Kunangudi Masthan Dargah / குணங்குடி மஸ்தான் தர்கா- Royapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A Royapuram Heritage Walk.

11^th August 2018.

The visit to this dargah was a part of Royapuram heritage walk/ ride. We about 35 history enthusiasts visited on 11^th August 2018. The Dargah is on the Pichandi lane, which is a diversion on Raman Street. The lane is very narrow and congested. This Dargah has existed since 1838 CE when Kunangaudi Masthan attained Mukthi.

LIFE HISTORY OF KUNANGUDI MASTHAN.

Kunangudi Masthan, was born as Sultan Abdul Kadhar to Nainar and Fathima Beevi in a Village Kunangudi near Thondi of Ramnad district in 1792. At the age of 17, he left home to escape from the marriage with his maternal uncle’s daughter, since he was interested more in religion. He went to Kizhakarai and met Thaikka Sahib alias Sheik Abdul Khadar Lebbai and got initiated. In 1813 he left everything and became a true follower of Allah, through Sufism.

He traveled the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu and wandered on hills like Thiruparankundram, Aanalmalai, Puraamalai, Naagamalai, Sathuragiri etc. Traveled to North India also. He used to meditate on hills, forests, and banks of rivers and got the siddhi. He had done many miracles with the siddhi he obtained. Seeing this the people called him Masthan. When he visited Nagoor Dargah, the doors were closed. The Miracle happened when he sang a song, and the door opened automatically.   

Finally, he arrived at Royapuram (Tondiarpet) and roamed like a lunatic singing songs on the streets. He ate the food offered by the people and in turn, he had done some siddhus for them. Hearing about Kunangudi Masthan, Bava Lebbai became his disciple and built a small ashram for him in his Kavanthoppu, which contained thorny bushes. He used to meditate in a small subterranean chamber of the ashram. Not only Muslims, Hindus like Ayyaswamy Mudaliar, Maha Vidwan Saravaperumaalayyar, Venkat Rayapillai, and Kovalam Arunachala Mudaliar's Son Sabapathy also became the disciples of Masthan Sahib.  It was told that after meeting Aroct Navab, Kunangudi Masthan was dropped in the ashram through his private palanquin. 

He stayed and meditated for 12 years. When he knows of his departure from this materialistic world, he informed in the dream of Bava Lebbai about his departure in 1838 at the age of 47. The next day, he was found under a tree in the ashram wrapped with white cloth.  The dargah has the Samadhi of Kunangudi Masthan at the center and his disciples are buried on the left and right side. Still, people from all walks of life from various parts of Tamil Nadu visit this dargah for his blessings. It was told that only those who observe sannyasa ( away from family life ) are allowed into the meditating chamber. 

An additional piece of information. Since Kunangudi Masthan came from Thondi, the Tondiarpet ( Royapuram is adjacent to Tondiarpet ) was called initially Thondi-ar-pet and later turned into Tondiarpet.

HIS WORKINGS

He had composed many songs nearly 1057 on Allah considering him as a female. The important songs are “Manonmani Kanni” and “Rehman kanni”. His songs were compiled and Published by Professor Abdul Rehman in 1980. He is also praised as a Muslim Thayumanavar.

LOCATION OF THE DARGAH: CLICK HERE
 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---