The History of Hazrat Syed Muhammad Azeem Barkhiya aka Abdal-e-Haq Qalander Baba Aulia

                                                    

Urdu: حضرت سید محمد عظیم برخیا ، ابدالِ حق قلندر بابا اولیاء

Silsila: Azeemia

Date of Wisaal: January 27, 1979

Date of Urs: January 27

Address:
Shadman Town, North Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan

Description:
Abdal-e-Haq, Husn-e-Ukhra, Syed Muhammad Azeem Barkhiya commonly renowned as Qalander Ba Ba Auliya, (Birth: 1898 in the town of Khorja, District Buland Shehr, Uttar Pardesh, India - Wisaal: January 27, 1979, Karachi) was the founder of the Sufi Order of Azeemia. His mother was adopted by Baba Tajuddin and hence Qalandar Baba always referred him as his Nana (maternal grandfather).
During his stay in Aligarh an inclination towards spirituality developed in him and he start spending most of his time in the company of a local Sufi Kabli Baba. He used to go there early in the morning and would come back late in the evening.
After completing the 12th grade education at Aligarh, Baba Tajuddin summoned him to Nagpur, India where he spent nine years under the vigilant guidance of his Baba Tajuddin of Nagpur until he physical demise in 1929. During his stay in Nagpur, his mother died, leaving four daughters and two sons. Qalandar Baba Auliya was the eldest son and most of his siblings were very young at the time. It was becoming difficult for him to serve as the surrogate parent for his siblings. Realizing that Baba Tajuddin arranged his marriage with one of his disciples' daughter in Delhi. Qalandar Baba moved his family to Delhi and worked there as a journalist until the partition of India in 1947.
After the partition, he migrated to Pakistan along with his family, and stayed in Karachi's Lyari subdivision. At the time, Karachi was not a fully developed city and finding a job was hard. He believed in hard work and was not ashamed of odd jobs to support his family. Later on, He chose journalism as a career and was appointed the sub-editor of the Daily Urdu Dawn.
In 1956, a famous dervish of Suhurwardiya Sufi Order, Hazrat Abul-Fayz Qalandar Ali Suhurwardi, came to Karachi. Qalandar Baba Auliya met and asked to be initiated in his Order. The visiting Shaykh told him at arrive at his hotel room at three in the morning. It was during winter; nevertheless, Qalandar Baba Auliya went at 2 A.M. to the hotel where Hazrat Abul-Fayz was staying and sat at the doorsteps. At 3 A.M sharp, Shaykh Abul-Fayz opened the door of his room and summoned him inside. Qalandar Baba Auliya sat before Hazrat Abul-Fayz, and Hazrat Abul-Fayz blew three times on the forehead of Qalandar Baba Auliya. On first blow, the Alam-e-Arwah (Cosmic World) was revealed to Qalandar Baba Auliya; on the second blow, the Alam-e-Malkut (Angelic realm); on the third one, the Arsh-e-Mu'alla (The Divine Throne).
Hazrat Abul-Fayz Qalandar Ali Suhurwardi completed his teachings of Qutub-e-Irshad to Qalandar Baba Auliya, in three weeks. After that, he spiritually(oweysia) received divine knowledge from many saints including Shaikh Najamuddin Kubra.
When Qalandar Baba Auliya was working as a journalist in the local magazine in Karachi, it was his routine that he would go to the residence of his beloved disciple Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi where he conducted Sohbet(satsung).People from all walks of life would come to discuss various topics.
One week before of his death, he told to his disciples and friends that, "I'm a guest here for a maximum of one week". He appointed Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi as the head of the Sufi Order of Azeemia. He died on January 27, 1979. His tomb is in the Shadman Town subdivision of Karachi.
The essence of the teachings of Qalandar Baba Auliya is that man has not been created solely to earn a livelihood. The first and foremost purpose of his creation is that he should recognise his own Self and have an intimate relationship with his Creator.
His famous quote: 'One can not find Truth in the outward (zahir), it can only be realized by turning to inward(batin). Your inner is the doorway the Cosmos that is why Man is called microcosm (al-alam sughra).'

To spread and to be benefited with the teachings of Hazoor Qalander Baba Auliya, following three books have been inherited by Silsila-e-Azeemia:
1) Loh-o-Qalum (Pen and the Scripturum): A treasure of divine knowledge of mysteries and secrets of nature.
2) Rubaiyat-e-Qalander Baba Auliya: A valued collection of enlightening mystic verses.
3) Tazkira-e-Tajuddin Baba (R.A): An authentic work of metaphysical sciences and scientific interpretations of divinations and wonder-workings performed by spiritual people.
Additionally, Qalander Baba Auliya left countless maps and diagrams of the visible and invisible realms. He also started the publication of the monthly magazine called Roohani Digest. He also formed a Trust called The Azeemia Trust. The Trust acquired land and constructed a mausoleum over his eternal place of resting in Shadman Town, North Karachi.
Qalander Baba Auliya died on 27th January 1979 in Karachi. Every year on this date his Urs is celebrated which is attended by thousands of people from all over the country and abroad. During Urs many seminars and workshops are held. There are organized sessions of meditation under the instruction of the present Master of Silsila Azeemia; Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi. Qalander Baba Auliya left a widow, two sons and two daughters.

Mangopir Karachi (Manghopir shrine)

                            

                            

A Karachi-area shrine that boasts sulphur springs that reportedly have curative powers and a lagoon housing sacred crocodiles draws thousands of visitors daily.

The shrine memorialises Sakhi Sultan Manghopir, whose parents came to the subcontinent in the 13th century. Legend has it that Manghopir found salvation here, becoming a dervish of Sufi saint Baba Farid Ganj Shakar 600-700 years ago.

Manghopir’s shrine consists of a small room where his tomb is covered with an embroidered silk fabric. Outside, musicians sing Manghopir’s praises and the keepers of the shrine bless those who go inside.

Close to the shrine is a lagoon for crocodiles. The king crocodile is named More Sahib and presides over more than 100 other crocodiles, said animal keeper Khaleefa Sajjad Hussain.

Near the shrine staircase are some ancient Jokhio tribe graves, similar to the Chawkhandi Tombs in Karachi.

Also near the crocodile lagoon is a warm-water sulphur spring, where visitors bathe in the water, hoping to overcome skin diseases.

“This is where the impossible is possible,” one believer said.

Legend of Manghopir’s crocodiles

Several legends describe Manghopir and his crocodiles.

According to one, Baba Farid was travelling in a convoy to present-day Saudi Arabia for the Hajj when notorious bandit Mangho Wasa tried to rob the travellers. Baba Farid so charmed Mangho Wasa that the bandit converted to Islam and gave up crime. Mangho Wasa then began practicing Sufism under the guidance of Baba Farid, who later gave him the title of pir (Sufi master), making him Manghopir.

Baba Farid once conducted a chilla – a 40-day religious vigil – under a tree 2km from what was to become Manghopir’s shrine.

“Before leaving, he promised Manghopir a gift that would keep his name legendary forever,” said Chand Sabri, one of the saint’s followers. “He drew lice from his hair and told Manghopir to put them into water. Manghopir dropped the lice into the lagoon, and each louse became a crocodile – a sacred crocodile.”

Asif Chughtai, a government employee of the Religious Endowment Department, gave another version, saying Manghopir suffered from lice. When they irritated him, he stamped his feet. Two sulphur springs formed on the spot, and the lice that fell in became crocodiles.

Devotees’ attention

Ali Muhammad Shah, who looks after the shrine and has spent almost his whole life there, said visitors from Pakistan and abroad visit the shrine to pay their respects and feed the crocodiles.

“It does not matter what faith they belong to and what they follow,” Shah said. “People come to pay their respects.”

Manghopir spent his days in prayer and sought spiritual enlightenment, Shah said. His presence in the area is still a powerful draw.

“It’s a commitment we make, and then we come here to offer Fateha (a prayer from the first chapter of the Koran) and to feed the crocodiles,” said visitor Dilawar Khan of Hyderabad.

“People make a pledge at the shrine,” another shrine attendant said. “If their wish is granted, the crocodiles will accept the meat. If the mannat is rejected, the crocodiles won’t eat. If a believer’s wish is fulfilled and he fails to present sacrificial meat to the crocodiles, then the crocodiles will visit him in his dreams to remind him about the mannat.”

The crocodiles are harmless, said Hussain.

“These crocodiles make weekly treks up the marble staircase to Manghopir’s shrine,” he said. “They are his attendants.”

The History of Hazrat Saidu Baba (Akhund of Swat Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Ghafoor Mujaddad)

                                               

Urdu: حضرت شیخ عبدُ الغفُور ، سیدوُ بابا

Silsila: Naqshbandia Mujaddadia

Date of Wisaal: Not Known

Date of Urs: Not Known

Address:
Saidu Shareef, Swat Valley, Pakistan

Description:
Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (Akhund 'Abd al-Ghafur'), now known as Saidu Baba, was born at Jabrai (in Shimizai), a small shepherd's hamlet in Bar (Upper) Swat, about the year 1794. His father's name was Abdul Wahid (Abd al-Wahid). Born of Gujar parents, Abdul Ghaffur began life as a herd boy. His early occupation afforded ample time for mediation; and Abdul Ghaffur was soon noted amongst his own people as a sober, thoughtful lad, with a natural predeliction for a retired and religious life. As a shepherd boy, it is related of him that for years he lived on the milk of a single buffalo, which he always led to pasture, tied with a rope to prevent it grazing on the crops of others, rather than drink that of the rest of the herd which grazed on unlawful grounds.
At eighteen years of age, he resolved to devote himself to a religious life. Leaving his home, he went to the village of Barangolah, and there became the chailah (chaylah or disciple) of a priest, from whom he learned the rudiments of his religion, and the arts of reading and writing.
After a while he set out as a Talib al-'ilm, or "enquirer after wisdom"; and in the course of his wanderings, arrived at Gujargarhi. After a few months he went to Tordher (now in Sawabi District) and became the murid or disciple of Sahibzadah Muhammad Shwaib (Shu'ayb) at that time the most noted priest in these parts and adopted Naqashbandiyah tariqah (order) for its undisturbed observance.
At the age of twenty years, 1816, he migrated and settled on a lonely spot on the river (Indus) bank below the village of Baiki (or Beka), near Hund. Here he built a zozkhanah, or "camel's thorn hut", at the river's brink; and, shut off from the world, dwelt in it for twelve years sitting silent and motionless, his head bowed on his chest, and his eyes fixed on the ground. During all this time his diet, it is said, was only Shamukha; the seed of a wild grass (panicum frumentaceum) and water. This grain is said to be his chief food at the present time but the water is replaced by buffalo's milk. At Beka his sanctity and holiness began to attract universal attention, and he got the title of Akhund. His fame as a saint, records Wylly, dates from his sojourn at Beka, and even to this day, in the most distant parts of Persia, he is still remembered as The Hermit of Beka.