ASI survey reveals Bhojshala structure built with remains of Hindu temple

ASI submits Bhojshala survey report in the High Court

Over 1,700 remains including 37 Hindu idols found

Indore (MP) – The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted the survey report of the 13^thcentury historical Bhojshala in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, to the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court. The case will be heard on 22^ndJuly based on the report. The Court has ordered that this report should not be made public as of now. The survey was conducted with the orders of the same Court. Muslim litigants raised objections from time to time during the survey; however, these objections were ignored and the survey was completed. During the excavations carried out during the survey, many special relics were recovered from the land. Along with walls and pillars, idols of 37 Deities were also discovered in Bhojshala. Around 1,700 remains have been unearthed, among which, 650 are crucial.

The survey was conducted from 11^thMarch to 27^thJune. The Indore bench had ordered a scientific survey within 500 metres of Bhojshala complex. Excavations were also carried out during the survey. This survey was also filmed along with taking photographs.

#WATCH | Archeological Survey of India to present a report on Bhojshala Complex in Dhar | Advocate Hari Shankar Jain says, ” Today is a very happy occasion…it has been clear by the (ASI) report today that there used to be a Hindu temple…only Hindu puja should take place… pic.twitter.com/Ewca3Kjs7Z

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2024

Jain community also claims Bhojshala

The Jain community has also asserted its claim over Bhojshala. A petition has been filed in the High Court claiming that Bhojshala is a Jain religious place. It will also be heard in the High Court.

What is the case ?

The organisation ‘Hindu Front for Justice’ had filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court regarding Bhojshala on 1^stMay 2022. This petition challenged the arrangement in which, every Tuesday, Hindus perform yadnya and purify the structure of Bhojshala, while Muslims offer namaz in that place on Fridays. The petition demanded that complete control of Bhojshala be given to Hindus and that the entire structure should be excavated, photographed and filmed if necessary. Based on this petition, the Court ordered a scientific survey by the ASI. This complex also has the Kamal Maula mosque built by the Muslim invaders.

What is Bhojshala ?

In the 11^thcentury, the Parmar dynasty ruled the Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh. King Bhoj was the ruler of Dhar from 1000 to 1055 AD. King Bhoj was a great devotee of Goddess Saraswati. In 1034 AD, King Bhoj established a college, which later came to be known as ‘Bhojshala’. It was also called the temple of Vagdevi (a form of Goddess Saraswati).

Our petition has been strengthened : Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, petitioner of ‘Hindu Front for Justice’, said that the ASI has submitted a report before the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court today. This report is over 2,000 pages long. We are looking into the details of the report. Based on the report, I can say it is very positive for our petition. It has strengthened our petition that Bhojshala was a Hindu structure which was illegally converted into a mosque. Our primary demand is that the permission given to Muslims to offer namaz here on Friday should be revoked.