Mystics and Saints

By: Shreyas Devaraj

Nawab Mohammed Yusuf Ali Khan

A Sai devotee who was regarded as a thinker, poet, and mystic with clairvoyance. He was employed as a Section Officer in the Poll Panel in the Andhra Pradesh Legislature and has contributed articles on Sai Baba in Urdu, English, and Telugu. He was actively involved in the publication of the ‘Sai Prabha’ monthly magazine from Hyderabad. He used to perform ‘Namaz’ five times a day and in his interactions profusely quoted Gita, Ramayana, and other scriptures, apart from doling out charity on Fridays. He called his religion ‘EKTA’ symbolic of Baba’s policy of ‘Rama and Rahim are not different’. He regularly visited Shirdi. He lived for 80 years (1938-2018).

Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976)

Born in a poor family in Bangladesh he evolved to be a free thinker, poet, and revolutionary socialist and was influenced by Tagore and Shantiniketan. He lived in Dacca and Calcutta and his pious deeds earned him as a ‘Sufi’ saint. His songs and poems have influenced post-Samadhi devotees of Sai Maharaj. He organized mass songs by youth against social evils. His adoration for Sai Maharaj is expressed in several songs in Urdu and Bengali. His tomb in Dacca is vibratory and attracts people seeking solace.

Andavan Pichai Maragathavalli (1899-1990)

Born in a middle-class Brahmin family, Maragathavalli showed her divine nature even at the age of ten. Lord Murgha possessed her. Her musical compositions, melodious singing, and devout actions earned her the title ‘Andavan Pichai’ – mad for God. Her admirers have converted this title to ‘Gift of God.’ She had visions of Sai Maharaj, Ramana Bhagawan, Swami Sivananda, and other great saints. In 1949 when she had given up her life, at the command of Sadasiva Brahmendra, there was a transmigration of the Soul into her body by the Soul of another Saint Ramakrishna of Pinnavasal and there was a remarkable transformation in her. She spent a few years at Rishikesh visiting Shirdi, Dwaraka, Varanasi, and other pilgrim places and came back to her family house in Chennai in the late Eighties. She attained Maha Samadhi on 6th September 1990.

Dr Sangamedu Sadaslva Badrinath (1940-2023)

A famous Eye specialist who brought relief to patients of Diabetes with eye complications ending up in total blindness, Dr. Badrinath started ‘Photo-coagulation treatment’ at VHS Adyar Hospital in Chennai in the late Sixties. Earlier people had to go abroad for this treatment. It was unique that this expensive treatment of Photocoagulation was cut shot to Rs.100/-. Somehow, Badrinath wanted to go abroad and settle down in America. When he met Kanchi Paramacharya Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati for his blessings, the Mahaswami asked Badrinath to stay back in India and serve our people. Badrinath agreed and thus ‘Sankara Netralaya’ was established which has grown into a world-class Eye Hospital. In this Hospital, rates are reasonable and 40% of the patients are treated free of cost. Badrinath was decorated with ‘Padma Bhushan’ as well as the ‘Dhanvantri’ Award among many honors and awards. His visits to Pune and Mumbai took him to pay his homage to Sai Baba.