Ajmer Monuments
Sarwar Sharif, Sarwar, Dist. Ajmer,
Rajasthan
Hazrat Khwaja Fakhruddin (R.A.) was the eldest
son of Khwaja
Sahib (R.A.) who earned his livelihood by farming in Mandal
town. He was a great saint and a scholar as well . After twenty
years of Khwaja
Sahib. (R.A.) death he died in Sarwar town, some
40 miles away from Ajmer. His Mazar
is located near a pond in the town. His Urs is celebrated
on the 3rd of Shaban every year with great fervour. He was
blessed with five sons. One of his sons, Hazrat Khwaja Hussamuddin
was a perfect Sufi. His grave is at Sanbar Sharif. Every year
on 13 and 14 Rajab Urs is
organised.
To Reach Sarwar Sherif You can take a
ST bus from Ajmer Bus Stand which
is 15 minutes away from the Dargah. or you can hire a Sumo.
There is regular Bus after every half an hour from Ajmer
to Sarwar. It take around two hous to reach Sarwar.
Mazar (Tomb) of Hazrat Khawaja Garib
Nawaz's (r.a.) Daughter
The Mazar of Bibi Hafiz Jamal, daughter of
Khwaja Sahib,
is situated to the south of the Shrine. There is a small dome
with a kalas on top of it. The doors of this tomb are plated
with silver.
Dhai Din ka Jhopra, Ajmer
Dhai Din Ka Jhopra or Dhai Din Ki Masjid is a grand Mosque,
made of red stone and located at a high place. Sultan Shamsuddin
Altamash got it repaired and made some modifications. One
can reach the building, it starts from Dargah Bazar to west
along the boundary wall of Dargah Sharif. After crossing Tirpoli
Darwaza, there is Mohalla Inderkot. At a short distance from
Inderkot this mosque is located on right hand side.
Taragarh Fort, Ajmer
It is a grand fort, located on a steep hill
in south of Dargah Sharif, The height of the hill is 800 ft.
During the reignof Rai Pithora, it was a famous and a strong
fort and was considered it cannot be conquered. But Sultan
Shahabuddin Ghauri conquered it without any difficulty and
appointed Syed Meeran Husain (R.A.) as the Garrison Commander
(Qiledaar).
Ana Sagar Lake, Ajmer
Ana Sagar lake is a beautiful lake in the
heart of the city. There is a high hill on the south western
side of Ana Sagar, known as Sada Bahar hil, On the South western
corner of the hill is a small cave having a Tomb on the Top
of it. Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) took seclusion here for
the first time. He used to sit on the stone-bench lying inside
the Chillah Sharif and engaged himself in Contemplation.
On the North-Eastern side of Sada Bahar is
located the Chillah of Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar
kaki (R.A.). It is the place where Hazrat engaged himself
in prayers when in Ajmer
Chilla Bade Peer Sahib, Ajmer
On the top of a hill in the South of Dargah
Sharif is a green coloured tomb. It is said that a brick
of holy Mazar of hazrat Piran-e-Pir Dastagir (R.A.) is
buried. That is why the place is famous as Chillah Bare Pir
Sahib, otherwise Hazrat Piran Pir (R.A) never came to
India.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, The Nizam of Hyderabad
Deccan, erected the main gate of the Dargah
Sharif in 1911. Upstairs small drums beat, during the
day and night at an appointed hour. A view of Dargah Bazaar
can be seen from the top of the gate.
Shajahani Gate, Ajmer
Immediately following the Nizam gate is the
Shahjahani gate erected by Emperor Shahjahan. Before the construction
of the Nizam Gate this used to be the main gate. Above the
gate the Kalma Sharif is inscribed in a beautiful style. The
doors are made of fine timber covered with silver-plated metal.
In the building above the gate there are two huge beating
drums.
Akbari Masjid, Ajmer
Between Shahjahani gate and Buland Darwaza
on the right hand side is situated the Akbari Mosque erected
by Akbar with red sand stone, A religious institution (madarsa)
has been located in this mosque called Darul-uloom.
Buland Darwaza, Ajmer India
Buland Darwaza is a high entrance that was
erected by Mahmood Khilji or one of his successors. Before
the commencement of Urs Sharif
a flag is hoisted on top of this gate with grand ceremony
on the 25th Jamadiulsaani for ushering the 'Urs'
of Khwaja Saheb, which starts from 1st of Rajab (The 7th month
of lunar Calendar)
Langar Khana
Langar Khana is a free public kitchen where
about 5 mounds of barley meal is cooked twice a day and distributed
to the poor without any discrimination.
In memory of Queen Marry's visit to the Shrine,
the roof of the tank was constructed by the British Government
for the convenience of the worshippers.
Ibadat Khana (Place of Recitation),
Ajmer
The two enclosures situated just outside the
southern gate of the Shrine adjacent to the tomb of Bibi-Hafiz
Jamal bear the graves of some of the early descendants. The
Holy Quran is recited by the devotees especially by ladies
in these enclosures and the reward of this virtuous action
is offered to the noble soul of Hazrat Khwaja Saheb.
Jannati Darwaza, Ajmer Dargah
This gate too is situated on the western side
of the Shrine adjacent to the tomb of Gaiti Ara. The doors
of the gate are covered with silver metal. It is opened only
four times during the year, viz twice on ids (for one day)
during the annual Urs (for six days) and on the 6th of Shawwal,
the Urs of Khwaja Saheb's
Pir.
Aulia Masjid, Ajmer
The place where Khwaja Sahib stayed for a few
days, when he came to Ajmer for the first time, has now been
turned into a mosque called Aulia Masjid. It is made of white
marble. Devotees use it only for recitation of Holy Quran
and thanks giving prayers.
Arcot Dalan
This small hall on the southern side of the
Shrine was erected by Nawab Muhammad Ali of Arcot around 1800
for the comfort of the devotees. It is also used for the death
rituals by Khadims.
The Degs (Food Pots), Dargah Ajmer
Shariff
On either side of the second Buland Darwaza
in front of Saham Chiragh (courtyard lamp), there are two
huge Degs (cauldrons for cooking food) fixed into solid masonry
in which a palatable mixture of rice sugar, ghee (butter)
and dried fruits is cooked for distribution to the public
as tabarruk. The circumference at the edge of the larger cauldron
is 10-1/4 feet. It cooks 70 mounds of rice, while the smaller
Deg takes 28 mounds. One of them was presented by Akbar in
1567 A.D. The princes or the well-to-do pilgrims order these
Degs to be cooked generally during the Urs
period.
Degs when food is being distributed.
Badi (Big) Deg
Badi Deg: Inside the Sahan-e-Chiragh and on
the right side of Buland Darwaza is located Bari Deg. Emperor
Akbar pledged to visit Ajmer Sharif
on foot and presented a large cauldron if victorious in Chittaurgarh
battle. So he kept his word after winning the battle. So he
kept his words after winning the battle. The circumference
of the cauldron (Deg) is 12.5 yards and 125 mounds of rice
can be cooked in it at a time. It was presented in 976 Hijra.
Chhoti (Small) Deg
Chhoti Deg: It is located on the left side
of Buland Darwaza inside Sahan-e-Chiragh. It was presented
by Sultan Nooruddin Jahangir in 1013 Hijra. Eighty mounds
of rice can be cooked in it at a time.
The Mehfil Khana, Ajmer Urs
On the west of the Saham Chiragh stands the magnificent building
of Samakhana or Mahfilkhana (auditorium with darbar hall)
which was built by Nawab Bashir-ud-Dowla Sir Asmaan Jah of
Hyderabad Deccan in 1888-91 A.D. This spacious hall is 46
feet square with a gallery of 14 feet running around it. It
is used for 6 days only during the annual Urs for religious
‘Mahfils’ in which Qawwali is the chief item of
programme commencing at 11 P.M. and ending with Fatiha (a
religious ceremony) in the early hours of morning at 4 A.M.
The Mausoleum and Begami Daalaan
Overhanging the principal eastern to the Shrine or Mausoleum,
there is a handsome porch known as Begami Daalaan which was
built in 1643 AD by Princess Jahan Ara Begam, the favorite
daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan.
The walls and the beautiful marble pillars of the Begami
Daalaan were done in colorful gold in 1888 AD. Later on, the
ceiling of this Daalaan was also embellished in gold with
the money donated by a Muslim merchant of Bombay. This beautiful
portico was used by the Begams or ladies of the Moghul harem
during their frequent visits to the shrine.
This hall is located at the eastern main entrance of the
Holy tomb and was erected by princess Jahan Ara, the daughter
of Shahjahan. In this hall Khuddam sit regularly to perform
Fatiha, Durood and Salaams and prayers and to guide pilgrims.
The large courtyard around this hall used for Qawwali and
Milad Sharif, is called Ahata-e-Noort.
The Shrine
There are two simultaneous entrances
to the Shrine through the Begami Daalaan. The doors of both
of them are mounted with heavy silver plate carved in ornamental
details. The tomb is of white marble inlaid with pieces of
precious stones and is daily bestrewed with sandal-paste and
Itars (perfumes). It is always covered with very costly ‘ghilaafs’
(coverings made of velvet and silk) embroidered with pleasing
gold and silver tracings.
Over the tomb, there is a silver ‘chaparkhat’
(canopy) inlaid with pieces of mother-of-pearl presented by
Emperor Jahangir. Between the four poles supporting this `chaparkhat’,
there is silver `katehra’ (railing) with an arch towards
the south. There is another outer silver katehra running around
the tomb at a distance of about 2 feet. The devotees are led
into this space to offer flowers and prayers over the tomb.
The ceiling of the dome is covered by a costly velvet chatgiri.
A peculiar kind of fascinating aroma prevails in the shrine
which inspires the visitors with a spontaneous and irresistible
urge for devotion and homage towards the asleep saint. As
soon as one enters the interior of the shrine, he feels as
if he is in the presence of some exalted soul or mighty spiritual
king.
Jama Masjid, Ajmer (Shah Jahaani Masjid)
On the south wing of the Mehfil khana stands
the Jama Masjid or Shah Jahani Mosque, which is a fine piece
of Moghul architecture. All the 99 sacred names of Allah with
33 Quranic verses are beautifully inscribed in the mosque.
Annual Urs and other Functions
No where at any Shrine in the sub-continent
such a large number of functions and ceremonies are held,
as are celebrated at AJMER in the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Khwaja
Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) and that too in a very significant
way which is strictly in accordance with the Chishtia precepts
annually. Not only the Urs of the Holy Saint but the
Annual Death Anniversaries (airas) of Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of ALLAH Be Upon Him) four pious caliphs and all the famous
predecessors and successors (Saint) of Khwaja Saheb are also
celebrated in a magnificent way. Special functions are held
on Eid Meeladun Nabi,
(12 days) Urs of Khulfas, and Ghaus Paak (Giyarahwin Sharif).
Shab-e-mairaj, Shaban-e-Moazam, and Urs
of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz. Special programmes are
also held during Ramdhan-ul-Mubarak, and in Moharam, the special
Majlis in the memory of Hazrat Syed Imam Hussain is also held,
for 10 days.
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