021. Haji Sher Dewan & Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi near Burewala

I do not often visit shrines, but I greatly admire the profound work of the Sufi saints and their enduring message of tolerance, love, peace, and humanity. One of the earliest such saints is Hazrat Baba Haji Sher Muhammad Dewan Chawali Mashaikh, famously known as Haji Sher. His date of death is recorded as 27th Ramadan, 131 Hijri, which corresponds approximately to 12 May, 749 AD. The original name of Haji Sher Sahib was Rai Chawala. His father, Raja Mahinpal, was a follower of Buddhism and the chief of the Rajput Lakkan tribe of Sindh. During a battle with the Muslims, he was captured and sent to Medina as a prisoner. (By that time, the Muslims had already reached Multan in 715 AD.)

In Medina, Rai Chawala was deeply impressed by Islam. He embraced the faith at the hands of Hazrat Imam Hussain and received religious education from some of the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet ﷺ). He also performed Hajj. Upon returning home, however, his family opposed his conversion and ultimately martyred him.

Over the centuries, many prominent Muslim saints visited this shrine in their spiritual quests. Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar of Pakpattan was born here and later lived here for some time. Other notable saints such as Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya Multani, Hazrat Syed Jalaluddin Shah Bukhari, and Hazrat Usman Marvandi—Lal Shahbaz Qalandar also visited this site and spent time here for spiritual enrichment.

I have taken the above information from Burewala News Online, in an article written by Nadeem Mushtaq Ramay. The shrine is located in a small town that bears the saint’s name, at 30° 03′ 20″ N, 72° 45′ 32″ E, about 17 km southeast of Burewala city.

A view of the mausoleum of Haji Sher Dewan Sahib. (20.03.2011.)

Another view of the mausoleum. (20.03.2011.)

A mosque at the darbar of Haji Sher Sahib. (20.03.2011.)

As we have seen above, the shrine of Haji Sher Sahib has been a center of attraction for Sufis for a very long time. In the same quest for spiritual enlightenment, Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji also visited this place in the early 16th century. Guru Ji traveled extensively to seek knowledge of the One True God and to spread his message. As part of this mission, he undertook five journeys (Udasis) across India, and even to Makkah, Medina, and Baghdad. He likely visited this area during his first Udasi (1499–1506).

At the place where he meditated, a gurdwara was later constructed. It is known as Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi or Tapasthan. This gurdwara is located near the famous well where Baba Farid Ganj Shakar is said to have performed his chillah (spiritual retreat), reportedly hanging by a thread in the well for 12 years.

According to Nadeem Mushtaq Ramay Sahib, writing on Burewala News Online, the gurdwara had fallen into disrepair. However, some individuals took interest and brought it to the attention of then Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, under whose instructions it was repaired and evacuated from the squatters who had occupied it.

When I visited the site on 20 March 2011, I found the gurdwara to be in very good condition, though it was closed at the time. A local person informed me that a Muslim family holds the keys and opens it for Sikh devotees. I took some photographs from outside.

View of the gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, from south east. (20.03.2011.)

 View from the north. (20.03.2011.)

21 روپے سیوا کرائی

لالہ گُلاب رام بلانڑا

سورگ واسی  پُن کیتا 

پِنڈ ساہُوکا، چیتر 7 سمت 1999 (1942ء)

Ek Onkar

Rs 21 rendered in service

Sardar Jawahar Singh Bhateja, in heavenly abode, did an act of charity, Village Saldera. 

Chet 7 Samvat 1999 (1942 AD)

Rs 21 rendered in service

Lala Gulab Ram Blana, in heavenly abode, did an act of charity, village Sahuka.

Chet 7 Samvat 1999 (1942 AD)

       Sahuka: A village 8 km in the southeast, at  30° 1’18.69″N,  72°49’23.57″E.

੧ ਓ 

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਸਹਾਈ

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮਾਨ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਦੂਲਾ ਸਿੰਘ

ਨਾਂਗਪਾਲ ਦੇ ਘਰੋਂ ਜੰਦੋ ਬਾਈ ਨਾਰੰਗ

ਨੇ ਪੁਨ ਕੀਤਾ

੧੦੧ ਰਪੈਆ ਵਿਸਾਖ ੬ ਸੰਮਤ ੧੯੮੩

ਵਿਚਸੁਰਗਬਾਸ ਹੋਯੀ ਵਾਸੀ ਸਲਦੇਰਾਂ

اک اونکار

سری اکال سہائی

سری مان سردار دُولا سنگھ

ناگپال دے گھروں جندو بائی نارنگ

نے پُن کیتا

101 روپیہ وساکھ 6 سمت 1983 (1926ء)

وچ سورگباس ہوئی واسی سالدیرا

دی

Ek Onkar

Sri Akal Sahai

Mr Sardar Dula Singh Nagpal’s wife Jando Bai

did this deed of piety, Rs 101.

Died in, Wisakh 6 Samvat 1983 (1926 AD), resident of Saldera.*

    Saldera: A village 10 km in the south west, at 29°57’42.38″N,  72°43’33.78″E.

 View from the south. (20.03.2011.)

View from the southeastern side. (20.03.2011.)

The famous well of Baba Farid Ganj Shakr, near the gurdwara. (20.03.2011.)

I would appreciate your comments. Any suggestions to improve this post or additional information are most welcome.

Tariq Amir 

June  09, 2014.

Doha – Qatar.

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