The Life and Teachings of Hazrat Tabl-e-Aalam Badshah Nathar Auliya (R.A.)
The Radiant Sultan Who Brought Sufism to South India
Hazrat Syedna Sultan Syed Baba-e-Nathar Sarmast Tabl-e-Aalam Dhool Samandar Hussaini Suharwardy (R.A.), lovingly known as Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.), is one of the greatest saints of India. More than eleven centuries ago, he arrived in the South and became the first Sufi to bring Islam and Sufism to South India and Sri Lanka. His blessed mausoleum in Trichy (Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu) is today a luminous fountain of barakat (divine grace), where seekers of all faiths continue to find peace and healing.
A King Who Gave Up His Throne for Allah
Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) was born as Sultan Syed Mataharuddin, a descendant of the noble family of Sayyids, and was the ruler of Istanbul / Sabunath in Anatolia (Turkey). Despite the crown upon his head, his heart yearned only for Allah.
In a blessed vision, Sayyiduna Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ commanded him to renounce his throne and carry the Divine Message to India. With total surrender, he abdicated his kingdom and left behind the world of kingship to become a true servant of Allah.
Initiation into the Qalandari Path
Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) was guided into tasawwuf by the great master Sheikh Syed Ali Sarmast Qalandar (R.A.), an accomplished wali of the Suhrawardi Qalandari order. Under his training, Nathar Auliya (R.A.) drank deeply from the ocean of faqr and was prepared for his mission.
Sheikh Syed Ali Sarmast Qalandar (R.A.) rests in Sehwan Sharif, Sindh (Pakistan) — in the very same sacred town where his blessed master, the great Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (R.A.), also rests. This spiritual bond tied Nathar Auliya (R.A.) directly to the powerful Qalandari current of Sehwan, which became the fountain from which the light of Qalandariyya flowed to South India.
The Mission to India with 900 Qalandars
Obeying the Prophetic command, Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) journeyed to India with 900 Qalandar faqirs, saints intoxicated in the love of Allah. Together they crossed lands and seas until they reached Trichy, where Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) established the first khanqah of Sufism in South India.
Through him, the light of Islam spread with love, humility, and service — not by sword, but by heart. He is remembered as the “Tabl-e-Aalam Badshah” (The King who carried the Banner of Islam to the World).
Teachings and Way of Life
Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) lived as a Qalandar, immersed in Divine Love, never marrying, and dedicating his life entirely to Allah. His teachings were centered on:
- Faqr (Spiritual Poverty): True kingship lies in being nothing before Allah.
- Service to Humanity: He rescued people from the torment of demons and brought them safety and peace.
- Pure Surrender: He embodied the Prophetic wisdom of “Die before you die.”
The Fountainhead of the Qalandariyya Suhrawardiyya in India
Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) is revered as the fountainhead of the Qalandariyya Suhrawardiyya silsila in India. From his radiant presence, the stream of Qalandari spirituality flowed into the Deccan and South India.
His most beloved disciple and khalifa was Syedul Aarifīn, Sultanul Mashāyiqīn Hazrat Khwaja Baba Fakhruddin (R.A.) of Penukonda, who himself gave up his throne to embrace the path of faqr. Through Baba Fakhruddin (R.A.), the Qalandari Suhrawardi path spread far and wide, and his descendants and disciples continue this blessed silsila to this day.
Although Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) himself remained unmarried and left no physical descendants, his spiritual lineage flourishes eternally through his disciples, especially Baba Fakhruddin (R.A.) and the descendants of Hazrat Syed Ali ChillaKash (R.A.), the brother of Baba Fakhruddin (R.A.).
His Holy Resting Place
Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) rests in Trichy, in a shrine that is among the oldest and most powerful centers of barakat in India. Alongside him is the resting place of Hazrat Shams Goya (R.A.), another great saint of the path.
His dargah remains a spiritual lighthouse, where devotees of all backgrounds come to seek his blessings, pray for their needs, and connect with the eternal mercy of Allah through his presence.
Legacy
Hazrat Tabl-e-Aalam Badshah Nathar Auliya (R.A.) is remembered as:
- The first Sufi of South India and Sri Lanka, who brought Islam through love and service.
- The Qalandar King, who gave up a worldly throne to wear the crown of faqr.
- The fountainhead of the Qalandariyya Suhrawardiyya silsila in India, linking the mighty current of Sehwan Sharif with the blessed soil of the Deccan.
- The noble Murshid of Hazrat Baba Fakhruddin (R.A.), whose legacy continues in Penukonda and far beyond.
Even after centuries, his shrine in Trichy remains alive with Divine grace. His life is a reminder that the true kings are not those who sit on thrones, but those who sit at the door of Allah in humility and love.
✨ In Reverence:
Hazrat Nathar Auliya (R.A.) was the Tabl-e-Aalam Badshah, the fountainhead of the Qalandariyya Suhrawardiyya in India, and the blessed Murshid of Hazrat Baba Fakhruddin (R.A.). Linked through his master Sheikh Syed Ali Sarmast Qalandar (R.A.) and the great Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (R.A.), his light flows eternally, guiding seekers from Sehwan to Trichy to Penukonda.