𝑹𝑨𝑱𝑴𝑨𝑻𝑨 𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑰 𝑨𝑯𝑰𝑳𝒀𝑨𝑩𝑨𝑰 𝑯𝑶𝑳𝑲𝑨𝑹

Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was a Holkar Queen of the Malwa Kingdom. Ahilyabai was born on 31st May, 1725 in the village of Chaundi, in the present day Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra.

She was a brave warrior and an excellent archer, who led the army many times to protect her kingdom.

She respected art, music, literature, sculpture, poetry and her court was always open for artists.

Her capital was known for its distinct craftsmen, sculptors and artists who were paid handsomely for their work and kept in high regards by the queen.

She also moved on to establishing a textile industry in the city. She developed Indore into a big and flourished city.

During her reign, the crime rate greatly dropped as she encouraged poor people to get involved in trade or farming. She employed forest tribes to be the protectors of the travelling merchants.

She was philanthropic and provided her people proper infrastructure by properly utilising tax money.

She helped widows in retaining their husband’s property so that they can live their lives independently and with honour.

Most of the developments and charity were done by her personal fund which was estimated to be 16 crore at that time.

During her pilgrimages all over the country , she was appalled by seeing conditions of temples, Ghats and Dharmashalas. She generously donated for upliftment of these holy places.

Famous 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 of Gujarat was reconstructed by her after it was looted and destroyed by Mohammad Ghaznavi.

𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 of Varanasi and 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 in Gaya, Bihar was reconstructed by her. Most of the Ghats near the banks of Ganga in Varanasi were constructed during her reign.

She helped to rebuilt temples at 𝐒𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫, 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫, 𝐊𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐡, 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐠𝐚, 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐢, 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚, 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦, 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐤, 𝐎𝐦𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐯𝐚𝐫, 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐫, 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐞, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐒𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐦, 𝐔𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐢, 𝐆𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚 𝐞𝐭𝐜.

Every holy pilgrimage place in India had a contribution, in one way or another, from Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.

Ahilyabai never issued capital punishment. She took a personal oath from the prisoners & released them.

A prisoner who promised not to commit misdeeds again was released. Many such prisoners adopted an honest life and this generosity showed results.

When Rani Ahilyabai Holkar held court for justice, she always had a Shivling made of clay in her hands.

A great soul born in india for the revival and reestablishment of dharma in this pavithra bhoomi. 🙏

Such an inspiring soul 🙏 during my travels in india covering most of the states over the past 20 years, in majority of the dharmic places i always heard of the work done by devi ahilyabai holkar and admired her role in reestablishment of dharma in recent times 🙏 great honour for us to remember such divine soul. 🙏

She is another proof that whenever there is a need to protect and reestablish dharma, the great souls are born and its irrespective of their gender, caste, creed .

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ||

Here is another proof that whenever there is a need to protect and reestablish dharma, the great souls are born and its irrespective of their gender, caste, creed .

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ||

credit: Dr Anadi Sahoo on Linkedin