Sutra Shaieh cont'd

Another fabulous exploit of Suthra Shah involved him commissioning the making of two large shoes, each one-quarter ‘Gaj’ long (approximately 9 inches long). He secretly entered the Delhi Masjid and placed one of these shoes in the main hall. When the credulous Qazis saw this shoe, they came to the conclusion that the shoe was too large for any man to wear, so it must be the shoe of the Almighty. Excited and rejoicing, the Qazis began to claim that God had visited their Masjid.

Delhi Masjid
The Masjid at Delhi where Suthra Shah confronted the Qazis

At the same time, Baba Suthra Shah was walking around in Delhi Bazaar with the other shoe suspended high on a stick and stating that a dog had stolen his other shoe. The Emperor heard of this and had Suthra Shah brought before him. He was threatened with execution if the shoe in the Masjid did not fit his own foot. All were amazed when the shoe just about fitted Suthra’s foot. The Emperor recognizing Suthra as a man of great miraculous powers, wished to grant him a land grant. Suthra declined the offer, but accepted the right of his followers to take one Paisa from any shop.

In 1671, Suthra Shah died aged 56 and was succeeded by Rajal Nam. Suthra Shah had received one small Sikh prayer book from the seventh Sikh Guru and this was handed down to Rajal Nam. Rajal Nam was eventually succeeded by Saehja Nand and Changar Shah.

Once Changer Shah was seated outside the ‘Mandhir’ (Hindu temple) of Devi and was repeatedly beating his arm with a stick and singing Devi’s praises. Sikh tradition holds that Chandi Devi herself appeared, and gave Changar Shah another stick from the Mandir. From then on, all Suthra Shahieh began to carry two sticks. Changar Shah was also given ashes from the Mandir’s ‘Havan’ (sacrificial fire). Hence Suthra Shahieh also began to place a mark made of black ash on their foreheads.

Sutra Shahi
Depiction of a Sutra Shahi Sikh adorned with the mark of black ash
on the forehead, a 'Seli Topi' and 2 Fakir sticks, circa late 18th century