Nobody knows where he hails from, and nobody dares to ask him. It is a saying that the origin of the rivers and saints should not be asked. Still he is called “Kashmiri” meaning resident of Kashmir. People believe that such a name should have some bearing on the saint’s outward appearance. Such a fair skin and such a sweet voice is not possible with any native Sadhu. He is so fair that people believe that he hails from the Himalayas or Kashmir. Moreover, he wears a coffee coloured “Alpi” – an apron like dress made of wool for all the 365 days a year. This is a typical dress of Kashmiris. He never feels sweating even in hot weather of summer, and keeps the same dress code all the time. The “Alpi” made of wool would be quite embarrassing in the hot season.

However, he is always cool. And hence the name Kashmiri Bapu. Kashmiri Bapu has been at the place since more than 52 years. He has developed the place and established three temples there. The temple of Khodiyar Mataji, temple of Mahadev and temple of Kumarswami. Kashmiri Bapu himself sleeps in open air. Rooms are made for storage of materials and visitors are given seat in open place. No visitors are allowed to stay at night.

The hut in which Kashmiri Bapu meditates and performs daily prayers is considered to be very pious place. There is a “Dhuna” – a continuously burning fire, where no one can enter or touch any thing without his permission. Kashmiri Bapu generally sits in a chair outside the hut and blesses the devotees visiting him.

It is believed that Kashmiri Bapu is also worshipper of Jamialshah Datar, the muslim saint whose shrine is known as “Upla Datar” on the hill of Datar in Girnar Hills. Kashmiri Bapu was very close to the Late Patel Bapu of Datar. He often used to visit Patel Bapu on the hill of Datar. A person has reported that once he had seen Kashmiri Bapu on the hill of Datar at noon and in the afternoon, when he visited this place, Kashmiri Bapu was present there. This might be possible only if he travelled on the hilly short cut. Any how, he often visited Datar Hill and worshipped Datar Bapu while enjoying company of Patel Bapu. He is so much devoted to Datar that the Shiv Temple that is established at the place of Kashmiri Bapu is named as “Datareshwar Mahadev”.

A woman seeking salvation from the worries of this world and its miseries is also residing there, and people call her “Mataji”. She has a very miserable past, having lost her only son (22) in an accident. Now she handles the kitchen of the Ashram and serves food to anyone who visits the place. She is considered to be the real “Annapurna” by the devotees.