Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar---No woman in history of the world religions ever contributed as much the widow Ahilya did for Hinduism.No woman in our history restored so many monuments as was done by Ahilya. She ruled over Indore state of Maratha confederation. She was daughter in law of revered military commander Malhar Rao Holkar.She decided to conserve all the twelve Jyotirlingas and three sacred complexes Gaya ,Kashi and Prayag.The Marathas wanted to control these sacred complexes.However local Hindu Rajas respectively Maharaja Tekari of Gaya Sundar Singh was against Maratha intrusion. Similarly Maharaja Balvant Singh who was known by his epithet Kasiraj was also against Maratha penetration in Kashi. The Karchana state in Kara province of Allahabad was equally forceful in Maratha opposition. The Maharaja Balvant Singh himself was in deep trouble due to constant war against Oudh(Awadh), Jaunpur and local cheiftains who were supporting Muslim kings.At that time the Kashi Visvanath Mandir was in ruins and only sthal Puja (worship of sacred geography) was done by Bhumihar Brahmin ritualists of Tejapur village, Kashi.This tradition continued from 1659 till the date Ahilya got permission from the Nawab of Awadh to erect a Shiva temple near Gyanvapi mosque. It was a diplomatic step Balvant Singh wanted to be taken. Ahilya purchased land for temple.Surprisingly the people of Kashi were scared of Muslim intervention and a possible demolition again as it happened with Gaharval temple and later temple made due to Jagatguru Narayan Bhatt's historic effort and support of Todarmal.Most disgusting story is that Brhamins basically Srayuparins and Kanyakubja did not accept the proposal of Pranam Pratistha (consecration ) of the new temple.Tradionally the Bhumihar priests of Tejapur , Ganagapur,Jayapur and near by villages had militarized them under Manasram and his belligerent son Balvant who was galvanizing Brhmanas for military action against Awadh , Jaunpur ,Bangash Pathan, and even Badsah of Delhi.Ahilya was abashed with denial of Brahmins for consecrations. Finally Mahesvar Pandit of Indore performed the sacerdotal activities and a Bhumihar Brahmin from Tejapur village was appointed as the chief ritualist of the Kaisi Visvanath temple.Maharaja of Kasi accepted to supervise the ceremony of Mahashivaratri .Maharaja Ranjit Singh offered 22 man(880kg) of gold to the temple.Purusottam Dad Khatri gave fabulous wealth in donation for covering the Sanctum with silver. Earlier Nana Phadnavis had also tried to restore the temple like Maharaja of Riva and Maharana of Mevar but they couldn't get success. Ahilya fully understood the spiritual character of India as an ancient nation. She got permission from Maharaja Tekari to restore the Vishnupad temple at Gaya.For that she habilitated masons at Patharkati village. She made Ghats at Pushkar, Omkaresvar and Mahesvar. Sources State Archive Indore and works of Gunakar Mule,Devendra Thakur ,Amitàbh Bhattacharya Baidyanath Sarsvati and edited volume on Kashi by Omprakash Kejarival published by Publication Division New Delhi.