Sh. Janki Nath Dhar Sahib

A pious and religious minded man Sh Kanth Nath Dhar of Dhar, Sahib family and Bhardwaj gotra living at Khan-kahi-sokhta Safakadal Srinagar Kashmir and married to Shrimati Kudmali of Badeepora (Chadoora) from very renowned pious Bhat family, were bestowed with four sons. The eldest son born on 28/04/1902, was very lovely charming and shining like a star. The boy was very brilliant graceful, religious minded and well devoted towards his parents and Krishn preima, from his very child hood and named Nandlal. He was given primary education in a nearby school (Maktaba) where he learned urdu and persion languages. One Mr Karley taught him English language. For secondary education he joined Mission School Fatehkadal and passed his matriculation exam through Punjab University. He was loved by all his teachers especially one Mr Loosi English teacher was close to him.
Name Nandlal was changed as Jankinath Dhar sahib mysteriously and the devotees latter called him Shriman Shri Papa Ji Mahraj. After passing matric Papaji Mahraj started paying more attention towards spirituality and was eager to be a helping hand of his father who had to feed a large family. Papa ji got appointed in AG's (Accounting General) office and was posted at Rajput Boarding school Jammu as accountant. Papa ji Mahraj was bestowed with some anonymous Guru (Sh. Satyanand from Meerut city) as hinted by Papaji Maharaj once while discussing with his devotees. Shrimanji got well versed with Persion, Urdu, English Sanskrit, Hindi and Mathematics.
Shrimaan Shri Papaji Maharaj, as he was reverentially and affectionately called by his devotees, breathed his last on July 30, 1990 at 8.30 pm at his last earthly abode at 22, Dudganga Colony, Chanapura, Srinagar Kashmir. He was about 90 years old.
During the last days of Shrimaan Papaji's life, militancy in Kashmir valley had acquired a new peak. Terrorist activities, which resulted in curfews, hartals and indiscriminate and wanton killings, posed a great danger to people living in the state. Because of this, on his death even a competent priest was not available to perform the last rites of this great scholar and saint.
The sacred earthly remains of dear Papaji were consigned to flames in a very tense atmosphere in the presence of a small number of his devotees and family members at the crematorium at Rameshwar Temple at Natipora, Srinagar on July 31, 1990. No customary rituals could be performed. I remember that a few years earlier, during an illness, Papaji had somewhat unconsciously mumbled a few words to the effect that there would be No "Daha Sanskar" as such for him on his death.

THE LITTLE KNOWN SAINT OF KASHMIR

Late Prof. N.N. Dhar called Taya Ji by devotees remained lifelong devotee and companion of PapaJi Maharaj. Sh. N.N Dhar fried of his (PapaJi's) younger brother Jagannath was greatly influenced by Shrimanji's spiritual grace and became dedicated devotee of PapaJi. ShrimanJi while working hard and with zeal in his office at Jammu he was allotted one small triangular room adjacent to office building where Shriman ji was performing his tremendous Sadhna continuously having full control over his diet which used to be flahar and no salt at all. Though Shrimanji was carved in regrious Tapasiya still the office work never suffered because of it, Shrimanji performed both karmas in quite stable state. Impossible was made possible. The small triangular room became tapoowan and Shrimanji attained "bliss" when the Sadhna and Tapasiya were approaching towards final goal Shrimanji had fitted a board on wall where he could look straightway all the time -- these words were written on this board "ALERT REALIZATION AT HAND" . After when he was transferred to Srinagar his highness was a perfect sidh. Physically Shrimanji was seen engaged in day to day routine works like office, family matters but he kept detached internally and was in unison with lord and Sadhna. Shrimanji applied for long leave and went "Gosanihgund Ashram" in Anantnag district. Great saint Swamy Atmaram Maharaj lived in this ashram and he personally received Papaji Maharaj with great love and honor, arranged for one solitude room in another adjacent building. Arrangement for required satvik bhojan and other requirements. Papaji Maharaj got full concentration and bliss in his hard sadhna. After some period of time Shrimanji desired to visit local tirth-sathans. Shrimanji along with Tayaji and two other devotees left for the tirthyatra, visiting Kulwageashwari temple at Kulgam, Tripursundri temple at the hills of Devsar village, Teerath - sathal of Khanbarni, famous temple of Mata Kheerbawani at village Manzgam and many other local and other teerthsathans in neighborhood. During Satsangh and other religious discourses Shrimanji, sometimes used to narrate about these tirthsathans and his holy face would shine with delight and divine bliss. In addition to this papaji, on returning to Srinagar would frequently visit Tulmulla, wratshan, Manigam, Laar, Hariparwat, Shankracharya, Khrew, and other teerth-sathans may be to uplift and guide others though Shrimanji himself was complete in all respects and had attained sidh-awastha. For this reason only shrimanji would always visit tithsathans, remain busy in prayers, keeping companion with Sadhus Dharmic works Satsangs and spirituality .While visiting Gowri shankar temple (his ashram) at Sathubarbarsha Srinagar for paying bliss to his devotees , Shrimanji would first pay pradkhina round a big chinar tree there chanting loudly Gowri-shankar, Gowri-shankar, Gowri-shankar Pahimam -- Radha-Krishna, Radha-Krishna, Radha-Krishna Rakhimam. Shrimanji remained eager to receive, feed and honor Sadhus, Saniyasees and Saints.
Shrimanji had ashram at Gowri-Shankar temple Sathoo BarbarShah Srinagar and Swami Shankaranand chief disciple along with other devotees were managing the Ashram work. Papaji Maharaj would usually visit the ashram every Sundays and other pious days where devotees were waiting eagerly for his darshan bliss and guru-kripa. Satsang keertan was being performed throughout the day and Shrimanji's bliss spreading everywhere in the environment every one would get the bliss, hearts filled with happiness. Papaji maharaj with shining, smiling face and sitting on his Asan in a particular mudra, comfortable, calm and still in one posture for hours together looking with divine beautiful eyes and showering bliss on devotees engaged in kirtan and prayers. Papaji was kind to all - every one Hindu, Muslim, Sikh who came to him was bestowed. Maharaj Ji uplifted his devotees both spiritually and in worldly affairs. For any important work the devotee was asking permission from Shrimanji and all good would happen only with the permission and ashirwad from Papaji. Shrimanji started paying less visits to ashram from the year 1987 onwards and was confined to his chanpora residence up to his Mahasamadhi. Shrimanji did not migrate to Jammu on mass migration of the kashmiri pandits but stayed in his residence at chanpora, though militants come to his residence but were pushed back by some divine force and could not harm the great saint. One ashram was established at Nagrota Jammu "UTKRISHT PARIJAT ASHRAM" Shri Radha Krishan Mandir parisar doak waziarian Nagrota Jammu. Mahant and devotee of shrimanji, Swamy Shankaranand is convener and looking after the ashram. PapaJi's beautiful Statue in marble is resting in the temple to perpetuate Papaji's sacred memory. Devotees meet there to offer prayers and seek his blessings as was being done during his life time Papa ji's birthday and his Mahasamadhi day is celebrated by performing yagya.