Religious intolerance and racism may be growing in many parts of the world, but in a quiet corner of Belagavi is an oasis of peace and harmony, where people of all religions come to pay homage to a Muslim saint, who is believed to have lived 350 years ago.
No ritual or festive occasion of Lingayats, Brahmins or people of any other caste or community living in the 50 villages around Babanagar near Vijayapura is complete without the blessings of Panisaheb.
Villagers queue up at the dargah of the saint, Shah Mohammad Mirdewale or Panisaheb as he is popularly known, deeply moved by the stories of his miracles that reportedly worked just as well for Hindus as they did for Muslims all those centuries ago.
Even today devotees talk of a well at the dargah, which, they claim has never gone dry in decades although it’s hard to find water in Babanagar and its surroundings even at a depth of 1,000 feet. And it is said the leaves of a eucalyptus tree in the grounds of the dargah are sweeter than any other and have helped cure many a sick person.
But the most tangible miracle of all is perhaps the congregation of over 50,000 people from all religions at the dargah for its annual “urs.” So deeply devoted are these faithfuls to Panisaheb that many fast for at least 10 days before coming to Babanagar for the urs, reveals one loyal follower of the saint, B Shivanand.
Several of those participating in the urs stay for days and foot the bill of food served to the devotees, who arrive for it. “People here have been staunch followers of Panisaheb for several generations. He did wonders for the villagers 350 years ago. We never begin any work, prayer or a wedding without his blessings. Thousands of Hindus assemble from neighbouring towns and villages during the annual urs of his dargah and pray together,” recounts Mr Shivanand.
The people’s devotion is deep as they believe Panisaheb was a miracle worker, who saved the lives of many with his powers. One story goes that one of his Brahmin disciples, Desai, almost drowned at sea until he was miraculously saved by the saint, seated far away in Babanagar.
“The disciple called out to Pahisaheb for help when his boat capsized and was miraculously saved,” says Sayed Shah Hussain, who is in-charge of the dargah.
Later, the same disciple came to Babangar to meet Panisaheb and stayed there until his death. He was later buried at the dargah close to Panisaheb on his instructions.
“Panisaheb’s love for people of all religions and his efforts to keep society united during his time has attracted many to the Babanagar dargah over the decades,” agrees another devotee, Mallangouda Patil.
For people of Babanagar, the Panisaheb dargah has always been a symbol of unity and communal harmony. “We believe that the dargah will continue to keep people of all religions and castes united in the future as well,” says Mr Shivanand, whose devotion to the saint only matches that of his grandfather, who made sure that he could see the dargah located 100 metres away from his main door when he built his house in Babanagar, reflecting the mood of the town, that continues to revere the saint, who saw no difference in people based on their caste, community or religion, but treated all with love and affection.
