The Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is one of the most honored Darghas not only in the state of Rajasthan but also throughout the nation. This Dargah is placed in the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan. It is situated in 26° 27, N. lat. and 74° 44, E. long, on the lower slopes of Taragarh hill, in the Aravalli Range. To the north of the city is a large artificial lake, called Anasagar, adorned with a marble structure called Baradari. Ajmer is an ancient crowded city with modern developments in the outskirts.This city stretches out in all directions of a spacious valley and is hemmed in on all sides by picturesque hills. Its holy traditions are equally replete with Rajput chivalry and Muslim supremacy in the past history of Hindustan. Few cities of India can boast of Ajmer’s religious sanctity for both Hindus and Muslims, its glorious history and it natural beauty. It was in Ajmer that Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti laid the permanent foundation of Islam in India in 1192 A.D. by his spiritual powers and peaceful preachings. It was in Ajmer that Sir Thomas Roe, as ambassador of King James I of England, had his audience with Emperor Jahangir on 19th January 1616 A.D. which laid the steping stone of the British Raj in India through the charter of free trading granted to the East India Company by the Emperor. It was in Ajmer that Shah Jahan, on the death of Jahangir, proclaimed himself Emperor of India while returning from Udaipur and proceeding to Delhi in 1627 A.D. And it was in Ajmer again that a beginning of the decline of Moghul Empire was made with the victory of Aurangzeb against his brother Dara Shikeh after a furious battle on 11th, 12th and 13th March 1659 A.D. In addition to these major historical events, Ajmer has seen many vicissitudes of time in its long history of about 1400 years. Irrespective of their religious conviction, people from all over India have strong belief that an entreaty at Ajmer Sharif is always answered. People have limitless belief on the holiness of the Dargah. A yearly carnival known as Urs will be held for 6 days to honor the bereavement of Moinuddin Chisti which pulls hundreds of visitors to the Ajmer Dargah Sharif. Devotees bestow chadars at the mosque on the fulfillment of their desires. A devotee can also come across Qawwals singing the songs of eulogizes of the saints. The Khwaja Saheb, as an ‘existing spirit’ of tranquility and concord, enjoys worldwide admiration and affection from the time when he set his holy feet in India. Indisputably, Saint Moinuddin Chisti has been one of the supreme saintly redeemers of human miseries. For all the true and worried souls who call upon his blessings, he has ever been a never-disappointing spring of ethical strength and sacred illumination.
Source: Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, Rajasthan – Dargah Ajmer Sharif
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