Mahan Gurmat Samagam is being organized by Sant Pura Danna Charitable Trust on the occasion of 350th Parkash Ustav of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Dr Jasbir Singh Rana gives a historical background of Dera Sant Pura Dana.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founded the most unique and modern religion called Sikhism. Being latest religion on the world scene, ten Sikh Gurus nurtured it. Its teachings are enshrined in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, which is revered as the Guru Eternal. It preaches the oneness of God and universal brotherhood of man.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Jammu & Kashmir during his third Udasi (itinary) between 1515-1517 CE. Then Guru Hargobind Sahib visited the Valley in 1620 CE. Guru Har Rai Sahib also visited Valley in 1660 CE. During the time of Guru Amardass Ji and Guru Arjan Sahib some missionaries came to this land for dissemination of Sikhism. Among the prominents were Bhai Madhu Sodhi, Bhai Garhia, Bhai Sewa Das, Bhai Katu Shah, Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana, Bhai Birm Shah etc. Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited only Jammu city on 20th April 1692 CE on the invitation of a well-wisher and friend Rajput Raja Gaja Singh. Guru Sahib blessed Raja Gaja Singh and his younger brother Jaswant Singh with a turban and one steel lance as a token of love. Most of the historical Gurdwaras are founded at different pockets of the state sanctified by the visits of Gurus.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has sent some missionaries to Poonch and Kashmir for the propagation of Sikhism. Guru Ji sent Bhai Amolak Singh, Pharu Singh and Punjab Singh. In this way Amritdhari Sikhs were seen in these pockets during the eighteenth century. Bhai Pharu Singh and Bhai Punjab Singh were present at Anandpur Sahib at the time of Khalsa Panth’s creation in 1699 CE.
From earlier times, Sant Deras served the interests of the microscopic Sikh community from time to time. Most of these deras adopted Rahit Maryada, which is made up of techniques and tools to help maintain the consciousness of the Sikhs. It is simply a Code of Conduct for living in accordance with principles of the Sikh religion. These deras underwent substantial changes and emerged torch bearers for the community and removed unethical or immoral practices existing during early days. They propagate reverence for one Almighty, the Supreme Creator.
Most prominent among these deras are Shiromani Dera Nangali Sahib Poonch, Dera Sant Pura Danna, Dera Guffa Muzaffarabad and Dera Baba Banda Singh, Bahadur Reasi etc. After Bhai Punjab Singh, the other succesors were (Sant Bhai) Rocha Singh, Mela Singh Mana Singh, Mangal Singh, Rattan Singh, Avtar Singh, Mohar Singh, Mangal Singh Sasan, Bachatter Singh. In 1991, Mahant Manjit Singh Ji became the successor of the seat.
Dera Santpura Danna was originally established in village Danna (Muzaffarabad) due to the tireless efforts of Sant Daya Singh, a disciple of Sant Punjab Singh. According to the Panth Prakash, Bhai Punjab Singh received Khande -de-pahul from the august hands of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Other Successors of this Dera were Sant Gurmukh Singh, Sant Khushal Singh, Sant Gurdit Singh and Sant Gurbaksh Singh. History throws a flood of light on existing social customs and evil practices in those times engulfed with false rituals etc. The life was made miserable by the social norms. They ask them to shun these evil practices. For this, they visited remote, farflung areas and steep terrains packed with snow contacted community members personally and influenced them with religious discourses. Selfless and commendable contribution of Sant Gurbux Singh during 1947 and after is well known to the State people. According to Revenue Records and Panda Vihes of Muttan (Kashmir), the genealogical table of Sant Pura Danna is as
Now-a-days Sant Tejwant Singh, a youngman well versed with Sikh ethos, religion, philosophy and history heads the dera. He is intelligent, energetic and moulded in spiritual pursuits. In the early days village Marh was its centre of activities but in 1977 Havaldar S Hira Singh of Kacheli denoted some land for the Gurdwara in Nanak Nagar Jammu. Now-a-days a splendid Gurudwara, a well equipped langar hall, a dispensary, a school etc are functioning well. In the present conext, the main thrust of these deras should be to remove superstitions, ignorance and empty rituals from the community and build on the values of hardwork, service of humanity, spirituality and charity. The devotion and laborious efforts of all these deras can neither be ignored nor minimized.
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