Heritage: Udero Lal: The Pir of dariya panthis

[Razzak Abro <razzakabro@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Udero Lal: The Pir of the water worshippers

By Shabnum Gul

Udero Lal is 56 kilometre away from Hyderabad and ten kilometre from
Tandodam. This place is considered a significant one by both Muslims as well
as Hindus because there is the monument of a pir in Udero Lal. Muslims call
him Khawaja Khizer, while some of the names that the Hindu followers use for
him are Udero Lal, Jhollay Lal, Dariya Shah, Zinda pir. He is considered to
be guide to the boats, and protects sailors throughout their voyage.

In primitive times, people worshipped natural objects such as moon, sun,
stars, mountains, rivers, earth and trees. They worship those things which
were beyond their perception. The terror of the sky and horror of the earth
had been translated into a religious fervour. They were in search of
unsolved mystery and this discontentment led them to believe in nature as
the guide and protector to them.

Water is a great source of life. It gives new life to earth, plants and
human beings. Water covers about 70 per cent of the earth surface and life
evolved in water. The traces of water worship have been found in the ruins
of the civilization of Moen-jo-Daro. In primitive societies, people gathered
around the bank of rivers and performed their religious rituals. Near
Sehwan, there is a place named Laki Shah. People came from far and wide to
cleanse their body and make their soul pure by taking bath in the spring of
that water which is considered by some as holy. In Mol Sharif, near Thano
Bula Khan, a well of fresh water is always a great centre for worshippers of
water. In Lahoot, people believe in the miraculous effects of water.

In Greek mythology we find that after Zeus, Poseidon held an important
position as the god of the sea. According to the world mythology, he has a
golden palace in the depth of the water world. The creatures of the sea
dance at his passing by and he causes storms at the sea and sailors pray to
him for the safe voyage but he is also the god of the earthquake. The sign
of Poseidon are the horse, dolphin and sanober (fur tree). In Rome, Neptune
holds a the same position of the god of the sea.

Much importance were being given to earth and water worship. "Ganges, which
nourishes the soil of India is sacred. It is the river of creation of
insight, as it flows underground, in the heart of earth so it flow within
women," Pupal Jaykar has written in her book The earth mother.

Even today, there are different places of worship and monuments of 'dariya
panthis', specially in Tando Adam and Thatta. The temples of Udero Lal are
always overcrowded with the followers.

About the birth of Udero Lal, Abbot writes in his book that around the
beginning of the 11th century, Marakh was the ruler of Thatta. The Hindus
and Muslims were in conflict. The king thought there should be a single
religion for the whole of Sindh. The panchayat obtained a respite of three
days and gathered on the river bank of Thatta and offered prayers for three
day. On the third day, from the river a voice proclaimed: "After eight days
I shall be born at Nasurpur and my name shall be Udero Lal".

Thus, Udero Lal was born, he grew up within few moments - from a child he
became a youth, then a black-bearded man and then an old white haired man.
Udero Lal believed in miracles, his soul was kindled with immense spiritual
power. King Marakh also believed in him. Once King Marakh asked him to
convert the Hindus but he refused. He explained to the king that all
creatures are equal in front of God. The king was angry and ordered his
arrest but he whirled like a wind and stirred like water and could not be
caught.

According to one legend, he dived into the water and came up at Udero Lal in
Hyderabad district. His followers wear a red coloured shirt marked with the
emblem of a hand and a dolphin. Around the banks of the river, his followers
kindle a lamp each month, on the last day of the moon, and every Friday is
considered sacred to the god of water. In these days, the followers eat fish
as it is the fruit of water. Every evening, women throw rice mixed with
sugar into the river. There is a sacred well, a wooden slipper chakhari and
the drum (naqara) and a tree. Lots of rugs and different pieces of cloth
were tied to the branches of the tree. The place is crowded with peoples who
come there with wishes, dreams and desires which they seek the pir for
approval.

In Bakhar, a great festival is celebrated for 40 days. The holy place is
locked and only a caretaker can enter into the cave, where a lamp is lit to
maintained light. When I entered in the premises of Udero Lal, I was
surprised to see the door of the temple besides that of the mosque. In the
temple, a lamp is kept burning day and night, reminding followers of Udero
Lal's presences in a spiritual world. According to one account, he found the
fountain of life and after drinking it he became immortal.

Captions: There are latest pictures of Temple of Udero Lal, a naqara (drum),
a chakhari (wooden slipper) and silver-coated door of Udero Pir in the print
edition of the Dawn dated June 3, 2001 while the online edition only carries
picture of Temple of Udero Lal.