Ajmer Sharif Dargah and the Petition for Survey

A recent petition filed in an Ajmer court seeks a survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, claiming it was built over the remains of Hindu and Jain temples that were destroyed.

Historical Context of Ajmer

The city of Ajmer, originally known as Ajaymeru, was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan. It served as the capital of the Chauhan dynasty, a prominent Rajput clan that ruled over parts of present-day Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh between the 7th and 12th centuries CE.

In 1192, after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain, Muhammad of Ghor’s forces invaded Ajmer, resulting in the destruction of several temples. The petition cites Har Bilas Sarda’s 1911 book, Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, which mentions the destruction of these temples but does not directly associate them with the construction of the dargah.

Formation and Evolution of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a revered Sufi saint, passed away in 1236 and was buried in a simple cell where he had lived. No significant structure was built immediately after his death, and for nearly 200 years, his presence in Ajmer remained largely unrecognized.

The first formal mausoleum was constructed by Sultan Mahmud Khan Khalji of Malwa and his son Ghiyasuddin. They also built the prominent Buland Darwaza. The existing white marble dome was added in 1532 during Emperor Humayun’s reign. In 1616, Emperor Jahangir installed a gold railing around the saint’s tomb, and further expansions were carried out by Shah Jahan.

The structure exemplifies Indo-Islamic architecture, featuring a dome adorned with a lotus and a golden crown, a contribution from Nawab Haider Ali Khan of Rampur. The dargah complex also houses the Mehfil Khana, or royal court, built in 1888, while the Nizam Gate was donated by the Nizam of Hyderabad in the 19th century.

The Urs festival, commemorating the death anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is a significant event held annually over six days.