MAHARANI AHILYABAI HOLKAR (1725-1795)

An extraordinary life!

Like a brilliant flame of divine sanatan dharam she took up the task of preserving and renovating Hindu temples all across Bharat which had been desecrated by the unholy mlecchas.

(Thread)

Paramhansa Yogananda, author of "Autobiography of a Yogi" has described Ahilyabai as one of the greatest women of modern India.(1)

Ahilyabai Devi stands out as a strong ruler who spread the message of dharma hence rejuvenating Hinduism.(2)

The most significant contribution of Ahilyabai came in the preservation, reconstruction and refurbishment of a number of Hindu sites during her 30 year rule.(3)

From Gangotri to Rameshwaram, Dwarka to Gaya, she rebuilt temples destroyed under the M0ghul rule thereby restoring the past glory of holy sites.(4)

Born in village of Chundi, Beed district of Maharashtra, her father Manokji Shinde was head of the village. She married Malhar Rao Holkar's(Maratha chief of state of Indore) son Khande Rao.(5)

After her husband passed away in 1754, Malhar Rao started training Ahilyabai to be his successor. She went on to head the Holkar State after Malhar Rao passed away.(6)

Assuming charge in December 1767, she dedicated the state to Shankar (Shiva) declaring that she will manage state affairs for the benefit of the people on behalf of lord Shiva.(7)

While herself remaining only a custodian. Her signature, "Shree Shankar" appeared on all royal proclamations.(8)

It is to her credit that during her reign Malwa remained stable and peaceful.(9)

Ahilya Bai undertook the task of building & renovating sarais, shelters, temples, dharamshalas all over the country.(10)

As a part of her religious policies she arranged Gangajal to be sent every year to 34 shrines scattered across the country.(11)

She constructed ghats on rivers throughout India, built new temples, restored damaged ones, dug wells, step wells, and also started free kitchen for poor and pilgrims.(12)

Not only did she build temples but also paid for their maintenance, alongside recruitment of learned men and women for contemplation and preaching of scriptures. For maintenance of temples a separate fund was created.(13)

The list of the temple architectural interventions by Ahilyabai is vast. The most significant one is the current Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.(14)

Destroyed by Aurangzeb to build the Gyaanvapi m0sque, the temple was restored in its current form by Ahilyabai in the year 1780, 111 years after its destruction.(15)

Ahilyabai also refurbished the Dashashwamedh Ghaat, site of the famous Ganga Aarti, built originally by Nanasaheb Peshwa and the Manikarnika Ghat, the main cremation site in Varanasi.(16)

The Somnath temple, witness to the regular destruction by a host of aggressors over centuries was restored in 1783 by all the Maratha confederates, with significant contribution from Ahilyabai.(17)

She contributed to the betterment of facilities at Dwarka as well. At Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar, Ahilyabai constructed bridges and rest areas.(18)

With pilgrim resting areas at Kedarnath, Srisailam, Omkareshwar and Ujjain, Ahilyabai contributed to the improvement of facilities at other holy sites hosting Jyotirlingas too.(19)

Among the imposing temple structures, constructed by Ahilyabai, which survive today is the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.(20)

This is the site of lord Vishnu crushing the demon Gayasura, and his footprint is etched on the rocks. The temple is built on these rocks bearing 40 cm long footprint of lord Vishnu.(21)

Ahilyabai had this temple constructed in 1787. The Ramachandi temple in Puri, Hanuman temple in Rameshwaram, Shri Vaidyanath temple in Parli Vaijnath and the Sarayu Ghat in Ayodhya all bear her contributions.(22)

Very few individuals in the modern era have worked towards the renovation and overhauling of Hindu holy sites as Ahilyabai.(23)

In current times, Hindus can visit and appreciate a lot of centres integral to our ancient history and evolution of dharma, a significant part of the credit goes to her.(24)