Baba Payam-uddin “Baba Reshi”
Sheikh Alam Noor Uddin Noorani impressed upon the Kashmiri intellectuals, powerful men, and rulers, the reality and importance of Islam. He employed discourses, discussions, debates, revelations and miracles for the purpose. He initiated a new system Rishiyat bearing a strong impression of the country. With the passage of time from Sheikh-Ul-Alam Noor Uddin to Baba Payam Uddin Baba Rishi via Baba Zain Uddin grew stronger. There were many sages (Rishis) but the word Rishi simply refers to Baba Payam Uddin. Many places are related to him such as: Khanqah-e-Rishi, Islamabad, Ziariat-e-Rishi (Shrine) Habba Kadal, and a shrine, of the Rishi by the side of the road, on the reaches of Gulmarg hill. The Gulmarg monastery appears to be a place of solitude and peace from a distance.
Baba Payam Uddin was born to a noble and a minister of the contemporary ruler, at Chander-nau-gaon in the region of Lar. It is also said that Baba Payam Uddin was himself a noble of high rank and a trusted man of the king and lived a life of ease and luxury. Still he liked the company of the saints and sages and sought their blessings.
One day he rode a horse. On the way he saw a train of ants carrying grains. He descended and observed them. If God wills, He directs him with small things. He thought that the small ants were working hard to gather grains for winter. He was there entrapped in the glamour of the world unmindful of his next life. (A’khirat), Anxiety of the life after death sat so heavily on his mind that he resigned his job, renounced his home, and came to Baba Zain Uddin who put him to prayers and meditation. On completion of the internal training he asked his permission to retire in solitude at Tang-Marg in Rabnoh village. There lived men ill of nature and low of character that objected to his stay but finally he won them over and improved them.
Baba Reshi died on 3, Zil Haj 889 Hijri and interned at a place, 3 miles from Tang-Marg, by the side of Gulmarg. People from all corners of Kashmir; visit the Shrine in large numbers. It is believed whenever a fire breaks out in the Shrine some severe calamity befalls on the people of Kashmir.