A petitioner representing the Hindu side has argued before the Madhya Pradesh High Court that the Bhojshala complex is historically a Saraswati temple built by Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty and also functioned as a centre of learning in ancient times.
Claim of Temple Identity and Historical Evidence
During arguments before the division bench, the petitioner’s counsel stated that archaeological findings, inscriptions, idols, and other remains discovered during ASI surveys support the claim that the site was originally a temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati (Vagdevi).
The counsel also referred to historical texts such as Samarangana Sutradhara, attributed to Raja Bhoj, to argue that the structure aligns with Parmar-era temple architecture and traditions.
Demand for Reinstallation of Saraswati Idol
The petitioner further claimed that an idol of goddess Saraswati, originally installed at the site, is currently housed in a museum in London. He urged the court to direct the Central government to bring back the idol and reinstall it at the Bhojshala complex.
Plea on Worship Rights
It was also argued that only Hindus should be permitted to offer prayers at the site, which is currently a disputed protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), with Hindu groups identifying it as a temple and Muslim groups identifying it as the Kamal Maula mosque.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.
