A civil suit filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta in the Ajmer District Court claims that the Ajmer Dargah was built over an ancient Shiva temple and seeks its restoration as Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman temple. The case is set to be heard on October 10, challenging the current religious status and ownership of the site.
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RAJASTHAN: A civil suit has been brought before the Ajmer District Court in Rajasthan, stirring up a significant debate over the historical origins of one of India’s most revered religious sites—the Ajmer Dargah. The suit claims that the Ajmer Dargah, the resting place of the famous Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was built over an ancient Shiva temple and, therefore, should be restored as Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman temple.
The suit, filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta, is expected to be heard in the Ajmer court on October 10. Gupta’s claims challenge the current ownership and religious nature of the site, stating that it was originally a Hindu temple before being converted into a dargah. The legal plea demands the removal of what it terms as “unauthorized and illegal occupation” by the Dargah committee.
In the civil suit, Gupta, represented by advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, urges the court to officially recognize the disputed site as Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman temple. The plea is not just a claim about the religious identity of the site; it also requests a comprehensive survey of the Ajmer Dargah by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to investigate its historical origins. The ASI’s involvement would be crucial to substantiate the claim that the dargah was originally a Hindu religious structure.
One of the central claims in the suit revolves around the architectural design of the site. The petition states that the roof design at the main entrance gate of the Ajmer Dargah bears strong resemblances to traditional Hindu architectural structures. This similarity, according to the suit, is indicative that the location was originally a temple. It is argued that the physical evidence supports the assertion of a Hindu origin, which was later altered through the centuries.
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The suit provides detailed arguments based on the structure of the roof and other architectural elements that seemingly point to its Hindu past. In the court filing, the claim elaborates:
“The materials and design of these chatrees clearly reveal their Hindu origins. Their intricate surface carvings are unfortunately obscured by layers of paint and whitewashing, which, if removed, would reveal their true identity and significance.”
This statement emphasizes that the carvings and design elements, which are currently obscured due to layers of paint and whitewashing, could reveal the true history of the building once these layers are removed.
The civil suit also delves into historical accounts, arguing that there is no credible record showing that the Ajmer Dargah was constructed on vacant land. Instead, historical texts and studies suggest that the location housed a Mahadeva temple, along with Jain temples, before it became a dargah. It asserts that Hindu devotees used to worship at these temples, and the area was a place of Hindu religious significance long before it became known as a Sufi shrine.
These historical assertions are critical in the Hindu Sena’s argument for the temple’s restoration. They argue that this is not merely a religious debate but also a matter of cultural and historical heritage.
The lawsuit has also asked for specific directives to be issued to the Union government, demanding that the disputed site be returned to its “original” form and that the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Temple be reconstructed. Gupta and the Hindu Sena are pressing for government action to reclaim the site and formally declare it a Hindu religious place.
The plea echoes growing demands from several groups within the Hindu community to re-evaluate historical sites that they believe were converted into mosques or dargahs during the medieval period. These demands come at a time when similar claims are being made about other religious sites in India.
As a part of the relief sought, the Hindu Sena has also requested that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conduct a thorough investigation into the origins of the Ajmer Dargah. The survey would be aimed at uncovering physical evidence supporting the claim that the site was, in fact, a Hindu temple before it became the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
According to the civil suit, such a survey could uncover structural elements or artifacts that have been concealed over time, which would substantiate the assertion that the current religious site was built upon or repurposed from an older Hindu religious structure.
