Where devotion tames the unseen, and the forest listens to the soul’s unrest
Tucked in the pine-covered hills of Mairi, near Amb in Una district, the Dera Baba Bharbhag Singh is a unique spiritual sanctuary revered for its power to heal those afflicted by evil spirits, mental unrest, and unseen forces. Founded by Baba Bharbhag Singh, a descendant of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, this sacred dera is a rare confluence of Sikh devotion, folk healing, and mystical legacy.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Mairi Village, ~10 km from Amb, Una District, Himachal Pradesh – 177203
- Altitude: ~600 meters
- By Road: 40 km from Una, 25 km from Hoshiarpur; well-connected by buses and taxis
- By Rail: Amb Andaura (~15 km)
- By Air: Gaggal Airport, Kangra (~90 km)
- On Foot: A short walk from the village center through eucalyptus groves and temple steps
🕉️ Deity & Worship
The shrine is dedicated to Baba Bharbhag Singh Ji, a saint, healer, and spiritual warrior, believed to have subdued Nar Singh, a powerful spirit that once haunted the region. Baba Ji is revered as a “Guru of Bhoots”, a master of spirits who commands them to heal rather than harm.
Devotees offer red flags, coconuts, and sweets, and the dera is especially known for curing those believed to be possessed or mentally disturbed. Rituals include:
- Recitation of Gurbani and Ardas
- Sprinkling of sacred water (Jalhari)
- Healing sessions led by Masands (spiritual caretakers)
- Tying of red threads and flags as symbols of protection
The goddess is also worshipped in the form of three pindis, representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati, in keeping with the region’s Shakta traditions.
🏛️ Architecture & Setting
The dera is a whitewashed complex surrounded by eucalyptus trees, with:
- A main sanctum housing Baba Ji’s relics and portrait
- A healing courtyard where rituals are performed
- A sacred ber tree, under which Baba Ji meditated and subdued Nar Singh
- A stream called Dharshani Khad (now Charan Ganga), believed to have miraculously flooded to protect Baba Ji from invaders
The setting is serene yet charged, with drums, chants, and incense creating a spiritual atmosphere unlike any other.
📜 Mythological Significance
Born in 1715 CE in Kartarpur, Baba Bharbhag Singh was a descendant of Dhir Mal, cousin of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. During Ahmed Shah Abdali’s invasion, Baba Ji fled to the Jaswan hills, eventually settling in Mairi. Here, he encountered Nar Singh, a shape-shifting spirit who tormented the region. Through deep meditation and divine power, Baba Ji captured Nar Singh in a cage and commanded him to serve humanity by healing the afflicted.
The dera thus became a sanctuary for those suffering from spiritual afflictions, and Baba Ji’s fame spread across northern India.
🎉 Festivals & Celebrations
- Hola Mohalla (February–March): A grand fair with healing rituals, kirtans, and langar, drawing thousands of devotees
- Baba Bharbhag Singh Mela: Celebrated during Holi, known for spiritual healing and exorcism ceremonies
- Daily Worship: Includes Gurbani recitation, healing prayers, and community service (seva)
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Chintpurni Temple: A Shakti Peetha dedicated to Maa Chinnamastika
- Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Amb: A riverside Shiva shrine with mythic origins
- Shiv Bari Temple, Gagret: A Mahabharata-linked shrine of Lord Shiva
- Dera Baba Rudru: Another spiritual site with panoramic views
🙏 Spiritual Experience
The Dera Baba Bharbhag Singh is not just a shrine—it is a sanctuary of the unseen, a place where faith confronts fear, and healing flows through prayer and presence. As you sit beneath the ber tree, with the wind rustling through eucalyptus leaves and the chant of Ardas rising like incense, you feel the saint’s gaze—gentle, fierce, and eternal. It is a dera where the soul finds its voice, and **the spirit finds its peace.
