In today’s article, we will introduce you and bring you face to face with such a revered elder of the Madariya Silsila upon whom kings would take pride, such a Wali of Allah upon whom sainthood itself would feel honored, such a devoted worshipper upon whom worship would feel envy, and such a possessor of miracles whose miracles themselves appear to take pride. He is known as Baba Maan Dariyai, whose blessed body turned into a heap of flowers after his demise. He is also called the Dariyai Dulha of Zinda Shah Madar. At whose shrine even today, by drinking the milk of the ritual bath of a miraculous stone, childless people are blessed with children. I am speaking of the Emperor of Baroda, Hazrat Baba Maan. The blessed shrine of Hazrat Baba Maan is a center of public devotion, located in the Baba Maan area of the Baroda district of Gujarat, which is named after him.
Name: Arif Billah, Makhdoom-ul-Hind, Malang-e-Azam, Syed Akmal Hussain, known as Baba Maan Shah Dariyai
Birth: 721 Hijri
His spiritual lineage reaches the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the following manner: Hazrat Syed Akmal Hussain known as Baba Maan Malang Madari; his spiritual guide was Hazrat Syed Sudhan Sarmast Madari; whose guide was Hazrat Syed Jamaluddin Jan Man Jannati; whose guide was Hazrat Syed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar (may Allah be pleased with him).
At the blessed shrine of Hazrat Baba Maan, there is a miraculous stone associated with him, and whenever someone prays for a son, they are blessed with sons. When he used to go to the court of his spiritual guide Syed Sudhan Shah Sarmast, he would strike this stone with his feet while going, and return in the same manner. While going to the court of his guide, he never turned his back towards Syed Sudhan Shah Sarmast. Even today, the miracle of this stone is that a woman who is unable to conceive only needs to drink the milk of the ritual bath of this stone, and through his prayers she is blessed with a child. This milk is distributed on the 8th of Sha‘ban, the day of Baba Maan’s sandal ceremony. Not only this, but even the treatment of the most severe kinds of illnesses is achieved through this miraculous stone.
Once, he arrived in Baroda. At that time, there lived a yogi there who was the spiritual master of the King of Baroda. He had instructed the king that Muslim faqirs should not be allowed to beg in the city of Baroda. Because of this, the king had imposed a ban on offerings and alms for the faqirs. That yogi carried a kanwar in his hand with which he begged throughout the city. When Baba Maan came to know of this, he reached the royal court. The guard attempted to stop him but could not restrain the majestic steps of Madariya authority. Eventually, Baba Maan marched straight into the presence of the king. When the king saw his face, he perceived divine majesty in the majesty of Baba Maan. Fear overcame the king, and he said, “Baba, please come and sit near me and tell me why you are so angry.”
Baba Maan said, “O King, why have you closed the door of charity for Muslim faqirs in your city?”
The king respectfully replied, “My guru has forbidden giving wealth and offerings to Muslim faqirs.”
Baba Maan said, “Call your guru.”
The king summoned the yogi. The yogi came carrying his begging bowl and placed it under his arm. When Baba Maan asked him, “O yogi, why do you stop the king from giving charity?” he replied, “In our religion, it is not permissible to give charity to Muslims.”
Baba Maan asked, “What do you have?”
He said, “A kanwar.”
Baba Maan said, “If this kanwar belongs to you, then tell it to go and collect alms from the city.”
The yogi replied, “Can a kanwar go anywhere by itself?”
Baba Maan said, “If it is yours, why would it refuse to go on your command?”
The yogi smiled and said, “If that is so, then you yourself send it to collect alms.”
Baba Maan smiled and said to the kanwar, “By the command of God and the prayer of a faqir, go and collect alms from two and a half houses and proclaim Tawheed.” As soon as he said this, the begging bowl began to move and passed near the king and the yogi. The entire court was immersed in astonishment and wonder. The bowl passed by the yogi and came to Baba Maan, shaking vigorously and proclaiming Tawheed by saying “Allah, Allah.” Then it turned towards the city. At every door it reached, people placed alms into it, to the extent that women even donated their jewelry into it. After a short while, the kanwar returned after collecting alms from the city.
Seeing this, the king stood with folded hands, and all the courtiers also stood. The king said, “Baba, we are ashamed. Forgive my mistake. Whatever command you give, I am ready to obey.”
Hazrat Baba Maan said, “O King, we faqirs have no desire for the world. There is only one request: the ban imposed on my Muslim faqirs should be lifted, and this city of Baroda should be named after me.”
Thus, the king announced that the city should not be called merely Baroda, but whenever it is mentioned, it should be called “Baba Maan’s Baroda.” Along with this, the ban imposed on Muslim faqirs was also lifted.
The reason I understand for him being called Baba Maan is that the king and the yogi, who did not acknowledge any faqir, were compelled to acknowledge through his miracles.
Another reason could be that he restored the lost honor and respect of the faqirs, meaning “maan” (honor), and that is why he was called Maan. For this reason, people call him by the name Baba Maan.
Hazrat Baba Maan is also remembered by the title of Dariyai Dulha. It is said that one of his disciples, who was a merchant, was once traveling by river. During the journey, a hole developed in his boat, and water began to fill it. The disciple remembered his spiritual guide and cried, “O Baba Maan, please help me.” At that time, Baba Maan was present in Baroda. He had a cloth on his shoulder. He placed that cloth on the ground, and through it the hole in the merchant’s boat was sealed, and the boat crossed safely.
In the same way, many people trapped in rivers remembered him, and he guided them. That is why he is called Dariyai Dulha.
Another of his miracles is that he was neither given ritual bathing, nor shrouded, nor was the funeral prayer offered for him; instead, he directly rose and turned into a heap of flowers. That is why people recognize and know him as the living saint of Zinda Shah Madar.
The blessed shrine of Hazrat Baba Maan is located in the Baba Maan area of the city of Baroda. His demise occurred in 1012 Hijri. He lived for approximately 300 years. His blessed Urs is observed on the 3rd of Sha‘ban.
by – Ghulam Farid Haidari Madaari, India.
