A lower court in Ajmer has admitted a petition filed by Vishnu Gupta, the National President of the Hindu Sena, asserting that the Sankat Mochan Mahadev temple exists within the premises of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. This claim has rekindled debates about the site’s historical origins, raising questions about religious heritage and cultural identity.
Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel deemed the petition admissible and issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Dargah Committee Ajmer, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). These entities have been directed to submit their responses before the next hearing, set for December 20, 2024.
Central to the petition is a 1911 book, Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, by retired judge Harvilas Sharda. The book alleges that debris from an ancient Shiva temple was used in constructing the dargah. Furthermore, the petition claims that a Jain temple may also exist within the sanctum sanctorum of the site.
Vishnu Gupta highlighted the presence of Hindu architectural elements around the dargah, particularly carvings on the Buland Darwaza. He urged the ASI to investigate the site for signs of a water source, which is often a feature near Shiva temples.
Advocate Ramswaroop Bishnoi, representing Gupta, emphasized the petition’s extensive evidence, presented in a 38-page document. He pointed to architectural similarities and historical texts to support the claim, drawing parallels to other contested religious sites such as Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh and Kashi in Varanasi.
The petition also asserts that parts of the 75-foot-high Buland Darwaza were constructed using materials from the ancient temple. Additionally, it references a Brahmin family that allegedly worshipped at the site, where a Shivling was once located.
The Dargah Committee has vehemently denied the allegations. Syed Sarwar Chishti, secretary of the Anjuman Syed Jadgan, an organization representing the khadims (caretakers) of the dargah, stressed the dargah’s historical role in promoting unity and pluralism. He noted that the site is revered by followers across a vast geographical range, from Afghanistan to Indonesia.
“Such acts undermine communal harmony and the nation’s unity,” Chishti stated. He criticized the petition, likening it to recent legal challenges faced by other historic mosques in Kashi and Mathura.
Chishti also expressed discontent with recent legal amendments, implying that changes introduced by former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud have facilitated such petitions. “This is the Garib Nawaz Dargah, and it will remain so in the future,” he asserted.
Broader Implications for Religious Heritage and Communal Harmony
As the case moves forward, it is expected to fuel ongoing debates about religious heritage and historical claims in India. The court’s decision to admit the petition has introduced a new layer of complexity to discussions surrounding the country’s religious sites. The outcome of the hearing on December 20 will be closely monitored, as it may set a precedent for similar disputes across India.
