This story comes from the thirteenth century, during the time when Sultans ruled India. In those days, Delhi was ruled by the Turks, who were called the Slave Dynasty. Their rule lasted from 1206 AD to 1290 AD.
Old stories passed down through generations talk about wars fought with the Turks. These events are also remembered in the ways people worship their deities. From these traditions, it is believed that Shri Shirgul Dev and his brothers and sisters took birth during the early period of Turkish rule, between 1206 and 1210 AD. These divine souls came to earth during this time.
In Sirmaur district, in Rajgarh tehsil, there is a village called Shaya, about eighteen kilometers from Rajgarh on the Rajgarh–Habban road. This village was ruled by King Bhukru. The king lived a good life, but he was very sad because he had no children. He tried many ways to have a child, but nothing worked.
At the same time, a holy man of the Nath tradition, Yogi 1008 Guru Itwar Nath Maharaj, lived near Rajgarh at a place called Thaur Nivad. He had been doing deep meditation there for many years. Because of his spiritual powers, people respected him greatly.
Feeling helpless, King Bhukru went to Guru Itwar Nath Maharaj and asked him for help. The Guru used his divine vision and told the king that in Kashmir lived a very wise man named Desh Nath Kaul, also called Deshu Pandit. He could find the reason for not having children and suggest a solution. The Guru advised the king to go to Kashmir.
With hope in his heart, King Bhukru started his journey to Kashmir. The journey was very long—about seven hundred kilometers—and he traveled on foot, crossing rough roads, high mountains, and difficult paths. After many days, he finally reached Kashmir.
There, King Bhukru met Deshu Pandit. He offered him a gold gift shaped like a custard apple and told him his sad story with tears in his eyes. Deshu Pandit was a devotee of Lord Shiva and knew tantric practices and astrology. After listening carefully, he told the king that there was a problem in his household destiny. He said that to solve it, the king would need to marry a woman from a Brahmin family.
Deshu Pandit then performed a sacred fire ritual (havan) for the king to bless him with children. He gave the king the ash from the fire and some dry fruits and sweets blessed with holy chants. He told the king to give these to both queens. He also said that even the first queen might become pregnant, and the child born would be bright, strong, and divine.
Still worried, King Bhukru returned home. After reaching his palace, he told his dear queen Dayamanti everything, including the matter of a second marriage. The queen listened and said kindly,
“I will not feel sad if another queen comes. I will be happy if you are blessed with a child.”
After this, Queen Dayamanti went to a nearby village called Manon. With tears in her eyes, she told her sorrow to Shri Loj Pandit and asked for his sister Dhudhma to be married to the king.
After the marriage, the holy sweets and dry fruits given by the Pandit in Kashmir were given to both queens. By God’s blessing, both queens became pregnant. In this way, the path was prepared for the birth of Shri Shirgul Dev.
After King Bhukru’s second marriage, he gave the fruit, sweets, and dry fruits that were given by the Brahmin in Kashmir to both his queens. Because of their divine effect, after some time both queens gave birth to divine sons.
The son born to Queen Dhudhma was the first son of her lineage, so he was named Shirgul*.
Queen Dayamanti, however, gave birth while traveling from Sarah. On the way, at a place called Saranhatti, which is about eight kilometers from Shaya, a flash of lightning came down from the sky and entered her womb. Because of this divine event, a child was born. Since he was born through the power of lightning (vajra), he was named Bajat.
In time, Queen Dhudhma had three children, and Queen Dayamanti had two, making five children in total.
The second son of Queen Dhudhma had a face as bright and beautiful as the moon, so he was named Chandreshwar. Her daughter was named Kuj Aat.
Queen Dayamanti’s daughter, who was the real sister of Bajat Maharaj, was named Bijai.
King Bhukru was filled with great joy, but fate did not allow his happiness to last long. After a short time, Queen Dayamanti passed away and went to heaven. Once again, sorrow fell heavily upon King Bhukru.
After discussing the matter with Guru Itwar Nath Ji, King Bhukru decided to go on a pilgrimage to the four holy dhams as repentance for marrying into a Brahmin family. Queen Dhudhma also expressed her wish to go with him.
Because of this, the children were separated.
The children of Queen Dayamanti were taken to Saran by their maternal grandfather Devi Singh, also known as Devu Thakur.
The children of Queen Dhudhma were taken by their maternal uncle Loj Pandit to his home in Manon.
King Bhukru handed over all the responsibilities of the kingdom to his minister Deviram. In this way, King Bhukru and Queen Dhudhma gave up royal life and left for the four-dham pilgrimage.
The wife of Loj Pandit was a Brahmin woman who was selfish and cruel by nature. She did not want these children to be brought to Manon or cared for. She began to torture them.
When the children went to graze animals, she gave them only dry sattu balls and stale bread to eat. If the animals remained hungry or returned home early, the children were beaten. Many attempts were made to drive them out of the house and even kill them, but the one who protects is always stronger than the one who tries to harm. All her attempts failed.
When the children grew a little older, all household work was forced upon them. Once, during plowing season in Phagu Kyar, 17–18 plowmen were called to work the fields. Shirgul worked just as hard as the others.
When it was time for food, the Brahmin woman brought food with ghee for the other workers, but gave the children sattu balls mixed with flies and insects. Everyone saw this and was shocked, but no one dared to speak.
Shirgul then said,
“Aunt, if you brought sattu, you should have brought water for washing hands.”
She replied harshly,
“If you are so pure, why don’t you create water yourself?”
These words hurt Shirgul deeply. In anger, he struck the ground with his foot, and a stream of water began to flow. The children took the animals toward Tali Teesri, and rubbed the sattu balls on stones. Even today, marks of flies’ wings can still be seen on those stones.
Soon, Chandreshwar became very hungry. In anger, Shirgul told him to take the animals home. Chandreshwar replied that he would not be able to take them so quickly. Hearing this, Shirgul struck the ground with his knee, and a cave was formed. Many animals entered the cave. The animals that did not enter were turned into stone by Shirgul.
Shirgul then told Chandreshwar to take the animals home, and he himself disappeared. Dark clouds covered the sky, and darkness spread everywhere.
When Chandreshwar reached home and called the Brahmin woman to tie the animals, she entered the cattle shed. There, the ropes turned into snakes, and with the loud buzzing of bees, the vehicle of Goddess Kali appeared. Shirgul’s younger sister also received divine power, took the form of a bhramari (bee form), joined the swarm, and disappeared.
In this way, thousands of bees attacked the Brahmin woman, devoured her body, and sent her to Yampuri. A terrible hailstorm struck Shaya, destroying all crops. When Shirgul Dev’s anger finally calmed, the clouds cleared and sunlight returned.
Shri Shirgul Dev appeared in Manon, and his younger sister also appeared again in human form. Seeing these miracles, people were astonished. The news spread like the wind across the nine regions, and people gathered in Manon.
According to local beliefs, Shirgul Maharaj’s aunt was skilled in witchcraft and tantric powers. She misused these powers and tried to kill the divine children to gain control over the land. She even tried to poison them. Because of her cruel and unrighteous actions, these divine powers ended her life during the children’s early years.
When people saw these miracles, they were amazed. The news spread like a gust of wind across all nine regions, and people gathered in Manon. After this, Shirgul and the other children were taken to Shaya, where Shirgul was crowned king.
Shirgul Maharaj stayed in Shaya. Chandreshwar and his younger sister, whose name had not been formally given, went with their maternal uncle Loj Pandit to Manon for care. Because this sister lived among cows, people began calling her Gara. Later, she became known as Garai or Gudli.
At that time, a demon named Chudiya Danav lived in Churdhar. He spread great fear and began killing people and their cattle in nearby villages. Terrified, the people came to Shirgul Dev and shared their suffering.
Shirgul Dev came to Saran, informed Bajat Dev about the demon’s terror, and then set out for Churdhar. A fierce battle took place between Bajat Dev and Chudiya Danav. In the end, the demon tried to escape from Churdhar, but Bajat Dev blocked his path. The demon attacked Bajat Dev, and Bajat Dev fell unconscious.
When Shirgul Dev saw his brother unconscious, he was overcome with grief and also fainted. People cried in fear. After some time, both brothers regained consciousness, and divine power awakened fully in Bajat Dev, who took his deity form.
Shirgul Dev then picked up a pinch of soil from the earth and threw it into the sky. The Lord of Clouds appeared. When Shirgul Dev threw another pinch of soil, lightning struck, and the clouds chased the demon and destroyed him.
From that time on, Shirgul Dev’s fame kept growing. Whenever people were troubled by spirits, ghosts, demons, or dark forces, Shirgul Dev freed them. His glory spread across all regions and even reached Delhi.
At that time, Delhi was under Turkish rule. Secret spies informed the Sultan that a man named Shirgul possessed divine powers. The Delhi rulers called him for a special meeting.
Shirgul Dev, Chandreshwar, and 30–40 companions traveled to Delhi. When they reached the banks of the Yamuna River, the Turkish rulers tested them. They sent a butcher to kill a cow, while spies watched secretly.
As the butcher raised his weapon, the blow did not hit the cow. Instead, the butcher’s own head was cut off, and it fell at the feet of Shirgul Dev. Many other miraculous events occurred. The spies reported everything to the Delhi court.
The Delhi rulers became afraid and ordered Shirgul Dev and his companions to be chained with leather shackles and imprisoned. In the same prison were Doom Dev, Mahasu Bagad, Gugga Chauhan, and others, all bound in leather chains.
Shirgul Dev introduced himself, and everyone shared their suffering. They discussed how to escape. Shirgul Dev noticed a woman sweeper (jamadar) and asked her to bring a sharp knife. The next morning, she secretly passed the knife through the window.
Shirgul Dev said that whoever cuts the chains would be more powerful than all of them and would be worshipped everywhere. Gugga Pir held the knife in his mouth and cut Shirgul Dev’s chains. Soon, all prisoners were freed, and they escaped.
When they reached an open field near a peepal tree, Turkish soldiers attacked. Shirgul Dev threw dust from the earth, and the soldiers began seeing each other as enemies and killed one another. Many soldiers died, while Shirgul Dev and his companions remained unharmed.
Frightened, the Turkish rulers begged for forgiveness, which Shirgul Dev granted. At that moment, a small stone message came from Churdhar, saying danger had returned. Shirgul Dev said they must return quickly.
The Turks gifted them horses, and Shirgul Dev was given a spotted mare. As they were leaving, Bhang, Shirgul’s sister, appeared and insisted on going with him. Shirgul Dev threw a pinch of earth toward her, and she gained divine power. Wherever she went, beings died instantly. Seeing this destruction, Shirgul Dev took back her power and warned her. She promised to act only when called.
Shirgul Dev returned to Shaya, where people welcomed him. Plans were made to attack Churdhar again. During the journey, many demons were defeated. At one narrow mountain path, Shirgul Dev turned the spotted mare into stone, which is still worshipped today.
At Churdhar, a fierce battle took place with Chaukhat Danav. Shirgul Dev struck him with his sword, cutting off his head. The sword struck a rock, leaving a mark that still exists today. The demon’s head fell there, while his body disappeared and fell at Chhajpur, where it is still known today.
After this, Churdhar became free from fear. People wished to make Chur Chandni a pilgrimage site, but there was no water. Shirgul Dev brought water from Manasarovar, making it a holy place for the welfare of the people.
After completing his divine duties, Shirgul Dev returned to the supreme realm. Bajat Dev, Chandreshwar Dev, Gudai, Bijai, and Bhangayani took their rightful places. Temples were built, idols were made, and worship began. People were freed from fear of ghosts, spirits, and dark forces.
Later rulers came and went—Khiljis, Tughlaqs, and others—many temples were destroyed, and idols were hidden underground. After Sher Shah Suri, temples were rebuilt, idols were rediscovered, and worship resumed. Even today, idols of Bajat Maharaj, Gudai, Bijai, Shirgul Dev, and Chandreshwar Dev have been found in caves and fields, where temples now stand and prayers continue.