Tantra in daily life (Part 12)

"How to maneuver your 'dasha' according to your needs?"

Life is all about balancing. To gain something one has to give up something. It depends on what each one wants to gain while losing something in the bargain!
In the case of manipulating a dasha  (of a particular house) according to our requirements, we are free to highlight any desired aspect of the concerned house by discarding or underplaying most of the other qualities or tendencies of that house.

 For eg., in the case of a native who is under the influence of a dasha of a planet which owns or occupies the third house from the Ascendant (lagna) (or the planet could also have a strong influence over the third house) the first step would be to study the tendencies and results of the third house (as given below).
The native should then focus on whichever aspect he considers as his  primary requirement in order to highlight the same. The native's requirement or need of the hour could be a) enterprise; b)winning battle; c)journalism or d)public address/ e)artistic performance. The next step the native has to take is to diminish other areas of the house in order to highlight the desired aspect of that house (marked as a), b), c), d) and e)). Since food and meals are important aspects of the third house, it would help if the native avoids rich food, usage of gold or silver vessels, unnecessary speech ('mouna vratham' would be ideal), rich dressing etc and  loud jewelry. He/she could explore to any depths to find out effective ways to curb irrelevant areas of the house in order to extract optimum results of the desired dimension of the house. The same applies to all the 12 houses.
Third House signifies:- The third house signifies courage, brothers, anger, ears, neck, meals, skill, patience, sisters, friends, neighbours, travels, cousins, ornaments, improvement, enterprise, clothing, steadiness, war, difficulty in obtaining food, power, instruction, help, medicine, right arm, voice, servants, subordinates, power of hearing, diseases in the ear, gold and siver vessels, heroic deeds, capacity, ability, courage, battle, meekness, skill and longevity of life, speech, writing, correspondence, communication, media-related affairs, family etc.

Radhe.........Durge........

ugra-rupa siva-kroda
krsna-kroda jalodari
mahodari maha-durga-
kantara-sustha-vasini
 

She manifests the terrible form of Durga-devi (ugra-rupa), where She sits on Lord Siva's lap (siva-kroda). She sits on Lord Krsna's lap (krsna-kroda). She rests on the milk-ocean (jalodari). She descends to the material world (mahodari). She happily lives in a great forest that is like an unapproachable fortress (maha-durga-kantara-sustha-vasini).

Tantra in daily life (Part 11)

To begin with here is what each house from the Ascendant (Lagna) to the 12th house represents:-

First House (Ascendant or Lagna):- The first house represents the native's physical appearance, name, fame, limbs, disposition, life, soul, character, wisdom, birth, habits, aptitude, temperament, activity, age, strength, stature, health, happiness, complexion, beauty, way of life, colour of hair, head, weakness, politics, knowledge, splendour, place of birth etc.

Second House:-The second houses represents face, family, wealth, domestic happiness, eyes, speech, thoughts, prosperity, memory, pleasure, loss or gain, food, learning, intelligence, cunning, savings, anger, monetary affairs, personal property, fortunes, relations, fixed temperament, jewels, inauguration, metals, observation, right eye, persons under protection, tongue, nails, silver, gold, precious gems, passion, modesty, miserliness, comfort and taste, financial position, in-laws etc.

Third House:- The third house signifies courage, brothers, anger, ears, neck, meals, skill, patience, sisters, friends, neighbours, travels, cousins, ornaments, improvement, enterprise, clothing, steadiness, war, difficulty in obtaining food, power, instruction, help, medicine, right arm, voice, servants, subordinates, power of hearing, diseases in the ear, gold and siver vessels, heroic deeds, capacity, ability, courage, battle, meekness, skill and longevity of life, speech, writing, correspondence, communication, media-related affairs, family etc.

Fourth House:-The fourth house fundamentally signifies mother, land, houses, education, relations, happiness, conveyance besides tanks, cows, cattle, gardens, agriculture, comfort, lineage, residence, inheritance, water, travels, milk, palace, clothes, falsehood, true words, distant relatives, property, fields, benevolence, art, stores, fort, 'mandap', flower gardens, heart, friends, things in the bottom, nectar, mental qualities, the end of life and things, reputation, popularity, love for one's work, scents, perspiration, oil-baths, ornaments etc.

Fifth House:- The fifth house denotes sons, daughters, intellect, creative intelligence, 'poorva punya'('Karma'accumulated in previous birth), mantras, speculation, lottery, gambling, pleasures, enterprise, investments, mind, discrimination, reasoning, father, honour, religion, precepts, joy, worship of household deities, belly, stomach, modesty, charity, hearing, feeding, merrymaking, drinking, eating, firm disposition, inheritance, father's generosity, genealogy, post of a minister, advice, skill, care and caution, memory, secrecy, pride, good conduct, cooking, bathing, physical pleasures, love affairs, promiscuity etc.

Sixth House:-The sixth house fundamentally signifies enemies, diseases, debts, imprisonment besides relations, servants, inferiors, small pets, wounds, troubles, obstacles, difficulties in getting food, sorrow, misery, poverty, maternal relations, fear, boils, stepmother, fear of shame, good food, theft, superstitions, injuries by weapons, cousins from paternal side, calamities through women, intimidation, vengeance, bad habits, diabetes, recovery from illness, benefit through servants etc.

Seventh House:- The seventh house mainly signifies marriage, description of spouse (wife/husband), generosity, lust, respect, enjoyment, partnership, lawsuits, adultery, death, public enemies, holy places, speculation, love affairs, immorality, desires, sunset, trade, forgetfulness, voyage, loss in livelihood or occupational hazard, love of betel, dealings with the opposite sex, public affairs, opponents, obstacles during travel, losing one's way, sexual conduct, genital organs (private parts), marital discord, music, dance, patronage from ruling circles, duration of wife's life, freedom, character, daily earnings, litigation etc.

Eighth House:- The eighth house fundamentally signifies longevity, sin, sorrow, hell, rebirth besides legacies, personal property of spouse, nature of death, happiness with regard to food, venereal diseases, dowry, trouble, suddenly acquired wealth, loss through lotteries, occultism, clairvoyance, danger, chronic diseases, obstacles, uneasiness, loss of money, loss of limb, enmity, cruelty, dwelling houses as opposed to agricultural lands and hidden wealth, legacies and windfalls, gains through insurance and strangers, sexual organs etc.

Ninth House:-The ninth house fundamentally signifies Guru, preceptor, father, dharma, virtuous deeds, prosperity, spiritual practices besides faith, medicine, kindness, benevolence, bathing in holy rivers, morality, purity of mind, honour, credit, ceremonies, father's possession, luck and spiritual learning, good company, good conduct, public beneficence, fame, meritorious acts, wealth, irrigation, fertile fields and desires, happiness through wealth, divine favours, brother and sister-in-law, grandchildren, future, general welfare, long journeys, foreign travel, study of philosophy and art, religious and legal affairs, intuition and interest in occult etc.

Tenth House:- The tenth house mainly represents profession, karma, living, kingdom, authority besides fame, trade, clothes, employment, honour, credit, reputation, activity, charity, meals, deeds, persons in power and authority, cultivation, medicine, loss of honour, punishment, prices, treasures, titles, preferment, business and success, gifts, presents, athletes, public goods, pride, mercy, wisdom, mendicancy, fortitude, worship, concentration, residing in foreign lands and countries, knowledge, rank and status, treasure-trove, adopted son, mother-in-law, service, renunciation and spiritual acts, success in life, position, prestige, promotion for those in services, moral standards, long-distance travels etc.

Eleventh House:- The eleventh house fundamentally signifies gains, profits, earning by self, elder sibling besides friends, hopes, wishes, mother's prosperity, sisters, miserliness, income, cooking, left ear, slandering, acquisitions, legs, worship, son-in-law, paternal uncle, patrimony, dependence, insight, vehicles, power to overcome obstacles, loss of wealth, total income, clothes, friends and business partnership, success in business etc.

Twelfth House:- The twelfth house mainly represents losses, expenditure and 'moksha'(soul-liberation) besides bad deeds, travels, secret enemies, sorrow, imprisonment, sin, spending, inflicting physical troubles, difficulties, defamation, mental anxiety, misfortunes, loss of sleep, misery, dignity, deep occultism, sacrifice, left eye, prosperity in profession, self-destination (life after death), tribulation, affliction, defect in organs, derangement of brain or mind, sale of carriages and houses, distress, backbiters, assassination, treason, suicide, journey, settling abroad, disputes, waste of money, adultery, pleasures of bed, luxuries, generosity, true happiness, gains through adversaries, gains through religious, charitable and public institutions etc.

How to maneuver Dasas (planetary periods) to avert evil effects or to enhance a good dasha for obtaining optimum results?

(To be continued.........)

Tantra in daily life (Part 10)

Mercury coming out of its retrogression on April 4th is not much of a relief as the planet is going to move towards its debilitation in Pisces on the 6th of April. The delays, obstacles and unforeseen developments in communications for the past twenty odd days..... just the limit!
 On May 5th Mercury moves out of its debilitated status and enters Aries, again not a friendly house. The company of an exalted Sun in Aries upto May14th could extract great traits from the planet of intellect, Mercury  to form a great "Budhadithya Yoga'' for any native who will be born during the period of Sun-Mercury conjunction. On May 21st, Mercury moves into Taurus to be in the company of a retrograde Venus, Sun and Ketu.
In all the activity stated above, a lot of positive action and rejuvenation can be expected when Mars turns direct on April 14th in Leo, putting an end to frustrations of all sorts. Saturn's return to Virgo (a friendly house owned by Mercury) is enhanced by the entry   (and subsequent 5th aspect) of Jupiter into Taurus on the 17th of May. The dreaded conjunction of Mars and Saturn between June 21st and August 14th could in all probability be saved by the fifth aspect of Jupiter.
Natal charts (horoscopes drawn at the time of birth) could be altered according to the good or bad deeds we perform during the same lifetime itself!
What is a Dasha or Vimshotthari Dasha and how to get the best out of the Vimshotthari Dasha (planetary period) we are running presently?

Very very briefly:-

Dasha of a native depends upon the placement of moon in a nakshathra at the time of his/her birth.This nakshathra determines the first ever Dasha or Mahadasha in the life of the native.
Nakshathras and the planets they belong to:-

Vimshotthari Dasha (totally 120 years)

Ashwini-Makha-Moola-Ketu (7 years)
Bharani-Poorvaphalguni-Poorvashadha- Venus (20 years)
 Krittika-Uttharaphalguni- Uttharashadha- Sun (6 years)
Rohini-Hastha-Shravanam- Moon (10 years)
Mrigashira-Chittha-Dhanishta- Mars (7 years)
Aardra- Swathi-Sathabhisha- Rahu (18 years)
Punarvasu-Visakha-Poorvabhadra- Jupiter (16 years)
Pushyami-Anuradha-Uttharabhadra- Saturn (19 years)
Aslesha-Jyeshtha-Revathi-  Mercury (17 years)

The balance of Mahadasha is determined by the distance covered by the moon in the nakshathra at the time of birth. Each nakshathra has 4 padas and depending on the placement of moon in one of the padas, the remaining padas are calculated to arrive at the balance of Dasha at the time of birth.
The Mahadashas (planetary periods) and their relationship to the 12 houses of a natal chart depends on the planet-owner of the Mahadasha and its ownership/friendship and enmity of the Lords of 12 houses namely Aries (owned by Mars), Taurus (owned by Venus), Gemini(owned by Mercury), Cancer (owned by Moon), Leo (owned by Sun), Virgo (owned by Mercury), Libra (owned by Venus), Scorpio (owned by Mars), Sagittarius (owned by Jupiter), Capricorn (owned by Saturn), Aquarius (owned by Saturn) and Pisces (owned by Jupiter).
The above rashis or houses have to be studied for their respective placements from the Lagna or Ascendant.
When a native is born while the moon is in Mrigashira nakshatram, he/she has started Mars Mahadasha. The Mahadasha is judged by the Lagna or Ascendant and the relationship between the Lord of Mahadasha and Lord of Lagna and other major factors.
 How to maneuver a planetary period or Dasha to suit our needs or achieve our goals?

Before that, a brief run through natal houses and their traits to understand what every house  is capable of yielding and the way to extract what we need from them.

(To be continued...........)

Tantra in daily life (Part 9)

SHIVA-UMA

Many of us may vaguely remember a well-meant advice or suggestion given to us by an elderly relative, parent or even an acquaintance during our childhood or sometime back in the past. A few of us may not have been able to implement the advice/suggestion received. Even while wondering why we never took the advice seriously, our thoughts drift to other areas and we quickly forget about the advice and the incident.
Those advices from the distant past are not meant to be trashed in the back of our minds, but meant for us to USE at sometime in our lives. Never mind if a lot of time has lapsed since the time of receiving the advice/suggestion. We would be astounded to realise that an advice received well back in time acts as a perfect solution to a critical problem, even after many years and decades! That is how cosmos works! You only have to tune your inner radar system to decode and interpret messages, however vague they may seem! Following are few cosmic interpretations (within brackets).
"How is your mother?""("Take care of her health.")
"Have you read any epic so far?"(Please read some epic.")
"Have you been to that temple any time?"(Please go to that temple.")
"We want to present you the Lifetime Achievement award."("Take a clean break from the performing scenario.")
"Hello, I am calling from Tiruvannamalai."("Ramana Maharshi inviting you to Tiruvannamalai.")
"I love you" (Your Higher self telling yourself "I love you".)
"Please don't talk so hurtfully", "why are you being so stubborn?", "I wish you could change.." etc. (such observations and comments are all messages coming from the Higher Self).
Even an inclination or tendency towards promiscuity for finding one's ideal lover is translated as "the inner quest", ""soul-search" or "the longing for one's Higher Self" as nothing can surpass the joy or spiritual exhilaration achieved by the merging of oneself with the Higher Self. The divine union (Shiva-Shakthi) takes place within oneself.
Even the natal charts at the time of birth could be altered through conscious karma-management. The worst evils in a horoscope are eradicated by good deeds (like healing, charity (towards deserving cause), helping the aged/destitutes/orphans/physically challenged/serving the terminally ill/social work in the most distressing atmospheres and conditions etc. Food charity, meditation, reading scriptures, prayers, chanting mantras etc. especially during brahma muhurtham, likhitha japam (written mantra), nama japam (mental chanting of mantras) are extremely good karma.
Kindness towards everybody, humility and simplicity, smile from the depths of one's heart and the ability to interact with anybody on his/her level also amounts to good karma. Soft spoken and gentle behaviour, making people feel comfortable and happy, good sense of humour, ability to laugh in the face of adversity, maintaining silence while being unfairly blamed, calmness during crisis, equanimity of mind in general are great ways to nullify bad karma.
Similarly the best yogas in any horoscope are rendered ineffective by negative deeds or attitude.Bad karma is caused by rudeness, aggressive behaviour, loud talk, using bad words, arrogance, pomposity, subjugating others, hurting anybody verbally/mentally/physically.Stealing money, property (material or personal like somebody's wife/husband), cheating, enormous anger, mentally controlling others, harassment, torture and abuse (mental/physical) and so on.
The wise one would want NO KARMA, neither good nor bad. A karmaless soul is eligible for soul-liberation and this state can be attained by performing one's duties ('dharma') without attachment, by learning to forget and forgive and finally by tuning oneself strictly to "NOW" (the present, existing moment) simultaneously drawing shutters over the past and the future. The best and only way towards Truth and Light!
(To be continued.....)

Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam (wedding chapter 157-166)

ASHTADIKPAALAKAAS
(Continued from Sri Venkatachala Mahathyam article dated June 18th, 2011).

157)Paathraani Vyasthrunochchambhuhu Paathraapaathravichakshanaha
Paandutheertham Samaarabhya Shreeshailaavadhi Bhoosuraaha.

Meaning:Lord Rudra, an expert in distinguishing the good from the bad was incharge of arranging plates for meals. From Pandu theertham (in Seven Hills) to Srisailam (in Andhra Pradesh, situated in Nallamalla Hills, Kurnool District)brahmins,

158)Devaascha Nibideebhoothaaha Thasmin Krishnamahothsavey
Sthithaa Devadwijaasthathra Swaswapaathraanthikey Prudhak.

Meaning:Devas arrived in several groups. Devas and brahmins sat in front of the meals plates assigned for each of them.

159)Thadaaha Bhagavaan Raajan! Brahmaanam Chathuraananam.
Shree Bhagavaan:-
Anarpitham Na Daathavyam Devaanaancha Dwijanmanaam.

Meaning:At that time Lord Srinivasa instructed Lord Brahma not to serve food for the Devas and brahmins without first offering the food to God, for which Lord Brahma responded...

160)Brahmaa:-
Sarvagyam Sarvabhokthaaram Sarvalokeshvareshvaram
Thvaameva Vedmi Govinda! Na Thvaththulyo Na Chaadhikaha.

Meaning:''Govinda! You know everything and you are all-pervading. You enjoy every creation in this Universe and are the Dictator in all the worlds! Is there anybody equal to You or more powerful than You?

161)Kasmai Nivedayeyam Bhoho Prashaadhi Kamalaapathey
Sa Puthravachanam Shruthvaa Puthramaaha Hasanniva.

Meaning: Tell me then whom do You order me to offer this food to??" Lord Brahma questioned. Lord Srinivasa replied with a smile...

162) Shree Bhagavaan:-
Ahobilanrusimhasya Poojaam Kruthvaa Nivedaya
Ithyuktho Vaasudevena Nrusimhasyaarpanam Nrupa.

Meaning:The Lord instructed that the food should be offered to Lord Narasimha of Ahobilam....

163)Brahmaa Chakaara Sarveshaam Muneenaamapi Sammatham
Gruhaaraadhanadevaamscha Manthryaanarcha Thathah Param.

Meaning:Lord Brahma did as he was instructed and also performed great rituals and pooja to the deities at home. All the monks who were assembled there were greatly pleased.

164)Akshathaarghyaambugandhaischa Dhoopadeepaadilepanaihi
Vipraanaamarchanam Chakrey Brahmaa Cha Vidhipoorvakam.

Meaning:Lord Brahma felicitated the brahmins with turmeric-coated rice, perfumed rose water, sandal paste, incense and oil lamps.

165)Nanaamaanandasampoorno Haristhaan Loukikai ssamaha
Parivesham Thathaschakruhu Ashtau Dikpaalakaasthadaa.

Meaning:Lord Srinivasa, acting like an ordinary mortal prostrated to the brahmins. Ans as the Äshtadikpaalakaas"( Guardians of the eight directions:- (1)Kubera-North (man), 2) Yama-South (male buffalo), 3) Indra-East (Airaavatha-white elephant), 4) Varuna-West (crocodile), 5) Eeshaana- Northeast (bull), 6) Agni-Southeast (male goat), 7) Vaayu- Northwest (spotted deer) and 8) Nairuthi-Southwest (horse)...

166)Paathrasamskaarapoorvancha Chakrusthey Pariveshanam
Pariveshancha Sampoornam Akarnyaagnimukhaaddarihi.

Meaning: cleaned the vessels and started to serve the food, Lord Srinivasa being duly informed of the news (the the Áshtadikpaalakas were cleaning vessels and serving food) informed Lord Agnihothra...
(To be continued.......)

Food for Chakras

Goddess Lalitha Mahatripurasundari

1)Vishudhdhi Chakra (Throat Chakra):-
"Vishudhdhi Chakranilayaa Rakthavarnaa Thrilochanaa
Khatvaangaadipraharanaa Vadanaika Samanvithaa
Paayasaannapriyaathvaksthaa Pashulokabhayankaree
Amruthaadi Mahaashakthisamvrutha Daakineeswari."

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'DAKINI' in Vishudhdhi chakra is one-faced, three-eyed and fond of rice kheer (payasam made of rice). Meditating on the Goddess in blood-red hues (raktha varna), visualise the offering of "Rice Kheer"to Goddess Lalitha Mahatripurasundari residing in the throat.She resides in the skin tissue.

2)Anaahatha Chakra (Heart Chakra):-
Anaahathaabjanilayaa Shyaamaabhaa Vadanadvayaa
Damshtrokshamaalaadhidharaa Rudhirasamsthithaa
Kaalaraathryaadi Shakthyaughavruthtaa Snigdhaudhanapriyaa
Mahaaveerendravaradaa Raakinyambaaswaroopinee.

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'RAKINI' in Anaahatha Chakra is two-faced and bluish-black hued, fond of ghee-rice ('Snigdhaudhanapriyaa). Mentally offer ghee-rice to Goddess Lalitha Mahatripurasundari residing in the heart. She resides in blood.

3)Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra):-
"Manipooraabja Nilayaa Vadanathraya Samyuthaa
Vajraadhikaayudhopethaa Dhaamaryaadibhiravruthaa
Rakthavarnaa Maamsanishthaa Goodhaannapreethamaanasaa
Samasthabhakthasukhadaa Laakinyamba Swaroopini.

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'LAKINI' in Manipura Chakra has three faces and bright red-hued. She is fond of jaggery-rice, mentally offer Her the same. She resides in the flesh.

4)Swadhishtaana Chakra (Sacral or Sex Chakra):-
"Swaadhishtaanaam Bhujagathaa Chathurvakthra Manoharaa
Shoolaadhyaayudhasampannaa Peethavarnaathigarvithaa
Medhonishthaa Madhupreethaa Bandhinyaadisamanvithaa
Dadhyannaasakthahrudayaa Kaakinee Roopadhaarinee."

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'KAKINI' in Swadhishtana Chakra is golden-hued. She is fond of curd rice and honey, meditate on offering Her the same. Proud with four faces, She resides in the fatty layers.

5)Moolaadhaara Chakra (Root Chakra):-
"Moolaadhaaraambujhaaroodhaa Panchavakthraasdhisamsthithaa
Ankushaadi Praharanaa Varadaadi Nishevithaa
Mugdaudhanaasakthachiththaa Saakinyambaa Swaroopinee."

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'SAKINI' in Mooladhara Chakra is five-faced. This glowing Goddess is fond of Khichdi (rice mixed with green grams). Mentally offer Her the same. She resides in bones.

6)Aagna Chakra (Brow Chakra):-
"Aagnaa Chakraabjanilayaa Shuklavarnaa Shadaananaa
Majjaasamsthaa Hamsavathee Mukhya Shakthi Samanvithaa
Haridraannaikarasikaa Haakinee Roopadhaarinee."

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'HAKINI' in Agna Chakra is white-hued and six-faced. Mentally offer Her rice mixed with turmeric (yellow rice) as She is fond of the same. She resides in the brain-tissue.

7)Sahasraara Chakra (Crown Chakra):-
"Sahasradala Padmasthaa Sarvavarnopashobhithaa
Sarvaayudhadharaa Shukla Samsthithaa Sarvathomukhee
Sarvaudanapreethachiththaa Yaakinyambaaswaroopini."

Lalitha Mahatripurasundari as 'ÝAKINI' in Sahasrara Chakra is multi-hued and multi-faced. Mentally offer Her variety of delicacies as She is fond of all kinds of food. She resides in semen.

Body Temple

I am discontinuing the "Body Temple"series due to unavoidable reasons. Kindly refer to "The Brief History Of India" to interpret the remaining parts of "Body Temple".

Hazrat Inayat Khan ( The Hindu dated 29/01/012)

Hazrat Inayat Khan

February 5 marks the Urs (death anniversary) of Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan that will be held at his mausoleum in Delhi. As a part of this event, special Sufi trails are being organised by international tour operators for followers of this Indian mystic who took Sufism to the West.

Abu Hashim Madani's dargah in Purana Pul and Aastan-e-Kaleemi in Tolichowki (both in old Hyderabad) — mausoleums of the great teachers of Hazrat Inayat Khan feature prominently on the list.

It was in Hyderabad that the musician became a spiritual guru. His grandson Zia Inayat Khan, in his work A Pearl in Wine: Essays on the Life, Music and Sufism of Hazrat Inayat Khan, chronicles Hazrat Inayat Khan's stay in the city.

A noted veena artiste and composer, Hazrat Inayat Khan was patronised by the sixth Nizam Mehboob Ali Pasha. He received rave reviews from officials in the royal court and the lofty title of ‘Tansen al Zaman' from the Nizam himself. During his stay in Hyderabad, he penned Minar -i-Musiqar — a treatise on music and had plans to open his own music school on the lines of the Gayanshala in Baroda started by his maternal grandfather Mawlabakhsh, a maestro in Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions alike.

Many would not know that Noor Inayat Khan, the World War II hero executed by the Germans in the Dachau Concentration Camp, was the daughter of Hazrat Inayat Khan and Ora Ray Baker.

Life changing meeting

A chance meeting with his spiritual teachers, Abu Hashim Madani and Syed Mohammed Hasan Jeeli Kaleemi, the latter a Sufi master in the then Tolichowki village, changed his life though.

“Madani was a follower of my grandfather as was Hazrat Inayat Khan. Inayat Khan delved into Sufism during his stay in Hyderabad,” said Syed Mohd. Rasheed-ul Hasan Jeeli Kaleemi, popularly known as Pir Rasheed — the only living descendant of the Chishti order founded by his grandfather Syed Mohammad Hasan Jeeli Kaleemi.

“Hazrat Inayat Khan travelled extensively. He held summer school on Sufism in Suresnes, France and went to Russia and England. The Sufi order founded by him there is now called the Sufi Order International, headquartered in the U.S. He returned to India in 1927 and died after a brief illness. His body was laid to rest near the dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya. His son Vilayat Inayat Khan was my father Syed Mohd. Fakhrul Hasan Jeeli Kaleemi's disciple,” recollected Pir Rasheed, as he got ready to leave for Hazrat Inayat Khan's Urs.

Today Hope Project, started by Vilayat Inayat Khan, takes up community health, livelihood and education-related works in the slums near Hazrat Nizamuddin dargah keeping Hazrat Inayat Khan's Sufi philosophy as a guiding principle.

But sadly for the city that saw Inayat Khan's transformation from a musician into a mystic and then a mureed or disciple, his teacher Madani's tomb in the old city lies in a decrepit condition with the history unheard of by many in its vicinity.