Ajmer dargah remained in a dilapidated condition for 200 years; Celebrities like PM Modi and Obama send 'chadar'
Ajmer Dargah: The dargah of Khwada Moinuddin Chishti, located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, has followers all over the world. Even former US President Barack Obama had once sent a 'chadar' to the dargah. Today, the chadar sent by PM Modi has also been offered at the dargah.
History of Ajmer Dargah: Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the PM, he has been sending chadar to Ajmer Dargah every year. Till now, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi used to come every year by offering a 'chadar' to the dargah sent by him, but this time this tradition was broken and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju offered this chadar in Ajmer, Rajasthan. In this news, we will tell you what was the history of this dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan? Not only does Prime Minister Narendra Modi send 'chadar' to the place, but also foreign dignitaries from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, America, France and Germany have been arriving at different times to offer the sheet.
Who was Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti?
Moinuddin Chishti was born in Sanjar, Iran. Khwaja was a disciple of the famous Sufi saint of his time, Khwaja Osman Haruni and in 1192 he first reached Lahore, then Delhi and then Ajmer. Earlier, he had received blessings from Sufis in many big cities via Baghdad and Herat. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti came to India at a time when Muslim rule was beginning after the battle of Tarayan between Shahabuddin Ghori and Prithviraj. This was the period of Qutbuddin Aibak, Al-Tamish, Aram Shah, Ruknuddin Firuz and Razia Sultan.
Khwaja Moinuddin used to eat a roti for many days
It is said that after hearing about his fame, Al-Tamish himself came to meet him. Apart from this, Razia Sultan also attended his court several times. There are countless surprising stories of Khwaja Moinuddin. In one place it has been claimed that Khwaja used to be very hungry. He used to run a roti for many days. While he had langar ready for the needy and hungry all the time, he himself used to eat very little food. It was because of reaching the last limits of spirituality that he gained so much fame. In 1236, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti said goodbye to this world.
The first Sultan to visit the dargah
Soon after the death of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, people did not go to pay their respects, but this process started much later. After his death, a small dargah was built but after that, it did not get any attention for almost 200 years. Sultan Mahmud Khilji of Mandu and Ghiyasuddin after him first built a permanent tomb here and built a beautiful dome. It is said that Muhammad bil Tughlaq was the first Sultan to visit this dargah for the first time in 1325. After this, when Khilji captured Ajmer in 1455, he built a magnificent mosque in addition to a high gate on this dargah.
Ajmer Dargah was first made of wood
Historians say that the original dargah was first made of wood, later it was paved. According to an inscription written on a wall of the dargah, the dome was built in this dargah in 1532, which remains till date. The dome is decorated with lotus and has a golden crown presented by Nawab Haider Ali Khan of Rampur on its top.
Renovation of Dargah started under Akbar's rule
This dargah is very important for many, but the Mughals have a special 'karma' on it. Let's start with Akbar. According to a book, when Akbar was hunting, he heard some people singing songs in praise of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. After which Akbar's desire to go to the dargah arose. Since then, Akbar used to visit this dargah on foot every time. Akbar also built a mosque in this dargah, which is known as Akbari Masjid.
Akbar will give it as a gift
Seeing the large number of people connected and eating langar here, Akbar also gifted some brass deng, so that a large number of langar could be easily made. In some places, it is claimed that they are still present in the dargah. While in some places it is claimed that Akbar Di Diyas are no longer suitable for cooking. Historians say that the importance of the dargah was not only for Akbar's spiritual benefit but also for the popularity of Mughal rule in India.
Other Mughal rulers also got the work done.
Shah Jahan and other Mughal emperors also maintained the aqeedat from the dargah and contributed to the construction of the dargah. Shah Jahan built a beautiful marble mosque here which is called Shah Jahan Mosque. The Mughal rulers were so closely associated with this dargah that this dargah also has the tomb of Bhishti, who saved Humayun from drowning in the Ganges. In return, Humayun gave Bhishti a half-day reign, during which he ordered leather currency.