Kamar Ali Darvesh

Hazrat Qamar Ali Darvesh (RA), also known as Kamar Ali Darvesh, is an Indian Sufi mystic whose mausoleum (Dargah) is located in Pune, India. He lived around the 13th century and passed away in Khed-Shivapur (Maharashtra, India) and is venerated across religious and cultural boundaries for his perceived spiritual charisma and miraculous legacy. Most famously associated with the levitating stone phenomenon, Hazrat Qamar Ali's dargah (shrine) functions not only as a religious pilgrimage site but also as a locus of syncretic belief and folk spirituality. This article explores the historical and spiritual dimensions of his life, the sociocultural meanings of the levitating stone tradition, and the broader implications of his legacy for the study of South Asian Islamic mysticism and shrine-based Sufism. 

Early life

Hazrat Qamar Ali Darvesh was born in the late 12th century (A.D.) to Sheikh Bahauddin and Nazira Begum. Sheikh Bahauddin was himself a khalifa of Nizamuddin Aulia of Delhi in the Chishty Sufi order. As per the advice of his father, Kamar Ali Darvesh received an oath of allegiance (bayah) to Hazrat Shamshad Hussain Madani. Shamshad Hussain Madani was known as Gara Pir, and his mausoleum is also located in Pune. After the wisal of his father, Kamar Ali Darvesh received permission from his mother to leave for Pune to do Riyazat in seclusion. He renounced worldly strength and migrated to Khed Shivapur village of Pune. In a milieu that celebrated physical prowess, he pursued an alternative spiritual path marked by zuhd (asceticism), humility, and dhikr (constant remembrance of Allah). His hagiography reflects common tropes of Sufi sanctity: early piety and miraculous signs (karāmāt). He is said to have died young—at around 18 years of age—but his spiritual presence has endured for over seven centuries.

In Pune

When Kamar Ali Darvesh visited the village in Pune, the locals of that region were suffering from an intense scarcity of drinking water. Legendary accounts say that with the dua of Kamar Ali Darvesh, a spring erupted there to end this intense scarcity. Regarding the levitating stone, there is a popular anecdote that says that a Khabis (demonic Djinn) used to live there in the village in Pune who used to harass the locals. After arrival the saint with his Ruhaniyat captured this Khabbis in this mysterious levitating stone.

The Levitating Stone

The levitating stone and the logic of miracle: Near the dargah lies one large stone weighing around 90 kg, which devotees believe can be lifted only by 11 people using just their index fingers while chanting “Qamar Ali Darvesh” in one breath. The miracle is said to only occur when the chant is continuous and unified; outside the shrine’s vicinity or without proper ritual, the stone won’t budge. This ritual act has become a cornerstone of local spiritual practice and is repeated daily by pilgrims and visitors.

Scholars have interpreted such phenomena through a variety of lenses:

Phenomenological: The experience of the collective chanting and synchronized action leads to a suspension of disbelief, wherein the act itself becomes a ritual of communal faith rather than empirical proof.

Symbolic: The levitating stone, once used in wrestling arenas, represents the surrender of brute strength to divine power—a central Sufi theme.

Anthropological: The event acts as a binding agent for interreligious and intercultural participation, allowing Hindus, Muslims, and others to engage in shared spiritual ritual without doctrinal barriers.

Kamar Ali Darvesh Dargah

Located on the Pune–Satara highway, the dargah of Qamar Ali Darvesh serves as a multi-religious pilgrimage site.

The Dargah is easily accessible from Pune via bus or car on NH‑4, about 16 km from the city center. Pilgrims visit daily to pray, seek blessings and healing, or witness the miracle stone. The annual Urs fair at the dargah draws crowds with qawwalis (Sufi devotional music), drawing large and vibrant gatherings. Even during regular days, qawwali sessions often run in the evening, especially on Thursdays or during holy dates. Daily langar of Holy Milk (Dudh) and Mutton Tahari is arranged for the zayreen (pilgrims).

From a critical scholarly perspective, the shrine—and the miracle associated with it—has also been subject to scrutiny by rationalist and scientific organizations. Nonetheless, for many, the act of participating in the stone-lifting is not about proving supernatural intervention but affirming collective belief and spiritual resonance.

References

  • GURAV, Dr. MAHADEV D. (2017-09-06). "A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF FAIRS AND FESTIVALS IN PUNE DISTRICT." ISBN 978-1-387-13602-5. P. 146.

  • Agarwal, Chaitanya S. (2023-11-10). Enigmas Revealed: Decoding The Secrets Of Mystery, Myths, And Superstitions. BFC Publications. ISBN 978-93-5764-932-2. P. 67.

  • A short biography of Hazrat Kamar Ali Darvesh by Habib Attari.

  • A short biography of Hazrat Kamar Ali Darvesh by Naseem Raza Qadri.