page_title: Manik Prabhu
section_title: Prabhu Darbar
hierarchical_section_title: Manik Prabhu / Maniknagar / Prabhu Darbar
caption_attribution_description: English: A Painting depicting Shri Sai Baba's visit to Maniknagar.
context_page_description: Manik Prabhu Maharaj was an Indian Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, mystic and guru. He is also regarded as an incarnation of Dattatreya by the people of Datta Sampraday. Prabhu's philosophy, the "Sakalamata Siddhanta" basically rests on the principles of Advaita Vedanta as propagated by Adi Sankara. Shri Prabhu strongly advocated the essential oneness of all religions. Prabhu's Muslim Devotees revered him as an incarnation of Mehboob Subhani whereas his Lingayat devotees saw him as a form of Basavanna. Shri Prabhu composed numerous Bhajans and Padas in various languages such as Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit. Shri Prabhu was also associated with the First war of Indian Independence in 1857. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, Shri Bramhachaitanya of Gondavale and many other contemporary saints are believed to have visited Maniknagar to interact with Prabhu on matters of deep spiritual wisdom. All biographers refer to Shri Prabhu as a saint of great spirituality and mysticism. Shri Prabhu's teachings basically lay stress on the path of Bhakti.
context_section_description: The name and fame of Manik Prabhu spread quickly like a wildfire and people of all religions, sects and communities started flocking to Maniknagar.
  Prabhu used to hold a gathering everyday called DARBAR where thousands of people visited him and sought his blessings. Prabhu guided his devotees in spiritual matters and even helped them overcome their material difficulties. Prabhu gave Khairaat or alms to the needy and the poor. Hundreds of Vedic Scholars, Fakeers, Jangams and other mendicants came to Maniknagar to receive blessings and Khairaat from Prabhu. It is said that leading Musicians and artists of the time came to Maniknagar to perform 'Seva' in Prabhu's Darbar. He was equally revered by all communities while his Muslim followers thought him to be an incarnation of Mehboob Subhani (the famous Sufi saint of Baghdad), his Lingayat devotees would worship him as Lord Basaveshwara and his Sikh followers saw him as in the form of Guru Nanak. 
  It is said that the fifth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Afzaluddaula sent his courtier Yashwantrao Arab to seek Shri Prabhu's blessings. Prabhu declined the Jagir or Lands offered by the king and said that "The whole earth belongs to my lord, Datta Prabhu". He sent Prasad to the Nizam Afzaluddaula. Some Devotees believe that the Nizam's son Mehboob Ali (the sixth Nizam) was named by Shri Manik Prabhu.
  Prabhu conducted a Mahayajna (Vedic Sacrifice) called Sarvatomukha at Maniknagar. Leading Scholars of the time are said to have attended this yajna and sought Shri Prabhu's blessings. Prabhu celebrated Datta Jaynti Utsav every year at Maniknagar in a grand manner. 
  Stories of his miracles and eyewitness accounts, which bear testimony to the manner in which he brought succor to the distressed and the sorrowing, to the afflicted and the wronged, who, ardently and with deep faith and devotion sought his spiritual intervention are available. He never claimed credit for any such incident and always said that it is 'Datta Prabhu's Leela'. He is also believed to have given Darshan to a devotee in the Divine form of Goddess Tulaja Bhavani and accepted the devotee's offerings. Many of such stories are compiled in the official biography of Shri Manik Prabhu by Ganesh Raghunath Kulkarni.
caption: A painting depicting Shri Sai Baba's visit to Maniknagar.
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