BENGALURU: On the OTC Road, Cottonpete, stands an example of harmony and co-existence. Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan, a dargah which is over 300 years old, is open to people of all faiths.
There is no discrimination here. The Khadim (priest) at the dargah says, “People from all communities, including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, come and pray. Once their wish is fulfilled, they come and offer a chaddar or whatever they have vowed to offer.”
The Hindus offer their prayers from 4 am. Imran, who has been running a CD shop outside the dargah for 18 years, says, “They especially come for the well-being of their children. They pray and get a tabiz to get rid of fears.”
History
The dargah’s history dates back to the time of Hyder Ali. It is said that the king, after accession to the throne, wanted to build a new wall for the Kalasipalyam section of his fort. He wanted to replace the mud walls with stone walls.
It is believed that Hyder Ali began the construction of the dargah in 1777 and it was completed by Tipu Sultan in 1783.
The Khadim says, “Three brothers - Hazrath Tipu Mastan, Hazrath Manik Mastan, and Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan – came to Bengaluru from Iran to sell horses. They joined the work force at the construction site of Hyder Ali’s fort. They wouldn’t accept any money for their work.”
Hyder Ali was puzzled and asked his men to find the reason behind it. They learned that the three went to a mosque in Kumbarpet and slept there. “Legend has it that the men found only three parts of one human body and two dogs gaurding over them. When Hyder Ali learned about it, he realised that they were no ordinary labourers but saints,” adds Khadim.
It is believed that from the blessings of Hazrat Tipu Mastan, Hyder Ali had a son, Tipu Sultan, whom he named after the saint. Hazrat Manik Mastan died in Bengaluru and his tomb is on Avenue Road.
Later, Tipu Mastan left Bengaluru. His tomb is in Arcot in Tamil Nadu. Tawakkal Mastan stayed here and settled in Cottonpete.
“Tawakal Mastan, who refused any gifts from Hyder Ali, asked him to build a mosque instead,” adds the Khadim.
Aliyeh Rizvi, cultural documentarian, writes in her blog that the 18th Century dargah is the venue of an extremely popular Urs (death anniversary of the saint) on 19th Safar (Muslim calendar) each year which is visited by many, including the Sufi Dervaish community.
Tawakkal Mastan Saheb Soharwardia (RA) was a Sufi saint from the Soharwardia Order of the 17th Century and a disciple of Hazrat Baba Fakruddin of Penukonda, in Andhra Pradesh.
Blend of two religions
Aliyeh adds, “The brass lamps over five feet high bear a strong resemblance to the heavy metal lamps seen in South Indian temples. The only amendment to the traditional design is the crescent moon and star at the top.”
It is said that Hyder Ali had brought people of the Thigala community from Tamil Nadu to help him in the construction of his fort. Among them was a scholar Dharmaraya.
Dharmaraya wanted Hyder Ali to build a temple and a mutt. Hyder Ali constructed them, which were named Dharmaraya Swamy Math and Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. CD shop owner Imran adds, “Dharamraya shared a special bond with the Tawakkal (Mastan).
That is why the procession during the karaga festival comes to the dargah. Unless the karaga bearer gets the blessings from the priest, the procession does not proceed.”
Draupadi is a principal deity for the Thigalas, and the bearer of karaga (a mud pot with a tall flower arrangement) represents the wife of Pandavas. The karaga is balanced on the bearer’s head and it is considered a sacrilege for the person carrying the karaga to drop it.
Khadim says, “Tawakkal used to sit near the temple. The procession has to visit seven shrines in the city. On the way, the karaga-bearer asked Tawakkal for his blessings so that the karaga would not fall off his head. Tawakkal blessed him. Since then, the tradition continues.”
Karaga procession does not proceed until they seek blessings at the dargah.
Another story has it that Tawakkal Mastan was trampled on by a crowd during the karaga procession and he fainted. Some Hindu priests who applied kumkum (vermilion powder) healed wounds and recovery. Since then, on his insistence, the karaga procession stops at the Dargah as a mark of respect and devotion.
Architecture
The Indo-Islamic structure has interlacing geometric patterns, with an emulation of floral motifs using geometric shapes. A typical raised onion dome combines with a prominent central minaret and ornamented finial.
Mansoor Ali, an architect, says that it is the first dargah in the city to have mirror work.
“The dargah had hand paintings similar to Tipu Sultan’s palace in Srirangapatna. This was replaced by the mirror works 15 to 20 years ago,” he adds.
Celebrity Visits
Amitabh Bachchan, after surviving the severe injury during the filming of Coolie, visited the dargah, offered his prayers and gave charity to the poor. Music director A R Rahman is said to be visiting the dargah regularly. Kannada filmstar Raj Kumar’s family members also visit here.
Annual Urs
On the annual Urs day, procession starts from Cottonpet. It goes through City Market, Chikpet, and returns to the dargah.