Baba Zain-Ud-Din Reshi

When Sheikh-Ul-Alam went to Kishtwar at Badarkot, one Hindu lady brought his ailing son named Zia Singh before Sheikh-Ul-Alam and asked for his health recovery. Sheikh-Ul-Alam blessed the child and also advised mother to convert him to a Muslim. However when Sheikh-Ul-Alam left for Kashmir, the Hindu woman ignored the advice and Zia Singh became extremely sick once again. She came along with him to Kashmir and handed him over to Alamdar. Alamdar converted him to Islam and gave him the name Zain-Ud-din. He started his meditation at a cave in Aishmuqam.

One day Sultan Zain-Ul-Abidin came to Aishmuqam and the saint was not on his seat. Sultan sat on the saint’s seat and when saint came and saw sultan sitting on his seat he ordered for immediately washing of seat as Sultan’s presence had rendered it dirty due to his worldly sins. Sultan could not tolerate this humiliation and ordered for deportation of the Saint to Tibet. Zain-Ud-din gladly proceeded to Tibet and Kashgar. He converted thousands at Kashgar to Islam where Bulbul Shah had already laid foundation of Islam.

When his Peer Baba Basm-U-din died, Zain-Ud-din came for a brief period to attend the funeral and proceeded back to Kashgar. Once Sultan Zain-Ul- Abidin became very sick and he repented for his treatment to Zain-Ud-din. He ordered his son Haider to proceed to Tibet and Kashgar and bring Zain-Ud-din back and forgive Sultan. Zain-Ud-din came back and stayed on his seat in his cave. On his arrival Aishmuqam was illuminated. He died and was buried at this Asthan at Aishmuqam.

Aishmuqam

The shrine of Zain-ud-Din Wali is situated on a hill lock, about 20 Kms. short of the famous hill resort of Pahalgam overlooking the bewitching Lidder Valley. The road to the shrine branches off to the right from main Anantnag-Pahalgam road. A few hundred meters walk or drive takes one to the foot of the stone stair leading to the shrine. The mausoleum is located inside a deep cave atop the hill, about 100 meters high than the main road.
Village Aishmuqam is very well known in every part of Kashmir on account of the historical shrine of Zain-ud-din Reshi

Zain-ud-din meditated for a long time in village Mandjan of Sopore where he attained spiritual perfection. It was at this stage that Sheikh –Ul-Alam advised him to migrate to the cave at Aishmuqam and to meditate there for the remaining period of his life. On his arrival, Zain-ud-din found the entrance to the cave blocked by snakes, cobras and reptiles. It is said that the saint carried with him a club which he had received from his master. Seeing the serpents he placed the club on the ground and it was instantaneously transformed into a dreadful cobra. The snakes in the cave got awestricken and not only surrendered to the Zain-ud-din but also vacated it and migrated to the village Phurpujan which is about 16 miles to the east of Aishmuqam.

The exact date of the death of the saint is not known. His Urs or anniversary is celebrated on the 13th day of Baisakh corresponding to 25th of April.

The Khankah besides being used for prayers is also a repository of the relics of the saint which are held in high esteem. These consist of a bow, wooden bread, a rosary, a wooden club and a copy of Quran. It is said that the saint observed fasts frequently and whenever he felt hungry he licked the wooden bread to satisfy his appetite. These relics are publicly displayed whenever the village meets with some catastrophe such as a famine, epidemic, etc. The shrine attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all parts of the valley every year. On the date of anniversary of the saint congregational prayers are held which are attended to by no less than 20,000 people.