Shrines of Sheikh-ul-Alam

Sheikh-ul-Alam had widely travelled throughout Kashmir. The shrines connected with great Sufi saint are found all over the Valley.

Sheikh-ul-Alam meditated first in a cave at Kaimuh. It was a forest land during his times. Sheikh-ul-Alam was thirty when he took refuge in this cave and spent twelve years meditating inside the cave in search of the divine light. He also planted elm tree near the cave. The holy tree and cave still exist. People visit this cave in large numbers during Urs and recite the holy verses of the saint.

After leaving this cave, he searched for more silent and calm places which he found in the dense forests of Pir Panchal and reached Timor. He spent one more year here in meditation. The miniature stone mortar and pestle are seen outside the Sufi shrine of Timor. The saint used them in preparing his diet which exclusively consisted of upal hakh and forest vegetation. According to a tradition if any body needs the saint’s help in solution of worldly problems they should visit his shrine at Timor. If assistance is required for the next world, then Charare--Sharief should be visited.
Kheejogepora is another important site associated with Sheikh-ul-Alam, There is a holy spring attributed to this patron saint. It is called Alamdar-Nag. Alamdar is the title for the saint which means flag bearer. Sheikh-ul-Alam is always called by this name by local Kashmiris as it means that he is the chief of all saints of this land. Nag stands for spring, so Alamdar Nag means spring of the flag bearer. This spring is situated in District Kulgam. Its waters are highly revered by Kashmiris; they take its waters into bottles and use as sacred water. People also believe in its healing powers. Sick and infirm take bath in its holy waters. Once in Kulgam area paddy fields got affected by some unidentified disease. Farmers of the area brought the holy waters from this spring and sprayed on their fields. The disease got controlled to a large extent.

Mukhtamul site is also associated with this patron saint. It is near Vicharnag in Srinagar. Sheikh-ul-Alam is said to have spent about six months here on a stone slab for further meditations. Yavanmachi was a Hafiza, a dancer. She tried to distract the saint, but failed and instead the saint influenced her to give up her profession and she became a disciple of the saint.

There is a cave in Laddoo, near Pampore, where the Sheikh is said to have meditated for so long, that when he was leaving, the cave could not bear the separation and began to follow him, upon which he stopped the cave. There is a stone at the entrance of the cave that distinctly bears a handprint, as if it was molded into the stone.

The distant block of Khag also had the good fortune of receiving the saint and there would hardly be any place here not visited by him.

The village of HamchaPora also provided him a place to meditate. When Alamdar-e-Kashmir arrived at Khag, he selected a rock for his meditation which bore still bear imprints of his feet. The rock is known as Shah Kean (the king- stone). As the great Sufi saint stayed at HamchaPora for long, the place became revered and people started flocking the village which steadily attained the status of a Ziarat. The devotees still visit the shrine in large numbers to pay their respects.

There is an important shrine at Drayigam which is situated 24 kms away from Srinagar in the west. Alamdar-e-Kashmir Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani said that whosoever comes to me from any side first he should go to Drayigam where he stayed for 12 years. The stone still exists on which Alamdar-e Kashmir used to sit and worship. The stick and the attire of Sheikh also exist here as part of sacred things. The Urs is held annually at this shrine.

During his stay at Poshkar, Sheikh-ul-Alam met a pious lady, Sham Ded, who under his guidance, attained spiritual heights. At Rupwan the saint left for heavenly abode and was buried at Charare-Sharief.