Adhai Din ka Jhopra
Adhai Din ka Jhopra, located in Ajmer, was originally a Sanskrit Pathshala and Saraswati Mandir commissioned by Vigraharaja IV, the legendary king of the Chauhan dynasty. The structure was built in 1153 AD and is remembered as a remarkable center of learning and devotion.
Description by Scholars
James Fergusson remarked that the site's beauty and surface decoration surpassed all the architectural structures of Persia and Spain.
Conversion into Mosque
The temple and pathshala were later destroyed and converted into a mosque by Qutubuddin Aibak and Iltutmish. Despite the conversion, the remnants of its Hindu past still remain visible today — the carvings and engravings on the pillars continue to reflect the original architecture.
The original building was based on a square-plan, with a tower-chhatri at each corner. The Sarasvati Temple was located on the western side.
A similar architectural and historical structure can be seen in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, known as Bhojshala, which was also a Sanskrit Pathshala and Saraswati temple later converted into a mosque.
Reign of Vigraharaja IV
The reign of Vigrahraj IV is considered a golden period of the Chauhan Empire. He bravely fought the Turkish Malechas of Afghanistan for two decades, inflicting several crushing defeats on them. His empire extended from the Himalayan Foothills in the north to the Vindhyanchal in the south.
Archaeological Findings
Excavations at the site uncovered several tablets, shedding light on the literary and cultural legacy of the period:
- Tablet 1 and 2: Contain fragments of the Sanskrit play Lalita-Vigraharaja Nataka, narrating Vigraharaja’s love story with Princess Desaldevi and war preparations against a Turushka (Turkic) king named Hammir.
- Tablet 3 and 4: Contain portions of Harakeli Nataka, a Sanskrit play attributed to Vigraharaja himself, written in honour of the god Hara (Shiva). Inspired by Bharavi's Kiratarjuniya, this play is dated to 22 November 1153 in an inscription.
- Tablet 6: States that King Ajaideva moved his residence to Ajmer. His son adorned Ajmer with the blood of the Turushkas and captured elephants from the kings of Malwa.
Legacy
Vigrahraj IV is remembered for restoring Bharata as the land of the Aryans by defeating the Turks, and for his enduring contributions to literature, architecture, and the defense of dharmic civilization.