Security increased after the discovery of an idol of Vagdevi at ‘disputed’ Bhojshla site in MP.

MP: Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) idol found inside Bhojshala; idol removed by the administration within an hour. Hindu organisations protested. 

Radhika Gupta | HENB | Bhopal | Sept 12, 2023:: An idol of Vagdevi (goddess Saraswati) was found inside the Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district.

Security was stepped up at Bhojshala and Kamal Maula’s ‘mosque’ in Dhar district after an idol of Vagdevi (goddess Saraswati) was found by the guards inside the 11th-century monument, police said on Monday.

“Tension broke out in the area after an idol of Vagdevi was found inside the Bhojshala by security personnel on Sunday. The idol was subsequently removed by authorities. A probe is underway and we are trying to identify the people behind this act,” Dhar SP Manoj Kumar Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“We have stepped up security at the premises in view of possible escalation of the matter and are holding discussions to resolve the issue between the two communities amicably,” Singh added.

While ASI regional director central Bhuvan Vikram said, “We took immediate action and removed the idol. The action against security personnel will be taken after a probe into the matter is completed.”

Police said that an FIR was registered under section 456 (house trespassing), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) of IPC against unidentified people on the basis of a complaint by the district administration.

Gopal Sharma, a member of Bhojshala Sangarsh committee, which has been fighting to reclaim the monument, criticised the district administration for removing the idol. “We saw a photo and video of the idol inside the Bhojshala on Sunday morning but by the time we reached, the administration had removed it. They shouldn’t have seized the idol because it is a matter of faith. We have been fighting for a long time (to reclaim the Bhojshala),” he said.

On Sunday evening, Shehar qazi Waqar Saddique handed over a memorandum to the district administration, seeking action in the matter. “We demand tough action against the accused and also action against the security personnel at the site since this controversy does not only concern law and order but appears to have a hidden agenda,” he said.

The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Under ASI guidelines issued on April 7, 2003, Muslims are allowed to offer namaz at the premises on Fridays and Hindus are allowed to perform prayers on Tuesdays.

The Bhojshala was 200 feet in length and 118 feet in width, on which several texts “Kurmashartaka, Bhrathari ki Karika, etc.” were carved in stone inscriptions. It was founded by Raja Bhoj according to its history on record. The pillars and other parts date to the 11-12th century, with the different designs of Indian architectural style. Bhojshala where students from far and near flocked to quench their intellectual thirst. It was later attacked by the Islamic rulers and a make-shift mosque was built in the Bhojshala premises.

The real statue of Vagdevi/Saraswati was found in 1875 during an excavation near Bhojshala. After this, in 1902, Lord Curzon took away this idol from Bhojshala and kept it in England. It is clear that this statue was built in the Chandranagri Dhara of King Bhoja by the architect Hirsut Manthal as per folklore.

Before coming to power, the present CM of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Sing Chouhan promised many times for the restoration of Bhojshala Temple removing the impugned Kamal Maula mosque in Dhar.  But, he has forgotten his promise after being the  Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for over 20 years, most probably.

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__Inputs from  Hindustan Times, HJS Web Site & Wikipedia.