Kamal Maula Mosque at MP's Bhojshala built using parts of ancient temples, says Archaeological Survey of India

INDORE: Archaeological Survey of India has concluded that the Kamal Maula Mosque at Bhojshala complex in MP’s Dhar was constructed using parts of ancient temples, “based on scientific investigations, survey and excavation, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, inscriptions, art and sculptures”.

The existing structure was built centuries later “without much attention to symmetry, design, or uniformity”, says the ASI report submitted to Indore bench of MP HC in 2024. TOI has a copy.

On Monday, the bench, while hearing the petition on the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque dispute, directed that the ASI report should be made available to all parties. Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi directed all parties to file objections, suggestions, opinions and recommendations in two weeks, with the next hearing fixed for March 16.

Hindu Front for Justice state vice-president Ashish Goyal, also a petitioner, said, “The survey conducted by ASI — the report that has come out — establishes that the entire structure dates back to the Paramara dynasty. It was built by Raja Bhoj, and also by his forefathers. The structure is approximately 950 to 1,000 years old.”

“This report is deeply encouraging for the Hindu community. Very soon, this decisive battle will reach a conclusion,” Goyal said.

“It should not matter whether the report has been opened now or earlier. What should matter is what the religious character of Bhojshala would be. This is the issue on which the Hindu community has been struggling for years,” he added.

Another petitioner, Bhoj Utsav Samiti convenor Ashok Jain, said, “We had filed the petition with the notion that if the place was a mosque, it should be given to them (Muslims) and if it is a temple it should come to us. Now the court has given two weeks for all to reply. We will take appropriate steps after the next hearing.”

“The report establishes that in the later structures that were constructed, materials and remains from the original Bhojshala of that period were used after being dismantled,” Jain said.

The 2,000-page report in 10 volumes was prepared by ASI additional director general Alok Tripathi, with contributions from Zulfiqar Ali, Bhuvan Vikram, Gautami Bhattacharya, Manoj Kumar Kurmi, Izhar Alam Hashmi, Aftab Hussain, Shambhoo Nath Yadav and Niraj Kumar Mishra.

The team used the latest scientific techniques to excavate, study and enlist the findings during the 98-day survey and hinted that it may have been a temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati.

ASI found a total of 94 sculptures and sculptural fragments, many of which were chiselled out or defaced. Sculptures of fourarmed deities were carved on windows, pillars and beam used in the existing structure.

Images carved on these included Ganesh, Brahma with his consorts, Narasimha, Bhairava, gods and goddesses, human and animal figures. Images of animals in different mediums include lion, elephant, horse, dog, monkey, snake, tortoise, swan, and bird, the report said, adding that mythical and composite figures include a variety of motifs called kirtimukhas — human-faced, lion-faced and composite-faced — and vyala of different shapes.