Is Bijamandal Shaping As Another Dhar Bhojshala Saraswati Temple Movement?

Bijamandal: An Ancient Temple Under Threat. But Hindus Are Striving For Its Restoration.

Upananda Brahmachari

In the heart of Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, lies the ancient Bijamandal temple (actually Vijay Mandal Surya Temple), a magnificent structure built by the Chalukya dynasty in the 6th century. Despite facing numerous attacks by Muslim invaders, the temple has been rebuilt and restored by the local Hindu community time and again. However, its identity is now under threat. Revelations suggest that this temple was the epicenter of research places for Indian astrology and a planetarium, including a sun temple that gradually established itself as a worship place for Panch Devatas (Ganatapi, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti according to the Panchayatan puja system) and worship places for Sapt Matrika and 64 Yoginis. The Bijamandal temple was also famous for its Tantric cult in the past.

A Glorious Past

Once a grand and sprawling temple, Bijamandal was renowned for its beauty and was one of the largest temples in the country. However, it has been locked away for over a century, and the Hindu community’s pleas for worship rights have fallen on deaf ears.

Alberuni Also Described Its Grandeur

Senior historian and journalist Arvind Kumar Sharma says that the oldest evidence found in history about the temple is the documents of Alberuni, who came with Mahmud Ghazni in 1024. He described this temple in detail. Famous historian Minhazuddin has also written about the grandeur of this temple, from which it is known that seeing its splendor, Muslim attackers who considered idol worship haram attacked it continuously. An ASI board placed outside tells that Vijay Mandir was built in the eighth century. In the 11th century, King Narvarman of the Parmar dynasty had it rebuilt, and in 1682 AD, Aurangzeb left no stone unturned in destroying it, even getting it blown up with cannons.

A History of Islamic Attacks

The temple has faced numerous attacks by Muslim invaders, including those by Iltutmish, Alauddin Khilji, and Aurangzeb. Each time, the temple was destroyed, but the local Hindu community rebuilt it, preserving their glorious past. Many reports suggest that the process of demolishing this temple was started by the Muslim invaders of the Delhi Sultanate. After the death of Aurangzeb, in 1760 AD, when the Peshwa came to Bhelsa, its mosque form was destroyed, and the Hindus of the Bhoi caste started worshipping it with roti and bhaji, considering it a mother’s temple. At the same time, due to the discovery of broken idols and inscriptions of goddesses like Charchika Mata, Mahishasur Mardini, etc., it also came to be known as the temple of Charchika Devi, Vijaya Devi, Bijasan Devi.

Muslims Tried to Make It Controversial in 1922 and Hindu Mahasabha Opposed Vehemently

In 1922, Muslims started offering namaz here and began opposing the worship done by Hindus. After 1947, a struggle was waged by the Hindu Mahasabha to acquire it, after which Vijay Mandir was taken under government control. The temple gives the impression of the Konark temple. By looking at its premises at present, it can be easily understood that this temple is much bigger than the temples of Khajuraho. It gives the impression of being huge, like the Sun Temple of Konark. A recent statement of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) came out regarding this temple, in which it was said that it will be made a tourism spot, which has been opposed by the local residents here.

Demand of Hindu Faith, This Temple Should Get Its Grand Form Back

Local people say that if it is made a tourism spot without building a temple, then it will just remain a place for dancing, singing, taking selfies, and drinking alcohol. This place used to connect Vidisha to ten directions of the country, hence it is very important from the point of view of archeology as well. Therefore, instead of making this Bijamandal, i.e., Vijay Mandir, a tourism spot, a grand Hindu temple like the ancient times should be built here by getting a survey done again by ASI, so that its grandeur can be brought back again.

Current State

Despite its rich history and cultural significance, the temple’s identity has been distorted, and it is now listed as a mosque in government documents. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared it a “non-living monument,” and worship is restricted to just one day a year. The controversy also revolves around the ASI’s classification of the site as a mosque, despite the fact that Muslims have not prayed here for centuries. The temple’s history and cultural significance are well-documented, with references in ancient texts and accounts of its destruction and restoration.

The Need for Restoration

It’s time to restore Bijamandal to its former glory and recognize its significance as a symbol of Hindu heritage and culture. The government should reconsider its classification and allow the Hindu community to worship and perform rituals at the temple.

Bijamandal Is Shaping as Another Dhar Bhojshala Saraswati Temple Movement?

Since August 2024, the people’s aspiration to free Bijamandal temples is shaping as another Dhar Bhojshala Bagdevi temple movement. In August 2024, when Hindus requested permission to worship inside the temple on Nag Panchami, the district collector denied the request, citing the ASI’s classification of the site as a mosque. The collector’s letter to the police superintendent warned that anyone attempting to worship at the site could face two years of imprisonment or a fine of one lakh rupees. The movement was led by Dr. Shubham Verma, a local Hindutvavadi leader and researcher on Vijaya Mandal Surya Temple under the banner of Sakal Hindu Samaj, which made a sensation in the Hindu public who have been fighting for their worship rights for a long time in the Bijamandal temple. Even after police repression, the Hindu youths in the movement are not ready to let it go to the hands of the Muslim ecosystem. The Bijamandal Temple movement has been now strengthened by many including Arun Arav Sharma, Abhay Acharya, Manoj Kaushal Soni, Nitesh Raghuwanshi, Narayan and other Dharmabhimanis (devout Hindus) of Vidisha.

Demand for Hindu Worship Rights

Local Hindus are demanding the right to worship at the temple, arguing that they have been doing so for centuries without any issues. They claim that the ASI’s classification as a mosque is an attempt to erase their cultural heritage.

A Call to Action

Now, Hindus are united and have come together to preserve their cultural heritage and ensure that ancient temples like Bijamandal are protected and respected for their historical and spiritual significance. In a recent meeting of this writer with Dr. Subham Verma in Bengaluru’s Sri Sri Ravishankar Ashram, it has been confirmed that the Sakal Hindu Samaj members will knock on the door of the court of law for the restoration of Hindu Dharmik Adhikar for Puja-Archan (Hindu Religious Rights for worship) in the Bijamandal temple as soon as possible.

Yes, Bijamandal is shaping up as another Dhar Bhojshala Saraswati Temple movement in Madhya Pradesh, and it is gaining momentum.
__