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Why
Ajmer was particularly selected to be pivot of
Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s mission
in India? This is a pertinent question which may
be asked by some critical readers. A careful study
of the history of India before Khwaja Saheb’s
arrival, and of the period of his stay in Ajmer
will answer this question satisfactory. We have
already thrown sufficient light on this point
in one of the previous chapters. In this chapter,
we trace a brief history of Ajmer and the Khwaja
Saheb’s Dargah which attracts millions of
people every year to seek spiritual blessings
of the great saint.
Geographically,
Ajmer is situated in the heart of Rajasthan, at
one time the citadel of India kingdom, and thus
it suited the grand mission of Khwaja Saheb best.
Politically, Ajmer the seat of a most powerful
kingdom of the last Rajput Emperor of India, Raja
Prithviraj Chauhan (1179-1192 A.D.) whose whole
life was "one of unbroken chain of chivalrous
deeds and glorious exploits which have won for
him eternal fame and a name that will last as
long as chivalry itself." Prithviraj was the son
of Someshwara (1170-1179 A.D.) who was the 29th
descendant in the lineage of King Vasudeva who
flourished as far back as 551 A.D. Vasudeva has
descended from Chahuan (the founder of the Rajput
clan of Chauhans) whose date is untraceable in
the description of Ajmer. As given in Sarga IX
of the famous documentary "Prithviraj Vijaya",
runs as below:-
The
city was so densely populated and there were so
many gardens, tanks and wells that not more than
one-tenth of the earth was visible to sun, and
water in the wells was only two cubits from the
ground surface. Karpurdevi (mother of Prithviraj)
under whose regency he was brought up also founded
a town".
Describing
Ajmer in his "Picturesque India" (p.77) Mr. Caine,
says:-
"It
is an ancient, beautiful city full of interest,
both historical and architectural; its gay busy
bazars and its old houses with carved fronts,
some of which are among the finest in India, giving
added attractions to its superb situation. A well
built stone wall with give gateways surrounds
the city".
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