After the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid and Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Masjid disputes, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has given a pass certificate to the Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh as a Hindu temple. In its scientific survey report submitted to the court, the ASI said that several historical artefacts and idols have been recovered from the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula Masjid premises.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted the 2,000-page survey report to the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday.
Senior advocate Harishankar Jain, appearing for the Hindus, said more than 94 vandalised idols were recovered. This, he claimed, proves that the site was a Hindu temple in the past. Hindus should be allowed to worship there.
He added, "Today is a very pleasant day. The ASI today clarified that the place was used as a Hindu temple. Terming the namaz allowed by the ASI in 2003 to be held illegal, Jain said more than 94 broken idols were recovered. Those who have seen them will say that it was a Hindu temple.
On July 4, the high court directed the ASI to submit a scientific survey report on the disputed structure by July 15. ASI counsel Himanshu Joshi submitted the complete report to the court registry. On March 11, the court directed the company to conduct the survey.
According to the report, 31 coins were found in addition to the statue during the survey. They are made of silver, copper, aluminium, and steel. The coins are from the Indo-Sasanian period of the 10th–11th centuries, the Delhi Sultanate period of the 13th–14th centuries, then Malwa, Mughal, Dhar Pradesh, and the British period. The parts of the idols recovered are Ganesha, Brahma, Narasimha, Bhairava, and other deities, human and animal. The animal shapes that have been found are lions, horses, elephants, dogs, monkeys, snakes, turtles, ducks, and birds. Fragments of some other statues, including Kirtimukh, have also been found.
Some inscriptions written in Sanskrit and Prakrit have been recovered. One inscription dates from the time of King Naravarman and one from the time of Mahmud Shah. This construction was established as a temple or educational institution of Bagdevi or Saraswati during the reign of King Bhoja. On the other hand, Muslims claim that it is the Kamal Maula Mosque. For the last 21 years, Hindus have been offering prayers on Tuesdays and Muslims have been offering prayers on Fridays.