This study investigates the historical reality of the Sufi mystic Mu'in al-Din Chishti versus the hagiographical legends that have shaped his veneration over centuries. P. M. Currie utilizes a combination of historical analysis and sociological inquiry to examine the evolution of the Ajmer shrine. By contrasting primary historical records with later accounts, the author constructs a framework for understanding how religious figures are transformed into symbols of pilgrimage and cultural identity. The work serves as a critical examination of the intersection between historical fact and religious myth-making in the Indian subcontinent.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the development of Sufi shrines in Rajasthan. Readers often note the academic rigor of the prose and the author's meticulous approach to disentangling legend from historical record.