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 that claims the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was originally a Shiva temple.

The petition was filed by Vishnu Gupta, the head of Hindu Sena, who has asked for a detailed survey of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel issued the notices, saying that the issue needs to be looked into carefully. The next hearing in the case is set for December 20.

Claims made in the petition

Vishnu Gupta argued that the Ajmer Dargah, which attracts pilgrims from around the world, was built after destroying Hindu and Jain temples. He referred to writings from 1910 by Har Bilas Sarda, a judge and politician during British India. According to Sarda, a Shiva idol (Mahadeva) was once worshipped at the site, and a Brahmin family was responsible for the rituals there.

Gupta stated, “Locals say that as recently as 50 years ago, a priest used to pray there, and there used to be a Shivling too, which was moved to the basement. So, a survey should be done so that everyone becomes clear.” He argued that the shrine should be declared a Hindu temple, its registration cancelled, and Hindu prayers allowed.

Gupta also highlighted the historical importance of the area, stating that before Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the land was ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan, a warrior king from the 12th century. He added that the city was originally called Ajaymeru.

Responses and opposition

The custodian of the dargah, Syed Sarwar Chishty, dismissed the claims as an attempt to spread hatred towards the Muslim community. “The dargah has been a place of worship for all religions, and it will remain such,” he said. He also pointed out previous incidents, including a 2007 bomb blast at the dargah, accusing certain groups of targeting the shrine for political motives.

This case comes after the Rajasthan government recently renamed Ajmer's Hotel Khadim to "Ajaymeru," based on historical claims about the city's original name. Meanwhile, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah is getting ready to celebrate its 813th Urs in January 2025, an important event for both cultural and religious reasons.