30/04/2024
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The Kwaja Garib Nawaj Ajmer Sharif Dargah is a sufi shrine (Dargah) of a sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti. It is located at Ajmer of Rajasthan in India. The shrine has the grave (Maqbara) of the revered saint, Moinuddin Chisti...
Moinuddin Chishti was a 13th century sufi mystic saint and philosopher. He was born in Sistan (modern day Iran). He travelled across South Asia. Eventually, he settled in Ajmer (modern day Rajasthan). There, he passed away in 1236. The local and national rulers began to come and pray here. Subsequently, the structure was expanded. In 1332, the sultan of Delhi (Tyghluq dynasty) Mohammad Bin Tughluq constructed a dargah. It is a commemoration structure constructed around the tomb of Muslim saints. Here, people from all religions come to pray and ask for favours. Over the years it grew in popularity and size. Subsequently, the structure was expanded by quite a few rulers...
Ajmer Sharif Dargah is 2 kilometres away from the main central Ajmer Railway station. It is 500 metres away from the Central Jail. It is situated at the foot of the Taragarh hill. It consists of several white marble buildings arranged around two courtyards. One is a massive gate known as Nizam Gate. It was donated by the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan and the Akbari Mosque. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It contains the domed tomb of the saint...
Akbar and his queen used to come here on foot. They came every yearly pilgrimage from Agra in observance of a vow where he prayed for a son. The large pillars are called "Kose ('Mile') Minar". They were erected at intervals of 3 km along the entire way between Agra and Ajmer. These pillars mark the places where the royal pilgrims halted every day. It has been estimated that some 150,000 pilgrims visit the site every day...
The main gate to the shrine is the Nizam Gate, followed by the Shahjahani Gate, erected by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. In turn it is followed by the Buland Darwaza. This was built by Sultan Mahmood Khilji. Above it, the urs flag is hoisted. It marks the beginning of the death anniversary rituals. The urs for Moinuddin Chishti is celebrated every year on the 6th and 7th of Rajab. ..
The dargah (shrine) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is an international waqf (endowment), managed under The Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955 of Government of India. The Dargah Committee was appointed by the Government. It takes care of the maintenance of the shrine. It also runs charitable institutions like dispensaries, and guest houses for the devotees. However, the committee does not look after the rituals of the main shrine (Mazar sharif/Astana e Alia). Actually, it is under the custody of hereditary priests known as Khadims. ..
Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin is the direct descendant in the 22nd generation of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Meanwhile, according to the Supreme Court of India, he is the Hereditary Sajjadanashin Spiritual Head of the shrine of Ajmer Dargah. On the other hand, in the aspect of genealogical lineage (family tree), presently he is the most direct descendant of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti. He is the successor of Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz...
On 11 October 2007, an explosion occurred in Dargah Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s courtyard in Ajmer in Rajasthan. It was the holy fasting period of Ramadan and evening prayers had just ended. A crowd had gathered at the courtyard to break their fast. A bomb placed inside a tiffin carrier went off. Reports said the blast claimed 7 lives and wounded 17 others...
Special Judge Dinesh Gupta wrote almost 500 pages. The judgment was based on testimonies of 149 witnesses and 451 documents. Later, it was submitted to his court. ..
On 22 March 2017, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, awarded life imprisonment to 2 terrorists named Bhavesh Patel and Davendra Gupta. They were convicted for the 2007 Ajmer dargah blasts killing 3 persons. The convicts owed allegiance to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Both were held guilty under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosives Act and various sections of Indian Penal Code...
[Earlier posted on 1 May 2019]
