This is an accepted version of this page Ahilyabai Holkar (Marathi pronunciation: [əɦɪljɑbaɪ]; 31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795),[1] also spelled Ahalya Bai,[2] was the Rajamata and later the ruling queen of Indore within the Maratha Confederacy.

[3] A beloved figure of Indian history, she is renowned for good governance, social welfare, and humanitarian work along with religious, educational, and cultural advancements.

She defended Indore against invasions and personally led armies into battle, with her brother-in-law Tukoji Rao Holkar serving as her military commander.

[10] By the time of Ahilyabai's marriage, her father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar had already risen from a childhood of shepherding to ruling as Subahdar over a territory comprising thirty parganas yielding high revenues.

From 1748, Malhar Rao's power in Malwa allowed him to play kingmaker in northern and central India and by 1750, he was the de facto ruler of the Maratha Confederacy.

He regularly received grants, including monetary tributes, land, and noble titles, from the Peshwa government in recognition of his service to the empire.

[5] In 1751, he successfully mediated a major land agreement between the Peshwa and Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur and by 1753, he was considered indispensable.

[12] Starting in 1754, Malhar Rao kept Ahilyabai actively involved in diplomacy debates, matters of the kingdom's finances, and other problems of both the Mughal Empire and the Peshwa.

[13] Throughout her married life, she was brought up by her mother-in-law, Gautama Bai Holkar, who is credited for teaching Ahilyabai to have proper values.

[16] In 1754, Khanderao and Malhar Rao, acting on orders from Mughal Grand Vizier Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III, laid siege to the fort at Kumher, then held by Jat Raja Suraj Mal.

Devastated by Khanderao's death, Alhiyabai announced she would commit sati, ritualistic suicide on his funeral pyre.

Her dismayed subjects begged her to reconsider but she explained that she felt sati was the only way she could fulfill her husband's promise to accompany her all her life.

Her father-in-law Malhar Rao begged:"Daughter, my son left me whom I raised with a hope that he would support me in my old age.

[20] On 23 Aug 1766, Ahilyabai's only son, Male Rao Holkar, became ruler of Indore at age 21 when he received investiture from the Peshwa.

[21] Historical records show that groups from neighboring states, particularly the Chundawat clan of Jaipur, rebelled during this transfer of power, taking advantage of both Tukoji Rao's absence from the region and the widespread devastation wrought by the Third Battle of Panipat and its aftermath.

[22][23][24] In 1791, Ahilyabai's son-in-law, Yeshwantrao Fanse, died and her daughter Muktabai committed sati on his funeral pyre.

[34] The arrangements made by Devi Ahilya at all the sacred were shown in the below table Charities connected with the Jyotir-Lingas[35] situation.

Sapta Puri (seven cities) and Char Dham (four quarters) were looked up eventually by Hindus of all castes and creeds in worship and pilgrimage.

Various temples Ghats and rest houses built during her time exhibit Indian architecture and the various features of different schools.

""For thirty years her reign of peace,The land in blessing did increase;And she was blessed by every tongue,By stern and gentle, old and young.Yea, even the children at their mother's feet,Are taught such homely rhyming to repeat.In latter days from Brahma came,To rule our land, a noble Dame,Kind was her heart and bright her fame,And Ahilya was her honored name.

"Collecting oral memories of hers in the 1820s, Sir John Malcolm, the British official most directly concerned with the 'settlement' of central India, seems to have become deeply enamored of her.

"Ahilyabai's extraordinary ability won her the regard of her subjects and of the other Maratha confederates, including Nana Phadnavis.

""This great ruler in Indore encouraged all within her realm to do their best, Merchants produced their finest clothes, trade flourished, the farmers were at peace and oppression ceased, for each case that came to the queen's notice was dealt with severely.

The Bhils who had long been the torment of all caravans were routed from their mountain fastnesses and persuaded to settle down as honest farmers.

Indore long mourned its noble Queen, happy had been her reign, and her memory is cherished with deep reverence unto this day.

""From the original papers and letters, it becomes clear that she was the first-class politician, and that was why she readily extended her support to Mahadji Shinde.

After thorough scrutiny of the long history of the world, we find only one personality of Lokmata Devi Ahilya that represents an absolutely ideal ruler.