Jain monks, VHP leaders visit Ajmer's mosque, claim temple existed there
- In Reports
- 10:39 PM, May 07, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Tuesday, a group of Jain monks and leaders from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad recently visited 'Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra', a mosque under ASI protection in Ajmer, Rajasthan. They claimed that historical records indicate that a Sanskrit school and a Jain temple existed at the site.
The monks were led by Sunil Sagar Maharaj. They reached the monument from Fawara Circle via Dargah Bazaar.
Neeraj Jain, Deputy Mayor of Ajmer Municipal Corporation, noted that demands for the redevelopment of Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra have previously been raised.
“We have in the past demanded that the monument should be redeveloped and its past glory restored," Jain said. "There are idols kept in a store room in the monument."
According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) website, the monument in question is a mosque built by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak, the first Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, in AD 1199.
The Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra mosque dates back to the same period as the mosque within the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi. It is also known as the Quwal-ul-Islam mosque (power of Islam).
“Sultan Iltutmish had subsequently beautified it in AD 1213 with a screen pierced by corbelled engrailed arches which appear in this country for the first time,” the ASI said.
It adds, “A large number of architectural members and sculptures of temples are lying inside the verandah of the complex for safety and security purposes by the department which shows the existence of a Hindu temple in its vicinity during circa 11th-12th Century AD.”
According to the government agency, the name "Adhai din ka Jhonpra" possibly originates from the tradition of a fair being conducted at the site for a duration of two and a half days.
“This mosque, built from the dismantled remains of temples, is known as Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra possibly from the fact that a fair used to be held here for two and a half days,” the ASI said.
Image source: ASI
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