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Ahilyabai Holkar

Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar
महाराणी अहिल्या बाई होळकर
Her Highness Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Ahilya Bai Sahiba
Ahilya Mata Statue at Datta Temple,SahastraDhara,Jalkoti.jpg
Queen of the Malwa Kingdom
Reign 1 December 1767 – 13 August 1795
Coronation 11 December 1767
Predecessor Malerao Holkar
Successor Tukojirao Holkar I
Born (1725-05-31)31 May 1725
Grram Chaundi, Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Died 13 August 1795(1795-08-13)
Spouse Khanderao Holkar
Full name
Ahilya Bai Sahiba Holkar
House House of Holkar
Dynasty Maratha Confederacy
Father Mankoji Shinde
Religion Hindu
Full name
Ahilya Bai Sahiba Holkar

Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) was the Holkar Queen of the Maratha ruled Malwa kingdom, India. Rajmata Ahilyabai was born in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River.

Ahilyabai's husband Khanderao Holkar was killed in the battle of Kumbher in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar, died. A year after that she was crowned as the queen of the Malwa kingdom. She tried to protect her kingdom from plundering Muslim invaders. She personally led armies into battle. She appointed Tukojirao Holkar as the Chief of Army.

Rani Ahilyabai was a great builder and patron of many Hindu temples which embellished Maheshwar and Indore. She also built temples and Dharmshala (free lodging) at sacred sites outside her kingdom, at prominent religious places like Dwarka in Gujarat east to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi on the Ganges, Ujjain, Nasik, Vishnupad Mandir, Gaya and Parali Vaijnath in Maharashtra. Seeing the destroyed and desecrated temple in Somnath, Rani Ahilyabai built a temple where Lord Shiva is still worshipped by Hindus.

Ahilyabai was born on 31 May 1725 in the village of Chaundi, in the present-day Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. Her father, Mankoji Rao Shinde, was the Patil of the village. Women then did not go to school, but Ahilyabai's father taught her to read and write.


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