Ajmer Sharif Dargah Built On Shiva Temple? Minority Affairs Ministry, ASI To Look Into Matter

A local court in Ajmer has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Ajmer Dargah Committee. This follows a petition by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, who claims that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was originally a Shiva temple. The court's decision came after Gupta presented his case, prompting further investigation.

Gupta referenced Har Bilas Sarda, a notable figure during British rule, who wrote about a Hindu temple at the dargah site in 1910. Sarda mentioned a tradition involving an image of Mahadeva inside a cellar, where sandalwood was placed daily by a Brahmin family. Roads in Ajmer bear Sarda's name, adding weight to Gupta's argument for a survey.

Historical Claims and Local Sentiments

According to Gupta, locals recall that until 50 years ago, a priest conducted prayers at the site, and there was a shivling that was later moved to the basement. He insists that a survey is necessary to uncover the truth about these claims. The Hindu Sena seeks to have the dargah declared as a Hindu temple and requests permission for Hindu prayers there.

The Ajmer Dargah is set to celebrate its 813th Urs in January next year. Gupta questions Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's origins, noting that Prithviraj Chauhan ruled before him when Ajmer was known as Ajaymeru. This historical context fuels ongoing debates about the site's past.

Controversy Surrounding Name Changes

Recently, Rajasthan's government renamed Ajmer's Hotel Khadim to Ajaymeru. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani supported this change, citing ancient texts that referred to Ajmer as Ajaymeru during Prithviraj Chauhan's reign. This renaming aligns with efforts to reclaim historical identities.

Syed Sarwar Chishty, custodian of the dargah, argues that such cases aim to incite hatred against Muslims. He recalls past incidents like Bhavesh Patel's arrest in connection with a bomb blast at the dargah in 2007. Chishty emphasizes that the dargah has always been open to all faiths and will continue to be so.

The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for December 20. As tensions rise over historical claims and religious sentiments, all eyes are on how this case unfolds in court.