Guards at the 11th-century Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh’s (MP) Dhar found the murti of Vagdevi (Mata Saraswati) on Sunday, 10 September. The monument, which is said to have been desecrated and destroyed to build the ‘Kamal Maula mosque’ over it, falls under ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) and is back in the news following the discovery of the murti.
Vagdevi murti was discovered in the 11th-century monument
The Bhojashala site is under the protection of ASI and is considered to be a Vagdevi (another name for Saraswati Devi) Mandir by Hindus while Islamists claim it to be a ‘mosque/masjid’. According to ASI guidelines issued on 7 April 2003, Muslims are permitted to conduct Friday prayers at the premises, while Hindus are allowed to perform prayers on Tuesdays.
Guards discovered the murti of Devi Saraswati here following which security was increased at the site. However, the administration removed the murti from the site within hours of its discovery leading to a Hindu organization warning of undertaking a protest if the demand of the murti be reinstated inside the Bhojshala was not met.
Dhar’s Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Singh said that tensions flared in the area after security personnel discovered a vigraha of Vagdevi inside the Bhojshala on Sunday. Subsequently, authorities removed the murti, and an investigation is currently underway to identify those responsible for this incident.
Based on a complaint filed by the district administration, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against unidentified individuals under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including house trespassing (Section 456), promoting enmity between different groups (Section 153A), and injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (Section 295).
“In light of the potential escalation of the situation, security at the premises has been increased, and discussions are being held to amicably resolve the issue between the two communities”, Singh told media persons.
Bhuvan Vikram, the ASI regional director for the central region, stated, “We took prompt action and removed the idol. Further action against the security personnel will be taken once the investigation is concluded”.
On Sunday evening, Shehar Qazi Waqar Saddique presented a memorandum to the district administration, urging them to take action on the matter. He stated, “We demand strong action against the culprits and accountability for the security personnel at the site, as this controversy not only pertains to law and order but appears to have an underlying agenda.”
In contrast, Gopal Sharma, a member of the Bhojshala Sangarsh committee, which has been advocating for rights over the monument, criticized the district administration for removing the murti. He remarked, “We saw a photo and video of the idol inside the Bhojshala on Sunday morning, but by the time we arrived, the administration had already taken it away. They should not have confiscated the idol since it is a matter of faith. We have been fighting for a long time to claim the Bhojshala. We will take to the streets if the idol is not reinstated”.
In May 2022, the Hindu Front For Justice, an organization dealing with legal issues concerning the Hindu community, filed a public interest litigation before the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, challenging the ASI’s 2003 decision and seeking permission to conduct daily prayers at the site. The court issued notices to the ASI, the Centre, and the state government regarding this matter, but the state has yet to respond to the petition.
The Hindu Front for Justice’s petition argued that the ongoing existence of a destroyed temple in its current state is causing continuous trauma to worshippers. This situation denies them spiritual fulfilment, puts their lives at risk, subjects them to daily harassment, and instils a feeling of humiliation due to past invaders. The petition asserted that such ongoing wrongs must be corrected under Article 13(1) of the Indian Constitution, which aims to safeguard the life and religious rights guaranteed by Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution.
The discovery of the murti at the Bhojshala has sparked a political controversy, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also demanding its reinstatement. BJP leader Ashok Jain stated, “We demand that the administration restore the idol for people to offer prayers. They have been given a two-day deadline, and if they fail to do so, we will initiate a protest”.
Previous disputes
In February 2016, tensions were reported in the town around Basant Panchami which celebrates Devi Saraswati. “The town of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh is facing a potential communal crisis due to a dispute over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque, a religious site claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. The controversy has arisen because Basant Panchami, a significant Hindu festival celebrating the birthday of Goddess Saraswati, falls on a Friday (February 12)”, reports stated.
An order was issued allowing Hindus to offer prayers at the mosque from dawn to noon and again from 3.30 pm to dusk, with the hours between 1 pm and 3 pm reserved for the weekly Jumma namaz (Friday prayers). However, the arrangement was met with opposition from Hindu activists who demanded that Hindus should have unrestricted access to the shrine throughout the entire day on Basant Panchami for worship.
This is not the first time this issue has arisen because in 2006 and 2013 Basant Panchami fell on a Friday too. Hindus have consistently requested all-day access to the shrine on such occasions, resulting in a series of petitions being filed in the High Court to address the matter.
History of Bhojshala becoming Kamal Maula mosque
The Bhojshala is a historic temple dedicated to Mata Saraswati, the Devi of Knowledge and Wisdom. It was founded by Raja Bhoj, the great emperor of the Parmar dynasty, who was a strong advocate of education and literature. Located in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, which was Raja Bhoj’s capital, Bhojshala was a renowned educational institution that attracted students from across the region.
This temple served as a hub for learning various subjects, including music, Sanskrit, astronomy, yoga, Ayurveda, and philosophy. Bhojshala was a vast educational complex that accommodated thousands of students and scholars.
The present-day Kamal Maulana ‘mosque’, constructed by Muslim conquerors after the temple’s demolition, contains remnants of the original Bhojshala. The mosque’s carved pillars are the same ones that were used in the Bhojshala, and its walls still feature valuable inscriptions. These inscriptions delve deeply into Sanskrit grammar and also praise the emperors who succeeded Raja Bhoj. Some inscriptions include classical Sanskrit with dramatic compositions, notable for their 11th and 12th-century CE characters.
The temple was a focal point of Dharanagari’s 84 squares, a city known for its palaces, temples, universities, theatres, and gardens. The murti of Devi Saraswati is now housed in the London Museum, and this Mata Saraswati shrine was also mentioned in the poems of the royal poet Madan.
Throughout history, Bhojshala faced destruction multiple times at the hands of Muslim rulers. In 1305 CE, Alauddin Khilji demolished Bhojshala, preceded by Muslim influence in the region dating back to 1269 CE. Khilji’s ruthless actions included the massacre of 1200 Hindu students and teachers who refused to convert to Islam, along with the destruction of the temple complex. The current ‘mosque’ is named after the same Kamal Maulana.
In 1401 CE, another Muslim conqueror, Dilawar Khan, attempted to convert a part of the Saraswati Temple Bhojshala into a dargah (an Islamic shrine), and Muslims still perform Namaz at the Vijay Mandir (Surya Martand temple) today. In 1514 CE, Mehmudshah besieged Bhojshala and attempted to transform it into a dargah as well, encroaching on the area outside the Saraswati Temple and establishing the ‘Kamal Moulana Makbara’. This is the basis for the claim that Bhojshala is a Dargah.
Marathas ended Muslim rule in Malwa in 1703 CE, followed by the East India Company’s takeover in 1826 CE. The East India Company also invaded Bhojshala, resulting in the destruction of several monuments and shrines. In 1902, Lord Curzon removed the chief deity’s murti from Bhojshala and transported it to England, where it is currently displayed in a museum in London.
In 1952, the Central Government handed over Bhojshala to the Archaeological Survey of India. Shortly thereafter, campaigns led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Hindu Mahasabha aimed to educate Hindus about the significance of Bhojshala. During this period, Hindus established the Shri Maharaja Bhoj Smruti Vasantotsav Samiti.
In 1961, Padmashri Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar, a renowned archaeologist, artist, writer, and historian, confirmed in London that the Vagdevi vigraha kept there was the original one installed by Raja Bhoj at Bhojshala.
Before 12 March 1997, Hindus were allowed to visit Bhojshala for darshan but were unable to perform puja (worship). However, in 1997, CM Digvijaya Singh issued an order permitting Muslims to offer Namaz at Bhojshala every Friday while restricting Hindus from entering Bhojshala, except during Vasant Panchami.
In April 2003, Bhojshala was reopened to Hindus, allowing them daily darshan but worship with flowers was permitted only on Tuesdays.
(Featured Image Source: Hindustan Times)
