{{Short description|Hindu saint}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} [[File:Manek Buraj Ahmedabad.jpg|thumb|Manek Burj]] '''Baba Maneknath''' was 15th century legendary Hindu saint who lived on the banks of Sabarmati River near present city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

==Legend== Saint Maneknath interrupted and helped Ahmad Shah I built Bhadra Fort in 1411. He wove a mat during day while the fort walls were constructed, he then unweaved the mat at night, magically crumbling down the walls. When this was discovered, he was invited to prove his powers to Ahmed Shah, by putting himself into a kettle. When he did, Ahmed Shah sealed the openings of the kettle. On the other account he helped the king to locate the site from where the construction of fort started. Under his advice the architect of city walls, Ahmad Khattu changed the layout of city. He was buried alive or took samadhi on the river island when Sabarmati River was passing through the city under Fernandez Bridge. The first quarter of the city, Manek Chowk, named after him and the memorial temple is situated there. The first bastion of the fort named after him, called Manek Burj, situated at the east end of Ellis Bridge.<ref>{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3354|year=1879|publisher=Government Central Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3354/page/n282 276]}}</ref><ref name="igg">{{cite book | title=India Guide Gujarat | publisher=India Guide Publications | year=2007 | pages=93–94 | isbn=9780978951702 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZRLGZNZEoEC&dq=manek+chowk+ahmedabad&pg=PA93 | editor=Desai, Anjali H.}}</ref><ref name="baba">{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/baba-maneknath-s-kin-keep-alive-600yr-old-tradition/698967 | title=Baba Maneknath's kin keep alive 600-yr old tradition | work=The Indian Express | date=18 October 2010 | access-date=21 February 2013 | author=More, Anuj}}</ref><ref name="mnk">{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Flags-changed-at-citys-foundation-by-Manek-Nath-babas-descendants/articleshow/10261380.cms | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411040432/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-07/ahmedabad/30257006_1_flag-foundation-stone-puja | url-status=live | archive-date=11 April 2013 | title=Flags changed at city's foundation by Manek Nath baba's descendants | work=The Times of India | date=7 October 2011 | agency=TNN | access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="tam">{{cite news | url=http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20A%201000%20Salutes&sectid=68&contentid=2010022620100226182744376d3de031 | title=Multi-layered expansion | work=Ahmedabad Mirror | date=26 February 2010 | agency=AM | access-date=21 February 2013 | author=Ruturaj Jadav and Mehul Jani | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207235844/http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article | archive-date=7 December 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="The Times11">{{cite news | title=Descendants to pay homage to Manek Baba today | newspaper=The Times of India | date=26 February 2011| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Descendants-to-pay-homage-to-Manek-Baba-today/articleshow/7578458.cms | access-date=29 May 2018 }}</ref>

The saint is revered in north and central Gujarat. Bharathari near Thasra in Kheda district also has his memorial where he is shown seated on his horse and is considered the patron saint of the village. There is a temple at Latol near Danta in Banaskantha district is located near the cave in the foothill where the saint is believed to have meditated. His another main place is located behind Hotel Ellora in Ambaji banaskantha district where Maneknath is truly seated, where his divine realization is felt, there is also the glory of the place, where his idol and trident are, where he is considered a protector saint who guided people towards truth, self-discipline, and devotion. It is believed that the realization of Gurudev saint shree guru maneknath takes place in the Thursday aarti.In the form of shri Himanshu Pandya, who is the ninth recipient of his blessings, he is a worshipper of gurudev. <ref name="TimesPub11">{{cite news | title=Ahmedabad says abracadabra | website=Times of India Publications | date=27 February 2011 | first=Parth|last=Shastri|url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&edlabel=TOIA&mydateHid=27-02-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00202&format=&publabel=TOI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108000533/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&edlabel=TOIA&mydateHid=27-02-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00202&format=&publabel=TOI |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2015 | access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref>

==Descendants== Mahant Ghanshyamnath, the 12th generation descendant of the saint, performs ''puja'' and hoists the flag on Manek Burj on the foundation day of the city and Vijayadashami every year.<ref name="baba"/><ref name="mnk"/><ref name="The Times11"/>

==References == {{reflist}}

Category:Legendary Indian people Category:Medieval Hindu religious leaders Category:Scholars from Ahmedabad Category:Hindu folk deities Category:15th-century Indian scholars