DERA BABA BARBHAG SINGH – MAIRI

DERA BABA GURBARBHAG SINGH – MAIRI

Dera Baba Gurbarbhag Singh in village Mairi of Amb Tehsil, is 3 kms. north-east of village Nehri 40 kms. from Una. HISTORY OF SHRINE  Baba Gurbarbhag Singh, the son of Baba Ram Singh and Mata Raj Kaur, and a descendant of Dhir Mal, the first cousin of ‘Dasam Padshahi’ Guru Gobind Singh, was born at Kartarpur in 1715 A.D. Nar Singh, one  demons lived on that tree.  Gurbarbhag Singh with his spiritual power captured Nar Singh and entrapped him in a cage and ordered him to cure every patient possessed by evil-spirits . It is said that  Gurbarbhag Singh  asked his wife and other family members not to disturb him, and went on a room which he bolted from inside and lay down on the floor. His body remained there but his soul flew away to help his disciples in distress. But  family members broke open the door. Seeing the soul-less body and not knowing what had actually happened, those attending upon him thought that he was dead. So they cremated his body near the ‘ber tree’ where the building of Dera Gurbarbhag Singh containing his sepulchre now stands. It is said that when the soul-less body on the pyre was on fire, the soul of Gurbarbhag Singh also returned to re-enter into its body. But alas, nothing could be done at that stage. Repenting on their blunder, all the family members and others who were present there implored Baba Gurbarbhag Singh to be with them  Moved with their imploring and humble request, he agreed to be on a tree near the ‘Dhauli Dhar’ with a cage to encage the evil spirits.  SHRINE OF  GURU BARBHAG SINGH  SHRINE OF  GURU  BARBHAG SINGH In front of the shrine of Gurbarbhag Singh, a tall Sikh Standard(Jhanda Sahib) stands hoisted, supported by the old ‘BER TREEEunder which the ‘guru’ is said to have first sat for meditation and captured Nar Singh. A PILGRIM UNDER BERI TREE BIBIBHANI SHRINE Close to the right of the shrine, is the sepulcher of Bibi Bhani, sister of the ‘guru’. MANJI SAHIB Outside at a distance of some fifty yards is the dome shaped Gurdwara named Manji Sahib. manji sahib DHAULADHAR DHAULADHAR  About a kilometer and a half from the shrine is an all weather water-fall known as ‘dhaulidhar’ where the guru used to take his daily bath, and is thus regarded very sacred. The most important ceremony at the shrine is the hoisting of the flag ‘Jhanda Sahib’ as the flag is called in reverence. It is done on the full moon day of Phalgun. The old Jhanda Sahib is dehoisted after recitation of supplication. The devotees try to obtain a piece of the old cloth or various other articles attached to the dehoisted ‘Jhanda Sahib’, such as cowrie shells, betelnuts, coins etc., the possession of which is regarded as a boon. A young pine tree which may be as tall as 70/80 ft., and whose trunk measures 4/5 ft. in diameter is earmarked every third year to serve as pole for the ‘Jhanda Sahib’. Lacs of people attend the fair from different parts of Punjab, U.P., Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal. The Sikhs of Doaba, Majha and Malwa tracts of Punjab especially are the votaries of Gurbarbhag Singh and they attend the fair in large numbers. Most of the women who attend the fair are generally possessed by evil spirits. The fair is attended largely rather wholly by illiterate and orthodox people.