Bhavin Shukla

Happy Women’s Day.

Women’s contributions should be acknowledged not just today but every day. However, today serves as a crucial reminder of why we should celebrate and honor them more frequently than we typically do.

Ahilyabai Holkar (1725–1795), the Queen of Malwa, was born during the Mughal era, approximately 200 years ago, at a time when British influence in India was beginning to expand, and the Maratha Empire was gradually declining. She was the daughter in law of Malhar Rao Holkar, who served as a commander in the army of mighty Maratha king, Peshwa Baji Rao I.

Ahilyabai Holkar faced numerous personal hardships throughout her life. Widowed at a young age because of she losing her husband in the battlefield, she was spared from the practice of sati by her father-in-law, who encouraged her to rebuild her life instead. Following his father-in-law’s passing, her son ascended the throne but tragically died shortly after due to injuries sustained in battle. Her daughter chose to perform sati after the death of her husband, who also perished in battle.

Despite these hardships, Ahilyabai Holkar rose above them and ruled Malwa, present day Indore, for over 30 years. Ahilyabai is regarded as one of India’s greatest women rulers, renowned for her administrative expertise, exemplary governance, wisdom, and commitment to public welfare.

Ahilyabai Holkar played a pivotal role in the revival of Hindu culture through her dedication to restoring and constructing temples across India. She is credited with the reconstruction of numerous significant temples, including Shri Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi (1780), Shri Somnath Temple in Gujarat (around 1783), Vishnupad Temple in Gaya, Bihar (1787), Gyanvapi Temple (around 1780), and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga near Ellora, Maharashtra.

Ahilyabai was also known as a Philosopher Queen. She dedicated much of her wealth to the restoration of temples, ghats, and pilgrimage centers across India, spearheading a movement that leading Hindu faith and culture

Her other major contributions to the welfare of the temples:-

Temple	Location	Ahilyabai’s contribution	Additional Notes
Shree Kashi Vishwanāth	Banaras, Uttar Pradesh	She rebuilt the temple after it was destroyed by Aurangzeb	12 Jyotirlinga
Shree Somnāth	Somnath, Gujarat	The idol was re-installed and the temple was renovated by her	12 Jyotirlinga
Shree Rameshwaram Temple	Rameshwaran, Tamil Nādu	She made significant donations for the renovation and upkeep of this sacred temple	12 Jyotirlinga
Shree Mallikarjuna	Srisailam Temple, Andhra Pradesh	She rebuilt the temple	12 Jyotirlinga
Shree Omkareshwar	Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh	Made significant contributions	12 Jyotirlinga
Shree Vaijnath	Beed, Maharashtra	She rebuilt the temple	12 Jyotirlinga
Kedarnath, Badrinath, Ayodhya… And many more…	Various locations	Made significant contributions for restoration	Char Dham, Jyotirlinga

Whenever the question arises about whether women should be allowed into a temple, one should first remember Ahilyabai Holkar—without her, many of the temples we see today might not have existed!

Happy Women’s Day.

---