Madan Mohan Sharma
Sainsar is a religious as well as historical place. This place came to lime-light during the regime of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. Maharaja Gulab Singh also visited this place before and after becoming the King of Jammu & Kashmir. Sainsar is situated on a hill towards South of Sunderbani town of Distt Rajouri. It is about 12 Km from Sunderbani. But it is part of Tehsil Akhnoor (Now Kharaballi) of Distt Jammu. There is a beautiful temple built on the pattern of Shri Raghunath Temple of Jammu.
This place is related to ancient Saints. As it was a dense forest, it was safe for Saints to meditate . Maharaja Gulab Singh visited this place when he was a soldier in the army of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the then king of Punjab (J&K being the part of Punjab kingdom at that time). He was deputed by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh to Jammu to see the king of Kalith, Raja Sain Singh. But Raja Sain Singh was at Sainsar with the Sadhus. He had turned into a deeply religious man and was a disciple of Sadhus. He had erected a plateform of stones at Sainsar and started devoting all his time to religious practices to get salvation. The platform still exists there. He also constructed a spring of water like a small lake. He named it after his name as “Sainsar’’ (Sar means lake). The spring was later converted into a well which still exists there. Its water is being used for drinking purpose. In this way the word “Sainsar’ came to existance as the name of the village after the name of Raja Sain Singh.
Gulab Singh accompanied by other soldiers reached Sainsar. It is said that they saw the sadhus surrounded by lions and were astonished to see it. Gulab Singh presented himself before Sadhus and sought their blessing on the protex that he had come for seeking blessings. But Sadhus having spiritual powers revealed that he (Gulab Singh) had come to see Sain Singh and not to seek blessings.
Shri Gulab Singh was very much impressed and bowed before them. Sadhus blessed him and predicted that he would become a Minister soon and one day he would become a king. Shri Gulab Singh really became a king and he visited Sainsar again with his brother Dhyan Singh along with their queens.
The queen and the wife of Dhyan Singh offered his son, Moti Singh to Sadhus. The Sadhus asked her to bring him and predicted that he (Moti Singh) would become king of the west. This prediction came true and Moti Singh became the King of Poonch.
Raja Moti Singh then built a beautiful temple at Sainsar on the pattern of Shri Raghu Nath Temple Jammu. It was also named as Raghunath Temple Sainsar. The idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman were installed in it. The Idols still exist but the temple has come across some cracks. The cause of developing is not known but it is believed that it happened due to natural calamities.
It became a place of worship and religious activities. As people of surrounding areas used to visit this place daily, it turned into a Guru Gadhi. Mahatma Parshotam Dass, who was Guru of Raja Moti Singh, became the first Mahant of Guru Gadhi Sainsar. Second guru was Baba Rattan Dass who was a Kashmiri Brahmin. The third was Baba Atma Ram and fourth one was Baba Isher Dass. The fifth Guru was Baba Bhikham Dass. All these Gurus/Mahants led a very hard and religious life. It is said that the record of these Mahants is still lying in Akhara Mandir Poonch. This religious place had a close link with Akhara Mandir Poonch due to Raja Moti Singh. Baba Bhikham Dass, the fifth Guru, had many followers in Tehsil Sunderbani and Nowshera of Rajouri Distt and Tehsil Akhnoor of Jammu Distt. With his demise, a vacuum has been created in the religious sector in this area.
All these Mahants were having spiritual powers. There are many legends regarding it. One of the legends pertains to Baba Isher Dass, the fourth Guru. He was a well known personality of the area. The people had full faith in him. It is said that he was knowing all the coming events and was aware of the wishes and desires of other persons. His every word was treated as absolute truth. According to a legend, once some mahants of Poonch decided is visit Sainsar. They had heard about the popularity of Baba Isher Dass. They wanted to test his spiritual powers.
On the way from Sunderbani to Sainsar on foot, they decided to ask Baba Isher Dass to entertain them with fresh apples. As the apples were not available in this area in those days, it was rather impossile to arrange this fruit. The apples were available only in Kashmir. But Baba Isher Dass came to know their intention. He along with his disciples came on the way to receive and welcome the Mahants in the midst of the hills. He gave them fresh water to drink and then served them with fresh apples arranged by his spiritual powers. The Mahants were surprised and had to cut a sorry figure. They felt ashamed and begged before him.
Baba Isher Dass had three main disciples. They were Baba Bhikham Dass (fifth Guru), Baba Jai Ram and Baba Thakur Dass. The last two passed away in their young ages. Baba Jai Ram remained Mahant of Radha Krishan Temple Sunderbani. His samadhi was built in the Mandir premises which still exists. Baba Thakur Dass led a married life. His eldest son, Madan Mohan (Not the author) was made the main disciple by Baba Bhikham Dass. He is a retired master and is looking after the affairs of Shri Raghunath Temple Sainsar. Sainsar is a Guru Gadhi. The people have faith in it. They visit this place to seek blessings throughout the year. Sainsar is situated on a hill. The place was cut off and one had to reach Sainsar on foot from Sunderbani. But now the place is linked to Sunderbani Mallah Road by a link road of about 9 km which is still under construction under PMGSY.
Sainsar is a very beautiful place with natural scenery. It is also famous for mangoes and large number of Mango trees of different species and there in the village. The temple is also having some land attached to it. The temple is also a historical monument but it is in bad condition. The cracks developed in it can lead to its destruction of steps are not taken for its repair. This place can be converted into a tourist place. The Tourism Department should take note of this fact, and convert it into a place of attraction.
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