufis in the development of Urdu language
* Amir Khusro
* Musa Suhag
* Waris Pak
* Zinda Shah Madar
* Gyarvi Sharif
References
- Interview of the Sajjadaasheen (caretaker), Shamsuddin Jagirdar of Mangrulpir.
- Interview of the Sajjadaasheen (caretaker), of Dada Pahad, Karnataka.