History

The Dargah, popularly, known as Peer Mitha, is situated on the western slopes of river Tawi in the heart of Jammu city.

Peer Mitha, the one who would accept one small Pattasha, small piece of sugary coin(designated with Laqab of Qutab -e-alam sabzwari, as he had come from the area falling between Afghanistan and India called Sabzwar) lived in 14th Century. He was having close association with Raja Ajaib Dev and Sadhu Garib Nath Jogi. Peer Sahib worshipped here and Sadhu Garib Nath in Peer Kho Cave about 300ft down hill, on the bank of River Tawi. Both of them were highly spiritual figures and often interacted with each other,which eventually made the area a sacred complex. The Temple down below is called Peer Kho (well of Peers) with an ancient cave and a Shiv temple.

Raja Ajaib Dev was son of Hamir Dev(1410-1437). Ajaib Dev held the throne during(1436-1459). According to the story narrated by the present Peer Sahib the tomb of Peer Mitha was made by Ajaib Dev as a thanksgiving for his wife,who was suffering from leprosy and was cured by the Peer Mitha Sahib.


People from different religions,communities, faiths throng the place especially on Thursdays. A congregation of Kashyap Rajput Baradari takes place on the Puranmashi of Chirri. The people from all over the states and neighbouring states visit the place to offer prayers and seek blessings from Peer Mitha. It is a huge festival which runs for two days.It is marked by singing of qawalis sung by qawals who visit from all over India.

The tradition says that his devotees from India and Iran brought eatables of sugar. He accepted nothing but a few grains of sugar. Some believe that he was sweet of tongue so people called him Pir Mitha. Even the Mohalla where he resided came to be known after his name.

Birth and arrival in Jammu

Raj-darshini, Tarikh-e-Dagar-desh and other historical sources are silent about the birth and his early life. All chroniclers agree that he came from Subzwar in Iran, in 1462. He was, for this reason, called Pir Subzwari. He stayed at Lahore for some days on his way to Jammu. He liked the place and decided to settle down here permanently, became popular with the people because of his spiritual powers. After a long time, his brother, Fateh Ali, who lived in Lahore and had a large following of devotees, came to Jammu with the sole purpose to take him back. He did not agree to leave Jammu. In the end, it was decided to play chess and who ever won would have his say. Pir Mitha won the contest and Pir Mitha's brother had to stay in Jammu permanently. Probably Pir Mitha did not hope to achieve the kind of popularity in Lahore what he got in Jammu so he did not go there. Besides, he called other members of his family to settle down there.

Curing queen's illness

The queen of Raja Ajaeb Dev contracted an incurable illness. Every treatment was done but her condition did not improve. The Raja was quite disturbed at the illness of the queen. The water carriers provided water to the royal palaces from a well near Pirkoh at a distance and had to pass by his cottage. He knew of her illness from them. One day as the water carrier went along, Pir Mitha Shah touched the pitcher. He grew angry and took water as polluted. Again he went to the well, scrubbed the pitchers well and filled them with water again. Pir Sahib touched them again. He repeated the touch business several times, till the water carrier had to relent and carried the so-thought polluted water to the palace. When the queen drank it she recovered wonderfully in a few days. This surprised the Raja and when he came to know about the saint he became his devotee. This made him ever more popular.

His devotees are mostly water carriers. The reasons are: a water carrier came to know of his spiritual powers, he propagated his name and most of the residents of the Pir Budhan Shah Mohalla were water-carriers. Before the partition of the Punjab water carriers used to come on the eve of his annual Urs in large numbers.

After being well known in Jammu he started preaching Islam. Many Non Muslims were won over to Islam because of sweetness of speech, impressive character, moving spiritual powers and persuasive manner. The Hindus largely misunderstood this. News reached Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Raja Ajaeb Singh took the matter seriously and consulted the famous yogi Sidh Gharib Nath. Pir Mitha met Gharib Nath and discussed the matter for days and both admitted each other's powers. On the advice of Gharib Nath Pir Mitha gave up his preaching activities so that the sentiments of the Hindus might not be injured.

Pir Mitha and Sidh Gharib Nath

Many stories are related about Pir Mitha and Gharib Nath. A Sikh yogi Guru Gorakh Nath arrived during the reign of Ajaeb Singh stayed in a cave on the bank of Tawi River. People called him Pirkoh. Probably he was later known as Sidh Gharib Nath. Both debated and discussed the spiritual matters and conceded each others powers.

Once Gharib Nath invited Pir Mitha to Pirkoh and offered the skin of the lion to sit on, In order to frighten him he enlivened the lion but Pir Mitha overpowered him. Gharib Nath conceded his spiritual powers.

Revelation and Miracles

Many miracles and strange anecdotes are related to him. Both Pir Mitha Shah and Sidh Gharib Nath drew the people towards them. Once people saw Gharib Nath flying like bird in the sky. Pir Mitha's devotees reported it to him. Pir Mitha said, "What! If he does, we can also do it." He ordered his wooden sandal to fly and lo! It flew into the sky like a bird.

Secular Values

Some people regarded him an extremist and were envious of him in one way or the other. In fact he was an advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity and secular values. The patronage of the state and agreeing to the counsel of Gharib Nath indicate that he did not face any opposition. His being an extremist Muslim is refuted by the fact that Hindu devotees exceeded in number than his Muslim devotees.

Death

He died in the year 1467 AD.

The tomb

His tomb attracts large number of people, as he was a Shia. Special functions are held on Moharram and Chelam at the Shrine. The believers pray throughout the night, recite elegies and the procession of banner is taken out from the Shrine on the 7th Moharram, go to the houses of the believers. People offer sweetened rice, pulao and sharbat at the shrine. The Alam (flag) procession is carried out on the 1Oth Moharram from his shrine and proceeds to the Karbala. The devotees gather here on Thursdays. The tomb stands on the outskirts of Jammu. His elder brother Syed Fateh Ali and some other persons lie buried in the compound of the shrine. Even today people come to the shrine to pay their respects and devotion to the mystic saint.

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