WHY AJMER

Why Ajmer was particularly selected to be pivot of Hazrat Khwaja Syed 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. 

Apart from the 4606 recorded and unrecorded 'Karamaat' or miracles emanating from Hazrat Khawaja Syed Moinuddin the choice of Ajmer for the center of his spiritual mission was itself a most remarkable feature of his illuminating work in India. It was not the work of any human brain or ingenuity, but it was indeed the result of a "divine decree" from Medina or the Holy Prophet of Islam that suited the great saint's mission so admirably from every conceivable point of its vantage. Politically Ajmer was the pivot of a mighty kingdom that swayed over the most prominent part of India. Geographically it was the heart of India from which the life blood flowed through all the vital veins of the country and socially and economically it was at the zenith of Hindu superiority and power during the time of Khawaja Sahib's arrival in India. There could, therefore be no other suitable place for the seat of his spiritual mission and to pilot the movement of Islam in this country. In short, it was an ideal center from every point of view to conduct one of the toughest encounters between the forces of materialism and spiritualism the world has ever witnessed in which the latter as always, triumphed over the former by the infinite grace of God without recourse to any kind of armed conflict, pressure or coercion. 

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".