“PIR PITHORO SAHIB- a savior of humanity”

    Murshid Pir Pithoro’s era (1410 AD to 1498 AD i.e.15^th century) coincides with one of the spiritual descendants of Hazrat Ghaos Bahaudin Zakria (1173 AD to 1273 AD- 12^th/13^th century). Although some of the writers show coincidence of Pithoro Sahib’s era either with Hazrat Ghaos or Shah Rukun Alam (1251 AD to 1335 AD) but the researchers have found absence of such happening. The interaction of Pithoro Sahib with some unknown Gadinasheen of Ghaos Pak Darbar occurred even after Shah Rukun Alam’s period as observed from the dates indicated above (Ref. Meghwansh Ithaas, Vol. II, Author Teerath Das Umedani, under publication). Ghaos Pak’s descendant as indicated above observed the exuberant spiritual values of Pithoro Sahib at his childhood age in Darbar Ghaos Pak at Multan (Pakistan). Having witnessed Pithoro Sahib’s miracles, he honored him a noble title as “Pir Pithoro”. There are some books published highlighting the life and miracles of Pithoro Sahib- a short discourse is given here as an introduction regarding this personality who saved the weaker races from the hands of cruel ones during his era.

    Our mother land has given birth to personalities loved by God. These auspicious births brought righteousness and destroyed evil from the society. In ancient past when radio, TV, print and electronic media did not exist, satanic events full of mega crimes remained completely un-revealed. Poor tribes remained suppressed for a big era and were not able to raise voice against these cruel persons. By that time the rural inhabitants were totally under the mercy of the so called lords. These people were supported by the immediate government officers of that locality.

The present disciples of Pithoro Sahib tell highly important stories of that kind. There was a rule created at that time that “anybody who is going to marry will have to hand over his bride to the said lord for first/wedding night” the govt high officials and the said cruel persons were given such unrighteous ownership. Meghwansh community people know the fact that neither the Hindus nor the Muslim’s poor people escaped that rule. Maadan and Sonalbai, the father and mother of Pithoro Sahib had no child born for many years since marriage and prayed enormously attending places of saints and begged God to bless them with a son. They wandered for many years to seek prayings from saints for this cause. They went to a holy place of that time in Sind called Laakhra Kunn. Each of the Sadhu and Sufi Saint present over there shared their Parsaad (Par: Parmatma or God, Saad: from Sawaad: taste; it literally means any food which reminds God when eaten, e.g. Tabarruk in Arabic). This Parsaad was obtained in small quantities called Pithoon (means little pieces). This sacred food was collected in bits and pieces and was given to the father and mother of Pithoro Sahib. Sages over there said “God Almighty will bless you with a son who will be source of destruction of evil and cruel persons”. They added that “your son will be an enlightened personality and name him as Pithoro (derived from word Pithoon)”. Pithoro Sahib on attaining an age appropriate to understand the society was very much shocked to see that the common men do not arrange marriages and their daughters keep waiting till their hairs turn grey and many of them do not marry at all. After all he knew the actual secret behind it. He also noticed that only scanty marriages take place and that the parents and bride weep out of proportion than needed at the time of ‘Rukhsati’ (see-off time of bride by parents at marriage occasion). The same weeping tradition still persists among inhabitants particularly those of Sind and Punjab.

He planned to create an army of common men under his leadership. He commanded the said army using a Horse and Neza and a fight took place with enemies in the Ghora Bari battle field (Ghora: horse & Bari: ground; a place where the solders and horses of enemy sunk in earth). Ghora Bari area is still located geographically in map of Sind. People informed Pithoro Sahib that a fully equipped army backed up by the ruler of that time is about to reach to kill us. He replied “Behold! Ghora Bari battlefield earth will swallow them and their horses! Whosoever escapes this will definitely die right there in battle with us! They will neither reach us nor our poor fellow countrymen!” – a miracle like this as well as fight just indicated occurred in accordance to what was said.  After this historical event the weaker masses escaped completely from the cruel hands of the powerful. We are proud of the mothers of this country who have given birth to personalities belonging to the two main religions of subcontinent (i.e. in Hindus an icon like Pir Pithoro Sahib and in Muslims like the descendants of Ghaos Pak of Multan). It should be critically noted that the spiritual personalities of that era though belonging to different religious set-up honed an extra ordinary high morale of giving mutual respect and sharing the spiritual values among each other with an element of sustenance of such kind of respect for future generations and transmitting these values to their followers to continue that tradition onwards. This perspective is observable even till this date!). Such impact had greatly elevated the human values to its highest levels. Meghwansh community (i.e. followers of Pir Pithoro Sahib) pays high respect to whosoever is the Gadinasheen of Darbar Ghaos Bahaudin of Multan for that reason. The present Gadinasheen of Multan Ghaos Pak darbar is foreign minister of Pakistan- Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Meghwansh people visit Pithoro Sahib’s Dargah offering presence at the holy mausoleum (as Pithoro Sahib had no children i.e. remained unmarried throughout life and lived a life of liberated and highly elevated soul as indicated earlier). Friendship at spiritual level like the one indicated above successfully resulted in a progressive healthy society at common men’s level. Other initiators and examples of such friendship are many more but few of them are of high importance e.g. friendship of Shah Abdul Latif of Bhitt with Madan Lal and that of Udero Lal (famous as Jhooley lal Saaeen) with Shaikh Tahir etc. The Sufies of subcontinent were real messengers and ambassadors of creating bond of love among human beings and their impact was quite stronger and a motivating force to maintain peace among various classes of society.

Old shrine of Pithoro Sahib was built by Damoon Mal Meghwansi (of Bustaan town) and the newer one which is under construction will be erected as a replica of Golden Granth Sahib Temple at Amritsar. The present construction work is being done by the members of Meghwansh Community. Although writers attribute the auspicious birth of Pir Pithoro Sahib to many communities but the scholars attribute it to happen in the Meghwansh itself. There is still a need of further research work to make out as to in which Hindu Community this birth took place? Pithoro Sahib’s mother’s name was Sonalbai and his father was named as Maadan. Disciples (mureeds or the followers) of Pithoro Sahib definitely belong to Meghwansh and Mehraj (i.e. priest/family-gurus specific to the Meghwansh clan).

    Name of the spiritual master (Sat Guru's/Murshid-e-Haqq) of Pithoro Sahib was Saami Beernath Sahib (a descendant of spiritual sect founded by Guru Gorakh Nath Saami who belongs to Navnath Samparda- Gorakh Nath was a spiritually enlightened figure which is praised by many mystic poets of subcontinent but magnificently by Hazrat Shah Abdul Lateef of Bhitt, Sind Pakistan). The present largest Darbar of Gorakh Naath’s follower Babas in Pakistan (i.e. Gurduwara of Naths) is located at Khaan Sharif near Mirpurkhas, Sind, Pakistan where Saami Dharmnath Sahib is giving lesson of transcendental love of God and humanity to the disciples. The spiritual initiation of Pithoro Sahib occurred at his 7-year of childhood. He remained balbrihmchari (remained celibate or unmarried for entire life for the sake of gaining enlightenment).  Samadhi (Burial) of venerated person i.e. guru Saami Beernath Sahib and the graves of the father and mother of Pithoro sahib are also located in main Pir Pithoro Shrine Campus. There is no grave of Pithoro Sahib himself as he entered the mother earth along with his horse on his own will - a miracle which Pithoro sahib demonstrated before hundreds and thousands of his followers! An artificial grave is produced at the first floor of the main shrine while the holy place where he himself became Aloop (i.e. to disappear) in ground is at the ground floor.

Pithoro sahib accepted entire Meghwansh community as his disciples (Mureed) for ever (as Ghaos Pak’s descendant of that time gave all the Meghwans community people to develop spiritual tie with Pithoro Sahib). He said about his Meghwansh Disciples “anybody attending Pithoro’s place will be taken as if he or she had really offered presence for Ghaus Pak at Multan. So from now onwards people given to Pithoro sahib are directed to go over there i.e. at a place at Pithoro Station, located near Mirpurkhas, Sind.  His followers pay homage at Pithoro Sahib’s shrine on biannual mega mellas which occur coinciding the birth day and the day of disappearance, day one of every lunar month and also visit otherwise on all routine days. Major mellas are attended by hundreds of thousands of followers and other people as well for paying a solicitude and respect for this auspicious personality.

    Pithoro Sb is an icon of Hindu Muslim unity, humanity and pluralism- his face was luminous with hallow around it. The beautiful face of Pithoro Sahib was extra ordinarily attractive and a source of mental purification once seen. Because of successful creation of spiritual- bond of love in the hearts of followers of noble religions of subcontinent such personalities gave an exuberant spiritual value to society as a whole and catalyzed peaceful living in our beloved country.   

    All this happened after showing Sidhees (Karamaat) by flying over rainy clouds from Multan Punjab to Mohrana locality of Sind and bringing fresh cow’s milk from Sind back to Multan by yogic flying (like the one we see in televised movie called ‘Superman’). Pithoro Sahib showed this great miracle at the age of his childhood (about 10 to 12 years) when he flew over top of rainy clouds. By that time entire Meghwansh community had spiritual link with Ghaos Sahib’s descendants and used to visit Multan. On successfully bringing cow’s milk of Mohrana Area of Sindh back to Multan within a couple of minutes, the Gadinasheen of that time was pleased and announced the following decisions:

(1)   From now onwards people of Meghwansh Community are given as disciples in entirety to Pithoro Sahib and they don’t need to come at Multan Darbar at all. Ziarat (seeing) of Pithoro Sahib will be taken as if the Ziaratee (visitor) has seen the Gadinasheen of Multan Darbar himself.

(2)   Muslim followers of Ghaos Pak himself are directed to share one-fourth of any kind of Khairaat (food offered to people in the name of God, especially known as ‘Roat’) to the members of Meghwansh known as ‘Sadhs’ (i.e. who mental practice the holy name of God given by Gurus through their breathings). Whenever they offer ‘Roat’ in the name of Allah, this tradition must be continued – and it is practiced throughout Pakistan till the present day. It has created a bond of spiritual love and social harmony among the Hindus and Muslims of this region.

(3)    The Meghwansh disciples are directed to follow Pithoro Sahib from now onwards forever.

    The Meghwans followers love their spiritual icon and offer their presence at the main shrine campus and carry out multiple happy traditions. During every marriage ceremony all the Meghwansh Community members prepare a holy decoction known as Pyalo of Pithoro Sahib after a short morning prayer (called Hawan Yagya). This decoction is distributed among all the attendees of the marriage ceremony. This practice also exists in entire Meghwansh population till date.

    The new born babies at convenient time in their childhood practice a discipline by giving a sample of the ‘hair-cut’ and tie it up on the branches of a tree located in Pir Pithoro shrine campus. Child birth followed by such events continue till date and are celebrated by playing drums, trumpets, dancing and singing at the shrine.  

    The departure of Pithoro Sahib is also a miracle of its own kind and unique. Like Sita (refer to epic Ramayana), like Sasee (ref to the folk story of Sasee and Punhoon), Pir Pithoro Sahib’s words before leaving this world were well taken and accepted by the Creator of Universe ….so, just on his saying “Oh Mother Earth! I have completed my mission, now I want to go to my ultimate abode. Give me a place in your holy lap!!”….. Earth started trembling and was cracked like bifurcations seen in TV news demonstrating earthquake. …… and Pithoro Sahib entered in the holy motherland with his horse. The present shrine is built up exactly on this spot.  

    People belonging to Meghwans are offering their presence at this holy place since centuries. New borns and newly married couples also attend this place to thank God for their knot of love (a centuries old replica of happy marriages undisturbed and safe from the hands of cruel persons) - married couples and new borns attend this place as a compulsory spiritual activity during honeymoon period and also whenever they are blessed with offsprings. Meghwans community and people belonging to other races attend this place from far flung areas of Pakistan and abroad. Some of them travel in groups bare footed throughout entire travelling span with flags of various sizes reminding the people of the present time about  “Love of Humanity” “Love of God” “Human Rights” “Pluralism” and  “Success of Good over Evil Forces” ).

Author’s Email:

umedani@gmail.com

…………………………………………NOTES TO EDITOR: …………………………………

1.      I am allowing the editor/s of this web site to edit/correct the Spelling and Grammatical errors in this article without affecting the main theme of the article.

2.      Pl. upload this on your website as soon as possible before the coming mella on this moon date.

Regards:

Dr. Umedani.

March 29^th 2011.

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