Ajmer Monuments
Sarwar Sharif, Sarwar, Dist. Ajmer,
Rajasthan
Hazrat Khwaja Fakhruddin (R.A.) is the eldest
son of Khwaja
Garib Nawaz (R.A.) who earned his livelihood by farming
in Mandal town. He is 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 City. 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 Dargah 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 of Hazrat Khawaja Garib Nawaz's
(r.a.) Daughter
The Mazar of Bibi Hafiz Jamal, the daughter
of Khwaja
Sahib, is situated to the south of the Shrine. There is
a small dome with a "Kalas" on top of it.
Dhai Din ka Jhopra, Ajmer
"Dhai Din Ka Jhopra" or "Dhai Din Ki Masjid"
is a Grand Mosque, is 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 Ajmer 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 Ajmer 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 Qiledaar..
Ana Sagar Lake, Ajmer
Ana Sagar lake is a beautiful lake in the
heart of the ajmer 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.
On the North-Eastern side of Sada Bahar is
located the Chillah of Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar
Kakii (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 Ajmer
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 (King) of Hyderabad
Deccan(India), 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 (King of India).
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 (Akbari
Masjid) erected by Akbar with red sand stone, A religious
institution (madarsa - school) 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 (King of India) 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 (Free Food Serving to all) 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 Ajmer
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 Dargah (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 (Dargah) 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 Garib Nawaz 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 (Dargah) 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 both side of the 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: (Big Pot of Cooking) Inside the Sahan-e-Chiragh
and on the right side of Buland Darwaza is located Bari Deg.
Emperor Akbar (King of India) 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 (King) 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 (Aahta-e-Noor)
Overhanging the principal eastern to the Shrine or Muslim,
there is a handsome porch known as Begami Daalaan (Aahta-e-Noor)
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 (Aahta-e-Noor) 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 (Daughter
of King of India), 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 (Dargah Sharif)
There are two simultaneous entrances
to the Shrine through the Begami Daalaan (Aahta-e-Noor). 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 (Two) 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 (Great Mosque of Marble
Stone), 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 SHRAIFin 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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