The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday submitted before the Madhya Pradesh High Court its scientific survey report on the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex.
According to the report, the pre-existing structure dates to the Paramara period, which was a hub of literary and educational activities. Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, who discussed the survey report, claimed over 94 broken idols were recovered from the site.
" Today is a very happy occasion...it has been clear by the (ASI) report today that there used to be a Hindu temple...only Hindu puja should take place there. The ASI order of 2003 allowing namaz is illegal...more than 94 broken idols were recovered from there...anybody who sees those things can easily say that there used to be a temple there..." he told ANI.
In this temple-mosque dispute in tribal-dominated Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, the ASI said its study of the site showed that the mosque wall, or “mihrab”, is a “new structure” as it is made of a different material than the entire structure.
On July 4, the High Court had directed the ASI to present the complete report by July 15. This came after the HC’s March 11 ruling that asked the ASI to conduct the survey based on an application by the “Hindu Front for Justice”.
According to the Hindu side, the Bhojshala is a temple dedicated to Vag Devi (Goddess Saraswati) while the Muslim community considers it to be the Kamal Maula Mosque.
Here are details from the ASI report, according to News18.
Sanskrit inscriptions damaged: Many large-sized inscriptions in Sanskrit and Prakrit were damaged and reused. These large slabs were reused on the floor or the wall veneer by chiselling written surfaces. Several inscriptions from the pre-existing structures were noticed and copied for the existing structure.
Pillars of a pre-existing temple reused in the mosque: A variety of pillars and pilasters of different sizes and designs are reused to construct colonnades of the present structure. For achieving the desired height, two pieces of shafts were put one above the other. The art and architecture suggest that they were originally part of temples, stated the report.
Sculptures of Ganesha, other Hindu gods found on site: A total of 94 sculptures, sculptural fragments, and architectural members with sculptural depiction were noted in the investigation. They are made of basalt, marble, schist, soft stone, sandstone and limestone. Images carved on these included Ganesha, Brahma with his consorts, Narasimha, Bhairava, other gods and goddesses, human and animal figures.
Large structures with literary and educational activities existed on site: Architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars among other examples, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed on site, stated the ASI.