Nana Tajuddin Aulia Nagpuri
Overview and Significance
Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Aulia of Nagpur (1861-1925) was a revered mystic beloved by both Muslims and Hindus. While Muslims regard him as a great fakir, Hindus see him as an Avadhuta.
Exploring his life stories reveals the incredible miracles he performed to assist his followers, instill faith, and guide them towards higher spiritual evolution, irrespective of their religious background.
Life History
Tajuddin was born to Syed Badruddin on Thursday, January 27, 1861, at about 5:15 a.m. in Kamptee. Remarkably, the newborn did not cry, causing concern among those present. Following local customs, they branded the child’s forehead and temples, believing him to be stillborn. Shortly after, he let out a faint cry, but soon stopped and began to gaze around. The branding marks remained with him throughout his life.
At the age of one, Tajuddin’s father passed away, and by nine, he had also lost his mother. When he was six, a renowned Muslim (Sufi) Saint named Hazrat Abdulla Shah visited him near his school. Abdulla Shah, after a brief contemplation, fed Tajuddin a piece of sweetmeat, saying to a nearby teacher, “What can you teach him? He was already a learned man in his previous life.”
Teachings
- Duties and Virakti: “Do your duties while eating your food. Virakti is not withdrawing from duty. Keep away those things that divert your thoughts from the Lord. That is Virakti.”
- On Mansur: When asked about the Sufi saint Mansur, crucified for declaring Anal Huq (I am God), Baba Tajuddin replied, “Yes, he is a great saint; but he was a child who opened his fist too soon. This fist of Tajuddin will not open until the Day of Judgment.”
- Path of a Fakir: “The true path for a fakir is to renounce all desires. If one surrenders to the Almighty God’s will, everything else will be assured.”
- Emotional Equanimity: “Neither do I get overjoyed in happiness, nor do I brood over unhappiness.”
- Self-Realization: “The way to God-realization is to realize yourself as the Self.”
- Conquering Desires and Anger: “He verily is a man who has conquered his desires and anger.”
Baba Tajuddin also embraced Hindus, visiting their homes where they worshipped him in their traditional manner, applying sandal paste and garlanding him. He never objected to their form of worship.
Miracles
Blessing Women to Have Sons: Once, while resting on the sands of the Kanhan River, Baba was approached by two childless women, Shantabai and Subhadrabai, who prayed for children. Baba gave each a ladoo (sweetmeat) after tasting them. Shantabai consumed the ladoo as blessed prasad and later gave birth to a son. Subhadrabai, who had buried the ladoo, remained childless. On a later visit, Baba advised her to search beneath the sand for her child, prompting her repentance. Baba then blessed her, and she had a son a year later.
Foreseeing a Calamity: One day, Baba rushed to a goldsmith’s house in Kamptee, urging the family to vacate immediately. Respecting Baba’s advice, they did so, and the next night the building collapsed. The entire family became his devoted followers.
Manifesting Food: When Baba requested food at a man’s house and was told there was none, he revealed the hidden food in a box, astonishing the man and demonstrating his extraordinary powers.
