Why in news?

Recently, an Ajmer court has admitted a petition seeking a survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The petition alleges the dargah was built on the site of demolished Hindu and Jain temples.

What’s in today’s article?

• Historical Background of Ajmer
• Development of Ajmer Sharif Dargah
• Architectural Splendor of Ajmer Sharif Dargah
• Spiritual significance of Ajmer Sharif Dargah
• Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Chishti Order in India

Historical Background of Ajmer

• Background – Origin of the city
  • Ajmer, originally called Ajaymeru, was the capital of the Chauhan Rajputs, who ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh from the 7th to the 12th centuries CE.
  • The city was established by Ajaydeva in the mid-12th century.
• The Ghurid Invasion and Decline
  • Ajmer was sacked in 1192 by Muhammad of Ghor after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain.
  • The Ghurid army reportedly destroyed temples and looted the city, as documented by Har Bilas Sarda in Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive (1911).
    • Har Bilas Sarda’s account serves as a primary reference for the court petition alleging the dargah’s construction over demolished temples.
    • However, Sarda himself does not claim a temple was destroyed to build the shrine.
  • The city remained in decline for nearly 400 years until its revival during Mughal Emperor Akbar’s reign (1556-1605).
• Establishment of Ajmer Sharif Dargah
  • The mausoleum of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was constructed in the late 15th century.
  • According to Sarda, the Khwaja’s burial site included a cellar that once housed an image of Mahadeva, maintained by a Brahman family.

Development of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Initial Burial and Early Neglect
  • Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was interred in 1236 in the cell where he lived.
  • No mausoleum was initially constructed, and his memory faded in Ajmer for over two centuries.
• Construction by the Khaljis (1460s)
  • Sultan Mahmud Khan Khalji of Malwa (not to be confused with the Khalji sultans of Delhi) and his son Ghiyasuddin built the first pucca mausoleum and the grand Buland Darwaza.
  • The gateway, featuring three-storied chatrees, is cited as repurposing materials from a demolished Jain temple.
• Expansion under the Mughals
  • In 1532, the current white marble dome was built during Humayun's reign.
  • Akbar's devotion to Chishti saints spurred significant development in Ajmer, including the construction of the Akbari Masjid in the 1570s.
  • Jahangir added a gold railing around the saint’s tomb in 1616, and further expansions were carried out under Shah Jahan.

Architectural Splendor of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Architectural marvel
  • The Dargah complex showcases stunning Indo-Islamic architecture, with a white marble shrine adorned with intricate silver and gold decorations.
  • The Nizam Gate, donated by the Nizam of Hyderabad in the 19th century, reflects the saint’s widespread reverence.
  • The Dargah embodies Mughal architectural influences, with contributions spanning from Humayun to Shah Jahan.
• Key Features of the Complex
  • The saint’s grave is encased within a silver railing and surrounded by a marble screen.
  • A prayer room, built by Chimni Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan, provides a serene space exclusively for women.

Spiritual significance of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Universal Appeal of Ajmer Sharif Dargah
  • Recognized as one of India’s holiest Muslim shrines, Ajmer Sharif attracts people from all faiths, symbolizing religious tolerance and syncretism.
  • Visitors include devotees from diverse backgrounds, as well as Bollywood celebrities, who come to seek blessings and spiritual solace.
• The Urs Festival
  • The six-day Urs festival, marking the death anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is the shrine’s most significant event.
  • It features qawwali performances, special prayers, and offerings of chaddars at the tomb, drawing thousands of devotees from around the world to celebrate spirituality and devotion.

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Chishti Order in India

• Early Life of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
  • Born in 1141 in Sistan (Persia), Moinuddin was orphaned at 14 and began his spiritual journey after meeting mystic Ibrahim Qandozi.
  • He studied various disciplines, including theology, philosophy, and ethics, in seminaries in Bukhara and Samarkand.
• Spiritual Mentorship and Travels
  • Moinuddin met his mentor, Khwaja Usman Harooni, in Herath (Afghanistan) and was initiated into the Chishti order.
  • He accepted Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki as his first disciple and traveled to Multan, where he learned Sanskrit and interacted with Hindu scholars.
  • From Multan, he journeyed to Lahore, Delhi, and finally Ajmer in 1191.
• Life in Ajmer and Legacy
  • Moinuddin settled in Ajmer after meeting his wife, Bibi Ummatullah, and established a modest home that became a sanctuary for the poor and needy.
  • His generosity and selflessness earned him the title Gharib Nawaz (Friend of the Poor), solidifying his reputation as a spiritual icon of compassion and inclusivity.
• The Chishti Order in India
  • The Chishti Sufi order, followed by Moinuddin Chishti and later saints like Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, integrated local practices considered heretical by orthodox Islam.
    • Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, emerged between the 7th and 10th centuries as a counter to orthodoxy and materialism, focusing on tolerance and spiritual devotion.
  • Chishti saints preached messages of tolerance and inclusivity, emphasizing devotion as the path to spiritual perfection.