Jeevan Darwesh

A Saint and A Legend

By Dr. R.K. Tamiri

Jeevan Derwesh lived at Sopore in the 2nd half of 19th Century and was deeply spiritual. Dervesh family belongs to the clan of Sopore Pandits. As per a legendary account Jeevan used to leave his home in wee hours of morning, cross river Jehlum on Khrav (wooden sandles) and pray at Kali Temple, near Khankah. It was a daily routine.

Even his family was unaware about this. He had two sons and a daughter. Soon his fame about spiritual attainments spread in the neighbourhood.

One day he left, telling his wife that he would go to nearby Nandkeshwar temple at Seer. Jeevan added that he would return by the time turmeric rice and Satyadeev were ready. It was the day of Shravan Purnima. Though Seer was only 5 kms away, yet Jeevan did not return by evening. It gave anxious moments to his wife. She turned to neighbours for help, children were too young to look for their father.

Neighbours assembled. She felt apprehensive, wondering whether Jeevan had got drowned while crossing the river Jehlum. Neighbours assured her that such a spiritually elevated person like Jeevan could never get drowned.

Meanwhile, a neighbour caught sight of a writing on the door.

Jeevan had scribbled, "I have left for ever. Don't make any search for me." He never returned home. There were conflicting accounts about his fate. Some said he had run away to Anantnag to set up a Jeevan Ashram. Others claimed Jeevan had settled down at Gosain Naar near Ludov. There were some who believed Hardwar became his final destiny.

Unable to bear this shock, his son Thokar Darwesh moved to Watterkhani in Kupwara district and made his living as a shopkeeper there. In 1947 Thokar Joo too entered the pages of history when tribal raiders attacked him.

Source: Kashmir Sentinel