Devotion of Maharani Devi Ahilyabai Holkar towards Ayodhya

If a list is prepared  of people who led Hindu Renunciation  , Maharani  Devi Ahilyabai Holkar's name will figure somewhere in the top . If, in the current day, Hindus can visit and appreciate the centres so integral to the ancient history and evolution of the dharma, a significant part of the credit goes to her. It is unfortunate that most of these places do not bear inscriptions in her name, but it was perhaps her operative style too— the architectural restoration work was carried out of an innate sense of religiosity, and was not linked to politics or gaudy display of wealth. She led a campaign for the revival of Hinduism , throughout India .From Gangotri to Rameshwaram, and from Dwarka to Gaya, she spent money on rebuilding temples destroyed under the Mughal rule, in restoring the past glory of holy sites, in building new temples and in building ghats for easy access to almost all major rivers in the Bharatvarsha.The list of the temple architectural interventions by Ahilyabai is endless. The most significant one, however, is the current Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Ahilyabai also refurbished the Dashashwamedh Ghat, site of the famous Ganga Aarti, built originally by Nanasaheb Peshwa and the Manikarnika Ghat, the main cremation site in Varanasi.

The Somnath temple, in Gujrat was restored in 1783 by all the Maratha confederates, with significant contribution from Ahilyabai. She contributed to the betterment of facilities at Dwarka as well. At Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar, Maharani Ahilyabai constructed bridges and rest areas. With temples and rest areas in Kedarnath, Srisailam, Omkareshwar and Ujjain, Ahilyabai contributed to the improvement of facilities at other holy sites hosting Jyotirlingas too.

Among the imposing temple structures, constructed by Maharani Ahilyabai, which survive today is the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya. Legend has it that this is the site of Lord Vishnu crushing the demon Gayasura, and his footprint is etched in rocks. The temple is built on these rocks bearing 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu. Ahilyabai, despite being a devout Lord Shiva devotee, got this temple constructed in 1787. The Ramachandra temple in Puri, Hanuman temple in Rameshwaram, Shri Vaidyanath temple in Parli Vaijnath and the Sarayu Ghat in Ayodhya all bear her contributions.



In Ayodhya Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar renovated Treta-ka-Thakur temple in 1784, and built the adjoining ghat.  Treta-ka-Thakur refers to an ancient temple constructed by the Raja of Kullu located at the banks of the Sarayu River in Ayodhya  at Naya Ghat. The temple is said to house the idols of Lord Ram which was carved in the ancient times out of black sandstones. The place is considered to be the spot where lord Ram performed an Ashwamedha Yagya. The ancient temple was damaged during the reign of Aurangzeb .Maharani Ahilyabai built another Treta-ka-Thakur and gave an annual assignment of Rs. 231 to it, the sum was paid by the ruler of Indore for a long time.

Hanuman Garhi Sanad received by Abhai Ram Bairagi from Safdar Jung

Hanuman Garhi is 1 km from Ayodhya railway station.The temple is a grand structure that takes 76 steps to approach .It is built atop a small hillock that also happens to be the highest point in Ayodhya. It is claimed that when Lord  Ram returned from the conquest of Lanka, and occupied the fortress in Ayodha, he assigned to his various Generals their different posts, giving to the much trusted Lord Hanuman, the leader of the monkey army, the command of the tower at the main entrance or gate, which was thenceforth called “ Hanuman Garhi.” This command Lord Hanuman is said to have retained until the Ayodhya of those days was conveyed away to heaven.

  In the main temple, Pawansut sits in the lap of Mata Anjani. Today, it is a well-fortified temple, with fourteen cannons adorning its ramparts. At its foot live hundreds of Bairagis, the more important ones live in modern buildings equipped with all conveniences. It is the most favoured temple for the lakhs of devotees who visit Ayodhya every year. For them a trip to Ayodhya has always meant a dip in the Sarayu, followed by a visit to Nageshwarnath and Hanumangarhi. Manywho visit Ayodhya are said to come first at Hanuman Garhi and then proceed anywhere else .

It is affirmed that up to Mansur Ali Khan’s time offerings to Hanuman, of flowers, Roli &c., were made at the foot of a glorious old tamarind tree, known by the name of Ram Chaura. On a certain occasion the Nawab just named was seized with a severe illness, which it was thought, was cured by the prayers of Abhai Ram, the chief of the then mendicants of Ayodhya, and this secured for the Nawab's good offices and gratitude. Lord Hanumdn is said subsequently to have appeared to Abhai Ram in a vision, and to have desired him to build a temple at Ram Chaura, and this he accordingly did.  This huge temple and its residential complex is spread over 52 bighas, described as a temple-fortress, and which in the 19th century possessed gifts from the crown that brought it Rs50,000 in revenue.

Copy of Sanad received by Abhai Ram Bairagi from  Nawab Safdar Jung  for Hanuman Garhi . Published in Tarikh-i Awadh Volume 5 by   Muhammad Najmul Ghani page number 200 .

The wordings of the Sanad are : "Be it known that this sanad was issued specially for Faqir (Bairagi) Abhayarama in perpetuity, with an order of exemption from taxes. It is imperative for the Faqir (Bairagi) Abhayarāma to build residential houses for his fellow Faqirs (Bairagis) on the mound and remain engaged in praying for the perpetual glory, grandeur and good fortune of the King. The present officers and employees and the future ones should not claim royal dues or civil claims from the mentioned land and should not demand the sanad for renewal every year. The sanad was issued under the seal of Abul Fatah Nasiruddin Muhammad Shah and dated 15th Rabi-ul-Awwal of the fifth regnal year, i.e. on 13th December, 1723."