Who was Hazrat Haji Malang Baba?
Baba Abdur Rehman Malang was a Sufi saint who travelled to India from the middle east in the 12th century AD. It is believed that Malang Baba along with his followers reached the Bramhanwadi village which was then ruled by King Naladev of the Maurya dynasty. The tenants and the community were traumatized by the havoc created by the demons in King Naladev’s state. The atrocities reached an excruciating extent which is when God sent Malang Baba to visit this place to salvage the fear-stricken people, ensure prosperity in the society by eradicating the evil and devastation caused by them.
On reaching the village, they felt parched and requested some water from a close-by house belonging to a Brahmin Ketkar family. Realizing that they were exhausted and thirsty, the Brahmin offered them milk rather than just water and arranged a place for them to rest. This noble act by the Brahmin was greatly appreciated by Malang Baba and he blessed him. Later, Baba set out on his divine journey to eradicate evil and ensure the well-being of mankind.
His holy body was buried at Malanaggad. The devotees built the holy shrine in his memory which displays communal harmony as both a Hindu 'Vahivatdar' and a Muslim 'Mutavalli' participate in the rituals. A large number of Muslim and Hindu devotees visit the Haji Malang Dargah every year to seek blessings and get their wishes fulfilled.
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| Haji Abdur Rahman Malang Baba Dargah |
History and Traditions followed at Haji Malang Dargah
Haji Malang Dargah, which is one of the most famous among the three ancient Sufi shrines located on the hill of Malang Gad near Kalyan in the Thane district of Maharashtra. The 300-year-old Mazar Sharif of Haji Malang Baba is situated on the lowest level plateau, which is 2500 feet long and 1000 feet broad.
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| Haji Malang Dargah at the foothill of Malang Gad |
The other two shrines are of Hazrat Baqtawar Shah and Hazrat Sultan Shah. They were the disciples of Malang Baba who came from the Gulf to take back Baba along with them. But he refused to return and said that he had decided to spend the rest of his life here. Likewise, the two disciples also stayed back at Malang gad and devoted their entire life to Baba’s service. Humbled by their devotion, Malang Baba exclaimed that in the future if anybody desires to meet me and give a salami, one ought to give salami to these two Dargahs of my companions first. Since then it became a tradition that whenever people visit the fort, they must pay a visit to Dargah of Hazrat Baqtawar Shah and Hazrat Sultan Shah along the way, which is also popularly known as ‘Pehli Salami’ and ‘Doosri Salami’ followed by the main Haji Malang Baba Dargah.
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| Pehli Salami - Hazrat Baqtawar Shah Dargah |
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| Doosri Salami - Hazrat Sultan Shah Dargah |
To know more about the structure, history and traditions followed at the Haji Malang Shrine, read our blog on "Haji Malang Dargah, A Holy Shrine of Haji Malang Baba".
History of Pir Machi and Panch Pir Dargah
Hajimalang baba was also accompanied by five Pirs (a title for Sufi spiritual guides). A plateau is named after these followers as ‘Panch Pir’ or ‘Pir Machi’ (Machi means ‘a tableland’ in the Marathi language). One can locate the plateau at the other end of the Malanggad fort on which the dargah of these Pirs can be seen.
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| Sacred Tomb of Panch Pir |
Mythological Story of the horse of Haji Malang Baba
According to the mythological story the hill was originally thrice the present height. When Baba reached the base with his horse ‘Duldul’, the height of the hill was magically scaled as the horse set his footprints on the hill. It is believed that the spot at which Baba’s horse touched the hill, water started flowing. This region is named as ‘Ghode ki Taap’. Astonishingly, clear water continues to flow even today, and pilgrims take this water home and drink it with faith as they believe it has the power of healing.
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| Ghode ki Taap - Water Fountain of Duldul Horse |
Devotees of Malang Baba
In the prevailing times of religious intolerance and communal violence in the country, Haji Malang Dargah in the Kalyan region of Maharashtra is one of the few places where people from different religions, beliefs come together with just one thing common amongst them – faith in the miracles of Malang Baba, and bow their head in reverence.
Even today, the dargah is taken care of by the same Hindu Brahmin family whose ancestors are believed to have guarded the holy shrine at that time. The Dargah Trust involves individuals from both the Muslim and the Hindu groups. A Sindhi family, for as long back as two ages, has been running a langar administration or local area kitchen to give food free of cost to the visitors.
Thousands of pilgrims of diverse faiths visit the dargah to pay their respect and seek blessings from Haji Malang Baba, making it a symbol of communal amity.
Want to know how to visit Malanggad? Check out our blog on "How to Reach Haji Malang Gad - A Trek Destination in Kalyan".
The following video describes experience of a devotee and history of Haji Malang Baba –
