| Why
Ajmer was particularly selected to be pivot of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s
mission in
India? This is a pertinent question which may be asked by some critical readers.
A careful study of the history of India before Khwaja Saheb’s arrival, and
of the period of his stay in Ajmer will answer this question satisfactory. We
have already thrown sufficient light on this point in one of the previous chapters.
In this chapter, we trace a brief history of Ajmer and the Khwaja Saheb’s
Dargah which attracts millions of people every year to seek spiritual blessings
of the great saint. Geographically,
Ajmer is situated in the heart of Rajasthan, at one time the citadel of India
kingdom, and thus it suited the grand mission of Khwaja Saheb best. Politically,
Ajmer the seat of a most powerful kingdom of the last Rajput Emperor of India,
Raja Prithviraj Chauhan (1179-1192 A.D.) whose whole life was "one of unbroken
chain of chivalrous deeds and glorious exploits which have won for him eternal
fame and a name that will last as long as chivalry itself." Prithviraj was the
son of Someshwara (1170-1179 A.D.) who was the 29th descendant in the lineage
of King Vasudeva who flourished as far back as 551 A.D. Vasudeva has descended
from Chahuan (the founder of the Rajput clan of Chauhans) whose date is untraceable
in the description of Ajmer. As given in Sarga IX of the famous documentary "Prithviraj
Vijaya", runs as below:-
The city was so densely
populated and there were so many gardens, tanks and wells that not more than one-tenth
of the earth was visible to sun, and water in the wells was only two cubits from
the ground surface. Karpurdevi (mother of Prithviraj) under whose regency he was
brought up also founded a town". Describing
Ajmer in his "Picturesque India" (p.77) Mr. Caine, says:- "It
is an ancient, beautiful city full of interest, both historical and architectural;
its gay busy bazars and its old houses with carved fronts, some of which are among
the finest in India, giving added attractions to its superb situation. A well
built stone wall with give gateways surrounds the city". | 
