Burhanpur is named after the Sufi saint Sheikh Burhanuddin Gharib. He was a disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. The saint had the name ‘Gharib’ as he was very poor. So he went to Hazrat Nizamuddin and narrated his misery and requested him to teach him chemistry, so that he could get rid of poverty.

The saint asked Burhanuddin to bring a piece of clay which could absorb water. Burhanuddin set out to the banks of the river Jamuna and started picking pieces of clay. But every piece of clay he picked instantly turned into gold. So he went back to the saint and informed him of the magic. Hazrat Nizamuddin replied to him, “What is the use of learning a science which cannot even give you a ‘istinja ka dhela’ (piece of clay)?”

This was an eye-opener for Burhanuddin, who then gave up the quest of wealth and devoted his life to spiritual quest.