K.D Maini
Dashnami Akhara Poonch is located in the heart of the Poonch City near Fountain Garden Poonch. This shrine remained Centre of devotion and religious cum social activities for centuries together and was always headed by great spiritual saints. Presently, the shrine is headed by a renowned scholar, educationist and religious personality Swami Vishva Atama Anand Ji Maharaj. Normally the shrine remains full of devotees in the evening but during Shirawan Purinama month the Akhara Complex becomes crowded because of devotees and pilgrims who comes from all over the country and stay in the shrine and take part in the yatra of swami Budha Amarnath Mandi. This year yartra started on 20th of July, 2012 and will continue till 31st July when Chari Mubarak procession shall start for Budha Amarnath Mandi. All necessary arrangements have been made for the pilgrims by the management committee. Apart from yatriniwas, and big community hall, located in the Akhara Complex recently an attractive yatri-cum Pravachan Sthal of Marble has been constructed. This building has a capacity of 2000 people to sit and take part in Pooja.Apart from management committee the district administration have also made necessary arrangements for the yatriesin Akhara Shrine.
During the Raksha Bandhan festival, Dashnami Akhara Poonch becomes the centre of religious tourism as thousands of pilgrims reach the Akhara to participate in Chhari Mubarak Yatra which starts from Dashnami Akhara Poonch and heads towards Baba Budha Amarnath temple Mandi.
The main function is organized at this place two days before the Raksha Bandhan. The religious ritual starts from early morning in which thousands of devotees, pilgrims, sadhus and local people from Jammu province and other areas participate with devotion. After the Yajna and Sermons delivered by the head or Mahant of Akhara and pooja normally the religious procession starts at 9 am. A contingent of police force salutes the holy silver coated Chhari Mubarakh and then the Mahant leads the procession that comprises of sadhus, pilgrims and thousands of local people of Poonch town and other villages. Local people including Muslims of Chandak and Mandi town offer refreshment to yatries. In this way the function becomes the symbol of composite culture of this soil.
Akhara complex is spread over 26 kanal area and there is an old Hanuman temple, a Shiv temple, a building where food is served, an ashram building of Mahant of the Akhara, Samadi Sthal, an inn for pilgrims, old well, water tanks, a kitchen garden and a piece of cultivation land. The complex is located to the south of Poonch town. It touches Bag Deodi gate of Poonch from northern side and Shanker Nagar Mohalla Poonch falls in the south of shrine complex.
Dashnami Akhara had remained centre of power when Poonch was principality of local Dogra Rajas in 1852-1947 AD. The new Rajas of Poonch would be coronated in DashnamiAkhara temple and then they were taken in procession to Poonch fort for taking oath as Raja of Poonch. The Mahant of Akhara was known as Raj Guru. The local Rajas used to visit Akhara along with families to get the blessing of Swami.
If one turns the leaves of history one finds that Raja Moti Singh (1852-1892 AD) started shifting his Darbar for about two months from Poonch town to Rajpura Mandi in summer season. It was this period when the ancient temple of BudhaAmarnath, RajpuraMandi, got importance. This Raja had started the pilgrimage of Chhari Mubarak from Poonch to Baba Budha Amarnath.
DashnamiAkhara Poonch is also a symbol of tolerance and composite culture of this place. This temple was contructed by a Muslim Raja Rustam Khan Rathore of Poonch during 1760 to 1787 AD. There is an interesting story behind the construction of this temple.
As per Tariq-e-Aqwama-e-Poonch written by Mohd Din Fooq, Raja Mohd Zan Khan of Poonch was killed in revolt in 1749 AD and his minister Latief Ullah Khan became the Raja. Latief Ullah Khan tried to kill Ali Gohar Khan, the son of the deceased Raja Mohd Zan Khan Rathore, but he escaped. In the meantime, Latief Ullah Khan fled from Poonch town and took shelter in Kahuta village which is 12 kilometers from Poonch located in the foothills of Haji Peer, now in POK. Ali Gohar Khan changed his life style and his identity from locals. One day when he was grazing goats on the slopes of Haji Peer, a Hindu hermit after crossing the pass of Haji Peer, entered in Kahuta village of Poonch area. He was extremely thirsty and searching for a water spring. He saw Ali Gohar who was grazing goats in that area and requested him for some water. Ali Gohar him that water spring was far away from that place and then offered fresh goat milk to hermit. Hermit got impressed by the kindness of Ali Gohar and after knowing his family back ground he blessed him that he will become Raja of Poonch very soon. Then he suggested Ali Gohar to go to Kashmir, get help from Kashmir Governor and capture Poonch. Then the hermit left for Poonch and started meditation at a place that is the present Akhara site.
Ali Gohar on the directions of hermit left for Kashmir in 1760 AD alongwith his mother. At that time Kashmir was taken over by Afghans who were against AslamYar Khan, the Mughal Administrator of Poonch. Afghan Governor welcomed Ali Gohar Khan, gave him a big military force and designated him as Raja of Poonch. Ali Gohar along with Kashmiri force reached Poonch and after a small resistance from Aslam Yar Khan captured the principality.
Then Ali Gohar came to know that the hermit which had blessed him is residing in small hut in the town. Ali Gohar decided to immediately meet him. Following the suggestion of the hermit Ali Gohar became Raja of Poonch under the title of Raja Rustam Khan Rathore in 1760 AD. Raja Rustam Khan constructed a hut for hermit, Pacca temple and allotted large estate for the temple. This temple later on became famous as Dashnami Akhara Poonch. During the period of Raja Rustam Khan the old Hanuman idol was installed in the temple.
After the death of Raja Rustam Khan (1760-1787 AD) Poonch remained under the rule of Muslim Raja Shah Baz Khan, Bhadur Khan and Ru-alla-Khan Sangu up to 1819 AD. These Rajas gave full respect to Dashnami Akhara shrine. When Moti Singh (1852-1892 AD) became the Raja of Poonch Swami Jawahar Giri was the Mahant of Akhara. Keeping in view his spiritual power, Raja Moti Singh designated Swami Jawahar Giri as Raj Guru. Moti Singh also sanctioned more estates and property to the shrine and constructed the temple in Akhara where saints and seers used to stay. After Jawahar Giri, Swami Shamanand, Swami Shankeranand, Swami Padamanand, Swami Satyanand etc remained the Mahants of this shrine.
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