Secular shrine of Jammu

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine/09aug02/

Secular shrine of Jammu

S D Singh Jamwal

They belong to different religions; one is Muslim while the other is Hindu. Yet they go to the same shrine to offer the prayers. The shrine has been held in high veneration by them for ages now. Popularly known as “Satwari Wale Peer Baba”, this Dargah of Baba Budan Ali Shah Peer, situated in south Jammu across the Tawi river, is held in high esteem among all, irrespective of caste, creed or colour. The shrines of mystic saints are place of national integration but the Shrine of Peer Baba Budan Shah presents a spectacle, not seen elsewhere in the country.
Devotees believe that if ‘Bawe Wali Mata’ is the presiding deity of Jammu, the Dargah of Peer Budan Ali Shah or Peer Baba as it is known, protects the people of this city from mishaps and evil spirits.Baba Budan Ali Shah was born at Talwandi in Punjab, and it is said that another shrine of this Peer is located at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. Throughout his life, he took the milk of goats that were guarded by a tiger, it is said.
The Dargah, about 10 kms from the city towards the City airport at Satwari, is thronged every Thursday by hundreds of devotees who visit the shrine to make their offerings including oil for lighting lamps. People also offer Chaddars and flowers at the shrine as they believe that all their wishes are fulfilled at this place.
One often sees hundreds of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims gather at the Shrine on every Thursday.
This Dargah of Peer Baba is very famous and is also associated with two Sikh Gurus.
Once Guru Nanak Dev went to meet the Baba Budan Ali Shah.He told the Guru that his tiger had gone to graze the goats and thus he be aware of the beast. The Peer said, “Our lion is out to graze the goats. We fear he might not eat you on return.” Guru Nanak replied, “When he does not harm you, how can he harm me?” And when the tiger came back from the jungle, it bowed before Guru Nanak. The Baba then ordered the Tiger to fetch goat milk and give it to the Guru. The tiger obeyed, milked the goats and offered it in a new pot to Guru Nanak who did not drink it and said, “I will drink it during the sixth Padshahi” (The reign of the guru). At this, the Baba said that he might not live that long and would die at any time because he was so aged that even his eyebrows were falling loosely on his eyes. Guru Nanak prophesied that he would have a long life, so he should keep the milk for him. Guru Nanak said, “I bless you that you would live. Keep my trust with you.” Upon which the Peer Baba asked how he would identify him.Guru Nanak replied that he would shake his right hand thumb with Baba.
During the period of the sixth Padshahi, Guru Hargobind ji came to the Baba and asked for the milk which had been kept by the Peer. Peer Budan Shah asked for the identification. In reply he pressed the thumb of his right hand. Peer sahib insisted on him to appear in the form of Guru Nanak. The Guru did it. He offered him fresh and warm milk.
Years ago, Sai Bagh Hussain used to manage the affairs of the shrine. He once told me that nobody goes empty handed from this place. People, he said, who come here yearning for something, tie threads on the mulberry tree that has grown inside the Ziyarat and their wishes are granted. It is also said that the Peer Baba also comes in the dream of the people who have faith in him.
The Ziyarat of the saint is also thronged by thousands of people on the occasion of the annual Urs which takes place on the first Thursday of Ashad. Another Urs is held in the middle of “Pousha”. Both attract a large number of devotees from far-off places.
The devotees of Peer Baba have many interesting stories to share. As the shrine is adjacent to the Jammu airport, it is said some officer ordered the demolition of the shrine as it obstructed the runway. To his surprise, difficulties began to surface. The planes that took off from the runway developed some problem. Hurdles were observed in the landing and the take-off the planes. Engines did not start for any valid reason, and if ever a plane took off it was forced to land soon after.
The authorities were disturbed at these incidents. The problem stopped when Baba appeared in the dream of this officer who then took the orders back and later became a great devotee of the Baba. The authorities left the portion of the shrine and built the runway away from it. The accidents ceased.
While taking off from Jammu airport, all the passengers can see this Sufi shrine clearly from their windows of their aircrafts. Late Indira Gandhi also used to visit the Shrine despite her busy schedule whenever she visited Jammu.
The Baba’s Samadhi is at Gurudwara Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. He spent the last days of his life there and died at the age of 500 years.