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 exists since 1838, 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 the true follower of Allah, through Sufism.

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

Finally he arrived 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 has become 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, Kovalam Arunachala Mudaliar's Son Sabapathy also became the disciple to 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. 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 of all walks of life from various parts of Tamil Nadu visits this dargah for his blessings. It was told that only those observe sanyasam ( away from family life ) are allowed in to the meditating chamber. 

An additional piece of information. Since Kunangudi Masthan came from Thondi, the Tondiarpet ( Royapuram is adjacent to Tondiarpet ) was called initially as Thondi-ar-pet and latter turned to 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 are compiled and Published by Professor Abdul Rehman in 1980. He is also praised as Muslim Thayumanavar.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE
 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---