Hindu petitioners involved in the Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Mosque complex case in Dhar have confirmed that the idol of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) will be reinstated at Bhojshala. This decision follows the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s ruling that the Bhojshala complex is a Hindu temple belonging to King Bhoj, overturning the Archaeological Survey of India’s permission for Muslim prayers there.
Moreover, the MP High Court has instructed the government to take formal steps to bring back the ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati from the British Museum in London. This idol, originally placed by King Bhoj between 1010 and 1055 AD, marked the site as a prominent center of learning.
One of the petitioners, Kuldeep Tiwari, explained that the idol of Goddess Vagdevi is a common feature in the homes of the Goddess’s devotees and resembles the one installed by Maharaja Bhoj during the temple’s inception. He highlighted that the current idol is a replica of the original one housed in the British Museum, as many idols were destroyed during past invasions.
Rajesh Bijwe, another petitioner, mentioned that the original idol of Goddess Vagdevi, initially placed at the site, was taken by the British. He stated that a replica has been brought back, and preparations are underway for its reinstallation, emphasizing the historical importance of the site.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu group, hailed the High Court’s decision as a historic outcome after a lengthy legal battle and ASI’s extensive survey report. The court’s recognition of the Bhojshala complex as a Sanskrit learning school, Hindu temple, and King Bhoj’s property was lauded by Jain.
The court has allowed the Muslim community to appeal to the government for space if they require a mosque, with the government having the authority to decide on providing alternative land. Additionally, the court rejected a petition from the Jain community, approving only two writ petitions from the Hindu front and Kuldeep Tiwari, while dismissing four petitions from the Muslim and Jain communities.
