Transforming a shrine

Does faith have to keep pace with science? People's faith in Balle da Bagh, a hermit's mazar in Akhnoor near Jammu, was fostered five cen...

Does faith have to keep pace with science? People’s faith in Balle da Bagh, a hermit’s mazar in Akhnoor near Jammu, was fostered five centuries back, when there was no known prevention for rabies, after they found that a visit by the dog-bitten to the shrine often prevented the occurrence of the affliction. The faith in the efficacy of prayers at the shrine has grown apace in the ensuing time, with some believers simply refusing to take notice of the rabies-preventive measures offered by science.

Seven parikramas of the mazar located inside a mosque, another seven around the berry tree on the outside and some offering is all that it takes, say the believers, to remove the fear of rabies from the mind of a person bitten by a dog. The small shrine, about 31 km from Jammu on the Akhnoor-Chhamb Jourian road, is visited by people of all faiths all round the year.

At a time when we are going to enter the next millennium a large number of people from even far off places, not just locals,visit the shrine to perform the rituals after a dog bite. And the claims are astounding. The truth behind all this, however, is somewhat elusive. For interestingly, and pragmatically, most of the dog bite victims these days resort to both the treatments, one through medical science and the other at this holy shrine.This shrine is about 450 years old and so is the berry tree inside. How this shrine came into existence is an interesting story, say the believers. According to priest Mohammad Syed, the mazar belonged to Baba Faiz Baksh Syed Bukhari who came here from Afghanistan about 470 years ago to spread Islam in this area. After reaching here, he started living in the nearby forests and during the stay he purchased essential commodities from a shopkeeper, after promising that he would pay him later.

However, after a few days the shopkeeper got suspicious of the saint and demanded his dues. Since Baba had no money with him, he created two jackals using his divine powers and sent them towards thenearby villages. The jackals after biting many villagers and their animals returned to the saint and disappeared. The panic-stricken villagers and the shopkeeper came to the saint full of remorse and asked the Baba to save them from the jackals as some people said they had seen them disappear at the very site where Baba was sitting.

The legend continues that the Baba asked the people to offer six annas at the spot where the jackals had disappeared and assured them that those who would do this would remain free from rabies forever. The people followed the Baba’s order and out of that money he paid off his debt to the shopkeeper. After the incident, he left the forest and came to the spot, Balle da Bagh, where his mazar now stands. As he spread the message of peace and love, people belonging to all sects and faiths started paying regular visits to him.

After a few years the Baba told the people that he would soon be leaving for his heavenly abode and requested that he be buried at the place where helived. He also disclosed that even after his death, he would serve the people, especially the victims of dog bite and told them about the rituals to be performed at his mazar after a person suffered a dog bite. After his death, the people followed Baba’s advice and the shrine got much fame, to the extent that people from even far off places started paying visits to the shrine.

An annual Urs is held here on the Thursday in the middle of Jyeshtha month (mid April-mid May). Science may now offer a cure for rabies, but believers still come in the pursuit of blessings.