Where faith, history & Sirsa’s origins converge

Sirsa, a busy town in Haryana today, carries layers of history beneath its modern streets. Among its many legends and landmarks, one institution stands out as the oldest and most enduring symbol of the city’s heritage: the Dera Baba Sarsai Nath temple.

Believed to be around 725 years old, the shrine has for centuries been a place of faith, charity and memory, closely linked to the very origin of Sirsa.

Local belief holds that Sirsa was founded in the name of Baba Sarsai Nath, a revered saint of the Nath sect. Long before the town developed, the dera is believed to have been the first structure built in the area. During the Mughal period, it grew into a prominent religious centre of the Nath tradition. The temple belongs to the “Ai” branch of the sect, and this lineage is reflected in a unique custom: every mahant, or head priest, succeeding Baba Sarsai Nath has carried “Ai” as a suffix to his name.

The temple’s large and ancient entrance gate opens into a serene yet imposing complex. Inside are several stone-built temples and samadhi sites that draw devotees from Sirsa and distant regions. The samadhis of earlier saints are located at one place, while Baba Sarsai Nath’s main samadhi has a separate, prominent temple built over it.

In the heart of the complex stands a centuries-old jaal tree (Salvadora Oleoides). Once common in the Sirsa region, jaal trees are now rare, making this one a living reminder of the area’s natural and cultural past.

Mahant Sundarai Nath, the present head of the dera, says the temple’s significance goes beyond religion. Temple records state that Baba Sarsai Nath once saved the life of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. In gratitude, Shah Jahan donated hundreds of acres to the dera and ordered the construction of a grand court.

A copper plate issued in 1627 during the Mughal era is still preserved at the temple as proof of this royal patronage.

Over time, several such copper plates were issued to the dera. Some were later transferred to the Archaeology Department in Chandigarh for safekeeping. Recent translations of the Hindi inscriptions have helped historians and locals understand the temple’s past and its links better with the Mughal court.

Devotee Purushottam Sharma describes the dera as one of the most important religious centres in the region. He notes that it has also played a strong social role. Much of the land donated to the temple was later used for public welfare, including schools, dharamshalas and other community facilities. In some cases, land was allotted for commercial use, creating livelihoods while supporting the temple’s functioning.

The influence of Baba Sarsai Nath continues today. A medical college is being built in Sirsa in his name by the Haryana Government on the Sirsa bypass, opposite Chaudhary Devi Lal University. President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone in the presence of senior state leaders.

Meanwhile, the historic temple is undergoing careful renovation. Marble flooring has been completed and stone cladding is underway using Makrana Dungri stone from Rajasthan. The authorities say the work aims at enhancing the shrine while preserving its ancient character.

Spread over nearly two acres in the city’s heart, the temple now features a dome decorated with floral stonework, topped by a two-tonne stone placed with a crane. Despite renovations, the dera remains open to people of all religions and castes.

Devotees visit daily, believing Baba Sarsai Nath stood for love, harmony and brotherhood. On the first day of the Hindu calendar each year, the temple hosts a massive fair attended by pilgrims from India and abroad. Many say visiting the shrine is often the first act of officials posted to Sirsa. However, concerns remain over alleged encroachments on temple land, with followers urging strong support to protect this 725-year-old heritage site.