Shiva Temple Inside Ajmer Sharif Dargah? The Latest Controversy Explained

Ajmer Sharif Dargah Controversy: The Claim of a Shiva Temple Inside and Its Impact on Communal Harmony

Recently, the holy site of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, dedicated to the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, has become the center of a political and religious controversy. A Hindu organization has claimed that a Shiva temple exists within the premises of the dargah, which has set off debates and questions regarding the harmony between communities. The issue has reached the courts, drawing reactions from political leaders, religious bodies, and the public.

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The Controversial Claim
Vishnu Gupta, National Hindu Army President, filed a petition in an Ajmer court stating that the dargah sits atop an ancient Shiva temple. The plea demands that the shrine be declared as the “Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple” and that its registration as a dargah be canceled if any exists. In support of the plea, it also sought an ASI survey to confirm the claim, asking for the right to allow Hindus to worship at the dargah.

After that, the Ajmer bench issued notices to three stakeholders-three Dargah Committee officials, the Archaeological Survey of India, and the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs-with the next date of hearing set for December 20.

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Historical Background and Political Reactions
The claim about a Shiva temple inside the dargah has reignited debates about historical sites and religious identities. Critics argue that such claims disrupt communal harmony and divert attention from pressing national issues.

Opposition’s Stand:
Strong opponents have condemned the government for using such controversy to divert attention. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said that those who are in power are making efforts to divert the nation’s attention and take it two steps backward. Similarly, senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal expressed his concern over such divisive claims and asked from where the nation is headed for political gains.

Religious Leaders Speak Out
Syed Sarwar Chishti, the caretaker of the dargah, condemned the claim saying it was an attempt to isolate the Muslim community and disturb social harmony. The shrine is more than 800 years old. He said that earlier when the Supreme Court gave the verdict in the Babri Masjid case, the Khadims respected the verdict hoping that after this incident there would be peace. If such incidents keep happening, then it may result in further unrest.

In Connection to Other Incidents
This news concerning the Ajmer Sharif Dargah occurs a fortnight after violent clashes at Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where the protests and clashes over the survey by court order of a mosque ended with four people killed and hundreds injured. Petitioners in that case also held that the mosque had come up on the debris of a demolished temple and here is the comparison.

In Response by Government
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has approached the matter cautiously, calling it “sensitive.” BJP MP Ravi Kishan did not want to say anything in that regard, and said that it would come out in the investigation. The party made it clear that it will take legal processes and abide by the court’s decisions.

But BJP and its ideological ally RSS, and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi had criticized them for spreading hate and questioning the sanctity of mosques and dargahs. Owaisi pointed out that there have been Indian Prime Ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru onwards, who respect the shrine’s significance by sending ceremonial offerings called chadars.

The Way Ahead
The notices issued by the Ajmer court are the start of a legal process that can stretch on for months or even years. With the next hearing scheduled for December 20, all eyes will be on the court’s proceedings. Meanwhile, calls for maintaining peace and respecting historical sites are being echoed by religious and political leaders alike.

Broader Implications
The controversy raises important questions concerning the preservation of India’s multicultural heritage and the role of politics in religious disputes. While to some, such cases present an assertion of historical claims, others view them as a deliberate attempt to polarize communities.

Irrespective of the decision, Ajmer Sharif Dargah will remain a monument of unity and spiritual solace for millions. All concerned parties should handle the matter with care so that sanctity of the site and community harmony is not compromised.

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