The Curious Case of Sa’id Sarmad: An Eccentric Jewish-Yogi-Sufi Courtier of the Mughals

Sa’id Sarmad was an Armenian Jewish trader who fell in love, emotionally and spiritually, with India.

Learning from Hindu yogis and mystical Sufis, his path was eclectic, to say the least. He ended up as poet who wrote stunning quatrains in Persian and served as guru and tutor to the Crown Prince of the fabulous Mughal Empire.

In a palace coup, Sarmad lost his head – literally. But his dargah, or burial shrine, graces Delhi’s leading mosque and is a pilgrimage focus for Muslims, Hindus and many others.