Indore, Apr 15 (PTI) A Hindu petitioner claimed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday that the structure of the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar district exactly matches the standards for temple construction set in ‘Samarangana Sutradhara’ book written by 11th-century king Raja Bhoj.
Describing the 11th-century monument as essentially a “Saraswati temple-cum-Sanskrit study centre”, the petitioner urged the court to grant only Hindus the right to worship there.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side calls it the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The Indore bench of the HC has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal since April 6, contesting the dispute over the religious nature of Bhojshala. The arguments of the petitioners are being heard first.
Manish Gupta, the lawyer representing Kuldeep Tiwari, one of the Hindu petitioners, repeatedly referred to Raja Bhoj’s book “Samarangana Sutradhara” in his detailed arguments before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi.
This book is based on the distinctive architecture of temples, sculptures, cities, palaces, towns and houses during the Parmar period.
Gupta cited the ASI’s scientific survey report of the Bhojshala complex and claimed that the foundation bricks of this building, made of stone blocks, and the bricks of the “havankund” (sacred fire pit) located in the centre of the complex were from the same kiln.
“This means that the havankund existed in the complex from the very beginning. The havankund was built according to the standards set by Raja Bhoj in the book “Samarangana Sutradhara”. Similarly, the entrance and sanctum sanctorum of the complex were also constructed according to these standards,” he said.
Bhojshala, established by Raja Bhoj, a ruler of medieval India, is also referred to in historical texts as “Saraswati Kanthabharana” or “Sharda Sadan”, Gupta said.
He said the ASI’s scientific survey report, historical documents and Raja Bhoj’s own book prove that the Bhojshala complex was originally a Saraswati temple and a Sanskrit learning centre, where scholars exchanged knowledge.
“According to legal provisions, once a temple is established at a place, it remains a temple forever. Therefore, only Hindus should have the right to worship at Bhojshala,” the lawyer representing the Hindu side said.
Rejecting the Muslim side’s claim on Bhojshala, he said Islamic teachings state that a mosque cannot be built by forcibly occupying a place.
He cited various historical texts and the 1908 Government Gazette to support his arguments.
Gupta cited the Supreme Court’s decision in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case and said that authentic literature and documents have legal recognition. PTI HWP MAS NP
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