ASI: Madhya Pradesh's Bhojshala Complex made from parts of ancient temple

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, July 15

The existing structure of a mosque in the Bhojshala Complex at Dhar in Madhya Pradesh was made from parts of an earlier temple that can be dated to the Paramara period, almost 1,000 years ago, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) told the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday.

“Based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures and inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples,” the ASI said in its 10-volume report that alluded to predominantly Hindu character of the structure.

Hindus have been demanding full ownership of the disputed site, claiming it was a temple of Goddess Saraswati and the mosque came up later. Hindus are allowed to offer prayers on Tuesdays and Muslims on Fridays at the ASI-protected monument.

After the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya dispute, the Hindus have made demands for similar ASI surveys at Gyanvapi Mosque, Varanasi; Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah mosque complex, Mathura; and Bhojshala Complex at Dhar.

Acting on a petition filed by the ‘Hindu Front for Justice’, the high court had on March 11 ordered the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the Bhojshala Complex. “The ASI report has been submitted after conducting a detailed scientific study. It proves our case to the hilt that the entire premises was a Hindu temple and it was illegally used as a mosque,” advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented petitioner Hindu Front for Justice, told The Tribune.

“A total of 94 sculptures, sculptural fragments and architectural members with sculptural depictions were noticed during the investigation. They are made of basalt, marble, schist, soft stone, sandstone and limestone,” the ASI said.

“Sculptures of four-armed deities were carved on windows, pillars and beams used in the existing structure. Images carved on these included Ganesh, Brahma with his consorts, Narasimha, Bhairava, Gods and Goddesses, human and animal figures. Images of animals in different mediums include lion, elephant, horse, dog, monkey, snake, tortoise, swan and bird. Mythical and composite figures include a variety of kirtimukhas —human face, lion face, composite face; Vyala of different shapes, etc,” it stated.

“Based on the existing inscriptions in the complex, it can be said that these inscriptions contained literary works composed by some of the Paramara kings or works composed or copied during the Paramara rule,” it stated.

On April 1, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the scientific survey of Bhojshala, but said no action should be taken without its permission on the outcome of the exercise. The order had come on a plea filed by the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society challenging the March 11 order of the high court on the scientific survey.

On Monday, the top court agreed to consider listing a plea against a “scientific survey” of Bhojshala, the medieval-era structure which both Hindus and Muslims claim as their own. Malwa’s scholar Raja Bhoj was dominating the poll narrative during the last Assembly election in Dhar where communal tensions have been simmering over ownership of the site that houses the 11th century monument Bhojshala, built by the Parmar dynasty king and a mosque dedicated to Muslim seer Kamal Maula.

SC agrees to consider plea against survey

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider listing a plea against the “scientific survey” of Bhojshala Complex, the medieval-era ASI-protected monument in MP’s Dhar where Hindus offer prayers on Tuesdays and Muslims on Fridays