Baba Budangiri

His shrine located amongst three caves on the Baba Budangiri still serves as a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims.

The available history says that one Dada Hayath, his real name being Abdul Azeez Macci, considered to be a direct disciple of Muhammad, was sent to India in the 11th century from Saudi Arabia to spread the message of Islam and peace, in true tradition of Sufism.

History says that the palegars did not tolerate the intervention of Dada Hayath into their domain, as his mission was about to affect their stronghold and dominance.

As Shobha Yatra was not performed prior to 1975, police have in some years denied buses permission to approach Bababudangiri on Datta Jayanti.

Baba Budan Giri represents a unique syncretic culture of Hindus and Muslims where both offer prayers in a cave-like structure.

He prayed and started digging the ground in front of the place he had selected as his seat of meditation and found a perennial spring.

[3] Likewise the Hindus, Muslims also believe that Dada had disappeared from one of the caves to Mecca and Madina and is alive and will in due course appear before the disciples.

After him, Baba Budan, one of his closest disciples who introduced coffee to this hilly region, brought from Mocha in the west Asia, carried his mission further.

The institution of custodian of the site although it is traced to Dada, began to centralise in a single family after the death of another Sufi saint, Syed Shah Jamaluddin.

There are a few characteristics attached to him: "only Sayyads can become swami, either Husseins or Khadris, the descendents of Hussen or Hassan, sons of Ali.

There are stories about how Dada protected a princess who later on came to be known as Sathi Samyukta by Hindus and Mama Jigni by the Muslims.

Most important is the story about how the princely state of Mysore was bestowed with an heir to the throne by Dada, and how the maharaja would be able to break the stone laid before the cave.

This story is important for two obvious reasons: It provided legitimacy to the claims of spiritual power of the Sufi saints, secondly, it made the state liberal, moderate and secular: Sri Krishna Raja Wadiyar had no son in his family for a long time.

Struck with an idea, he made a vow quietly that he would split that stone with coconuts on the birth of a son in the family.

He explained the situation and requested Hazrath Peer to take him to Dada and pray for his pardon and suggest a solution.

After Hazrath Peer recited the Fateha, Maharaja expressed his gratitude to Dada, repented his folly, sought out of the dargah and following the instructions, he broke the coconut on the stone slab.

The range, originally known as Chandra Drona Parvatha, takes its current name from the Dattapeeta Cave and 16th century Sufi saint Baba Budan.

Beautiful view of western ghats of India.
View of Baba Budan Dargah and Datta Peeta
Galikere in the Baba Budangiri range
Manikyadhara falls