Nand Bab 'Mastana':- The Mystic, divine and Spiritual Saint of Kashmir
Kashmir is often referred to as "the land of saints" due to its rich history of Sufi mystics and prominent religious figures, particularly within the Muslim community, who have deeply influenced the region's culture and spirituality; many people consider it the "Abode of Rishis" (Reshi Waer) because of this concentration of Sufi saints. One such mystic and spiritual saint is Nand Bab Mastana. In spoken language ‘Nand’ is an abbreviation of the name Nandlal and ‘Bab’ means father or an elderly person. Every word that he uttered carried deep meaning and was of great consequence for all those who sought his blessings. Needless to say, the name of Swami Nand Bab stands out in the tradition of such mystics who are known for their godliness, spiritual power,prophecies, foresight, piety and holiness.
Nand Bab, better known by the name of Nand-Mot i.e., Nand Mastana or Nand Malang by the Kashmiri people, had a very strange outfit. Such a dress is mostly worn by the Jogis, sages, or wizard-like people. A long-statured man witha stout body, glowing face, white thick thread around the neck, hat on the head, dressed in coat-pant, waistband around, long Tilak on the forehead, stick in hand, a knife hanging on the waist-band, with waistcoat and a tin box /(Nore),Nand Bab was a class in himself. His language and speech were unintelligible, eyes used to be steady and sometimes unsteady. All were equal beforethis spiritual person. Hindus, as well as Muslims rising above narrow-mindedness and caste discrimination, would take pleasure in seeking his blessings from him. For him, all were the children of the Lord. No one was high and no one was low. It is said that a bag would always hang on his shoulders in which holy scriptures like Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Guru Granth Sahib, Bible, Quran Sharif, etc. would find a place. He loved people of all castes and people of all castes loved him. He was a devotee of Almighty and devotees belonged to him.
Swamiji was born on Dec. 30, 1896, at Purshayar, Habbakadal, Srinagar. His father was Pt. Shanker Sahib and the name of his mother was Smt. Emberzal. Smt.Imberzal had a sister in Nunar, a village near Laar, Ganderbal. She had no issue of her own and adopted Swami Nanda-Babas her son. It is said that Nanda Bab Ji was fairly conversant in writing English, Urdu and Persian in a beautiful calligraphic style. After finishing his education, he joined the Police Department and was posted as a Mohrirat Police Station, Pokhribal. It is also said that Swamiji had the vision of Sharika Devi at this very place. One day, one of his colleagues advised him to remain properly dressed as a Senior Police Officer was to visit the Station the next day. Ignoring this advice, Swamiji went to Devi-Angan the next day and got absorbed in deep meditation there. It was joined and witnessed by some of his other colleagues as well. When the Inspecting Officer visited the Station, to the great astonishment of everybody,he found Swamiji already present at the venue. From this date onwards, the miracles of the Swami Ji started coming tolight.After some time Swamiji was transferred to Tangdar the posting which he never liked and joined against his wishes. One day Swamiji left Tangdar on foot for Srinagar without informing his superiors and seeking their permission. On way to Srinagar, he met a British officer who was wearing a hat. Swamiji removed his hat and put that on his own head. Legal action was taken against him and having been found guilty of insulting a British Officer, he was dismissed from the State Service. Since then,Swami Ji started wearing a hat for the rest of his life. Swami Nand Bab was more or less a lunatic but there was a meaning and coherence in his lunatic behavior.“His ramblings carried deep philosophy, his wanderings were representative of his duty and responsibilities towards the order of the day, his chants and prayers carried succor for the needy, the diseased, and his devotees. He was celestial, he was benevolent, he was magnanimous and above all he was universal.”
Nandabab entered 'mahasmadhi' on the 10th October, 1973, in the capital city of Delhi. His mortal remains were reverentially flown to Srinagar for the last rites. Profusely bedecked with bunches of bouquets, wreaths and garlands of flowers of rainbow colours, the gun- carriage carrying the mortal remains of the saint, ever worshipped by the constant devotees - 'nityam-ashrit pujitah', was wheeled round the city of Srinagar on Public demand. Thousand of people in tears of mourning moved, shoulder to shoulder, in the funeral procession chanting from the holy Srimad bhagwad Gita and other holy scriptures. Many more, longing for the last glimpse of the One seated in Godhood 'adhirohah' showered flowers of obeisance from their house-windows and house-tops en- route the funeral procession which was lined on both sides of the road by vast numbers of plaintive people.
One more thing is said that before Bab ji's nirvana, nand bab was terribly weeping and very much worried and used to say repeatedly to himself" I can not perform the duty well ,how can I " What to do ",please do not leave " etc.. When Bab ji left this material world to immerse in Ultimate then everyone understood Nand bab's cause of worrying. Nand bab also in advance used to predict yagnopavit ceremony ,marriage even death before time and used to visit the family in advance, used to give them hints etc.to prepare them for coming events.etc really mystic and divine saints.
The memorial of Nanda Bab is located oat Lale-Da-Bagh (Muthi) Jammu, representative of the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir. It would not be unreasonable to mention here the name of Late Swami Shri Chaman Lal Ji Bamzai, whose continuous inspiration and cooperation have made the establishment of the said memorial possible. Swami Nand Bab was a godsend messenger of love and affection, kindness and uprightness,righteousness and humanness. A figure of piety and compassion. He was an epistle of mankind and torchbearer of brotherhood and comradeship.
(Vivek Koul)
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