Tawakkal Mastan Vali

Who is Tawakkal Mastan Vali?

Tawakkal Mastan Vali is considered by his followers to be a Sufi saint from the Saharwardia Order of the 17th century. His mausoleum is located in the Cottonpet area of Bangalore, India. He is a disciple of the Sufi order of Baba Fakruddin of Penukonda.

A place visited by Hindus and Muslims alike, this dargah has a history of over 200 years. The annual urs is celebrated here on 19 Safar. The dargah's history goes back to the time of Nawab Hyder Ali Khan. The king, after accession to the throne, wanted to build a sloped wall to his fort at Kalasipalya and replace the mud walls with stone walls. Three men — Hazrath Tipu Mastan, Hazarath Manik Mastan, and Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan — came to Bangalore and joined the work force at the construction site. The three worked with other labourers during day, and spent the night, in prayers.

The three, it is said, would not draw salaries, and Hyder was puzzled to note that they were always missing on salary day. Hyder Saheb asked the quiledar to enquire into the mystery. Hyder's maternal uncle, Banke Nawab Ibrahim, who investigated the men, learnt that the three went to mosque in Kumbarpet after work and slept there. When he went to the mosque to look for them, he saw no labourers there, but only three parts of a human body, with two dogs standing guard over them. The quiledar narrated this to Hyder, and he realised instantly that the three were not labourers, but great saints.