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The shrine of
Shahdra-Sharief in Rajouri district, 177 kms from Jammu, is one of
the most popular Muslim shrines of Jammu region, visited by thousand
of devotees every day. Built in the 19th century on a beautiful
hillock in Thanna Mandi area and situated about 29 kms from Rajouri
town, the Shahdra Sharief has great historical significance in the
context of the origin of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. According
to historical sources, in 1820 AD, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab
sent his army general Gulab Singh to defeat an adversary. Out of the
150 companies of troops taken on this expedition, only 25 soldiers
could stay with the General. At last he camped at Thanna-Mandi and
went to call on a local recluse named Baba Ghulam Shah ‘Badshah’,
who lived in the nearby locality of Shah-dara and was known as a
wise and pious person. When Gulab Singh approached the saint, he
found him sitting under a tree with an apricot twig in hand and in
deep devotion. (According to some legends it was the saint who had
sent one of his disciples to invite the general). Gulab Singh
climbed the mountain to cast his glance in the direction of Jammu,
Kashmir, Kishtawar and Tibet. He was highly pleased with the recluse
and expressed his intention to grant a ‘jagir’ to him. But the
recluse said, "I have a piece of land granted to me since long, if
the Shah-dara locality is added to it, it will suffice".
Consequently, the ‘Sanad’ for both the land and the locality were
issued to him, which continued to be in the possession of his
offspring to this day. Later, when the saint’s prophesy became true
and Gulab Sigh became maharaja of the Jammu and Kashmir State, he
visited Shah-dara to express his devotion to the saint. But as the
saint was not alive anymore, Gulab Singh built a shrine dedicated to
the saint to pay homage. It is highly inspiring to learn that this
Muslim shrine was built by the Hindu founder of Jammu & Kashmir.
Today, thousands of devotees of all faiths, visit the shrine every
day in deep faith and with great devotion. It is strongly believed
by the multitude of the Baba’s devotees that their cherished desires
are invariably fulfilled. Interestingly, the pilgrims and visitors
to the shrine are provided free accommodation, food and other
facilities by the shrine management. Now large-scale infrastructure
development carried out by the shrine management as well as the
State Government has made this holy heritage site easily accessible
to everyone and the shrine now attracts large numbers of pilgrims
every year. |
