# In this Uttar Pradesh village, a 400-year-old pond is said to punish anyone who dares grab its land

> In Mau district's Karha village, a nearly 400-year-old pond linked to Sufi saint Mir Samsi is believed to carry a curse that has stopped anyone from successfully encroaching on its land.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Religion · **Published:** 2026-07-18 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/religion/mau-ke-eka-pokhare-se-juri-hai-aisi-manyata-jamina-harapane-valon-ko-jhelani-pari-saja-8431 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Mau pond, Sufi saint Mir Samsi, 400 year old pond, cursed pond, Karha village, Uttar Pradesh faith

In Uttar Pradesh's Mau district, there is a pond that nobody has ever dared to encroach upon. Roughly 400 years old and spread across nearly 52 bighas, the water body is far more than a village tank to the people who live around it, it is a place of deep religious faith. Local belief holds that the pond was dug on the orders of a Sufi saint, and that anyone who tries to grab its land ends up cursed.

## An Emperor's Wish and a Saint's Blessing
A resident of Karha village named Vakil recounted that the pond was dug about 400 years ago on the instructions of a Sufi saint known as Mir Samsi. According to the account, an emperor who had no children of his own once visited Sarju Maharaj seeking a solution to his troubles. Sarju Maharaj told him to go to the Sufi saint Mir Samsi Baba, saying his problem would be resolved there. The emperor travelled to the saint, described his distress, and was given a remedy along with the assurance that he would soon have children. When the emperor's wish was indeed granted, he returned to the saint's abode loaded with jewellery and precious ornaments as a gift of gratitude.

## The Fakir Who Turned Down Riches
Mir Samsi Baba refused the gifts, telling the emperor that he was a fakir with no use for jewellery, and suggested the wealth be distributed among the poor instead. The emperor would not take his offering back and insisted that the saint should live in a grand mansion rather than a humble hut. The saint declined to build any palace for himself, but he used the money from the jewellery and ornaments for a cause closer to his mission, he had a large pond dug so that the poor of the area would never struggle for water. That pond, spread over nearly 52 bighas, is still recorded in revenue documents at the same size today. It was at the time of the digging that the saint is said to have pronounced a warning, that whoever encroached on the pond's land would suffer for it.

## Encroachers Left Crippled, Forced to Retreat
While government records still list the pond at 52 bighas, its actual spread on the ground has shrunk over time. Even so, the belief around it remains unshaken, locals say that every attempt to seize the land has ended badly for the person trying. On several occasions, people who tried to occupy portions of the pond are said to have been struck with lameness and other ailments soon after. Worn down by the troubles that followed, they eventually gave up their claims and vacated the land. The episodes are remembered locally as proof of the saint's miracle, and they are part of why devotees continue to visit the site with such reverence.

## Never Run Dry in 400 Years, and Wishes Still Come True
Residents say the pond has never fully dried up in the roughly four centuries since it was dug. It is widely believed that wishes made here with sincere faith are fulfilled, drawing visitors from far beyond the village. The custom of washing one's hands and feet before offering prayers at the saint's shrine, or mazar, continues to this day. The administration, however, has never paid attention to this pond despite its historical and religious significance, leaving it to face neglect and poor upkeep. Even so, the faith of local devotees keeps the pond's identity and reputation alive.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** The story is a reminder that deep-rooted local faith around old ponds and water bodies still works as an informal check against encroachment in many villages, which also helps preserve these water sources.
- **In Mau:** For residents of Karha and the surrounding area, the pond remains both a water source and a place of worship, so pressure is likely to continue on the local administration to clean and maintain it.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where is this pond located?
The pond is located in Karha village in Uttar Pradesh's Mau district.

### 2. How old is the pond said to be?
According to local belief, the pond is around 400 years old.

### 3. Who got the pond dug?
Sufi saint Mir Samsi is said to have had the pond dug.

### 4. How large is the pond?
The pond spans nearly 52 bighas and is still recorded at the same area in revenue documents.

### 5. What is believed to happen to people who try to encroach on the pond?
It is believed that anyone who tries to grab the pond's land is struck with lameness and other ailments, forcing them to eventually vacate the land.

### 6. What gift did the emperor bring the saint, and what happened to it?
After his wish for children was granted, the emperor brought jewellery and ornaments to the saint, who used the proceeds from them to have the pond dug for the poor.

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