It was the Winter of 1927. Shri Martand Manik Prabhu Maharaj, the third Sakalamatacharya, was on his way back to Maniknagar after a long statewide tour. He was staying at Pratapbagh Haveli in the outskirts of Hyderabad. People were thronging to meet Shreeji. The Haveli and its compound were so full of people that even the Sadar Kotwal (Police Chief) – Sir Venkatramareddy had to wait in his car for hours before he could enter the compound. Suddenly, the telephone at the Haveli rang. The call was from King Kothi Palace. His Exalted Highness, the 7th Nizam had extended an invitation to Shreeji to come and bless him. Some people at the Haveli were anxious at the prospect of a Hindu saint visting the Muslim Prince. But Shreeji gladly accepted the invitation and asked Sir Kishan Pershad, the Diwan, to make arrangements for the visit.


The next day, Shreeji’s convoy left for King Kothi. Many Paigah Nawabs (aristocrats) and State officials were accompanying Shreeji. Shreeji alighted from his car at the stairs of Nazari Baagh Mahal (the residential wing of King Kothi Palace). The 7th Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan himself had come to the gate to receive Shreeji. As the king took Shreeji’s hand to welcome him, His Highness noticed a golden कडा (bracelet) on Shreeji’s right Hand. The Nizam asked Shreeji “हज़रत, आप तो फ़कीर हैं, दरवेश हैं. इस सोने के ज़ेवर का आपको क्या काम?”

Shreeji smiled and said “मैं फ़कीर ही नहीं फ़किरों का बादशाह हूं और ये सब उसीके लवाज़मात हैं.” The Nizam was speechless. It hardly needs to be said that the Nizam became a lifelong follower of Shreeji.

[social_warfare]