Devotees Return To Bhojshala Complex After Court Declares Site A Hindu Temple

Devotees have started offering prayers at the Bhojshala complex in Dhar after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that the disputed site is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi/Saraswati and an ancient centre of Sanskrit learning.

The judgment has triggered emotional celebrations among Hindu groups, many of whom described the verdict as a historic moment after decades of legal and religious dispute.

What happened

• The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that the religious character of the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex is that of:
  • A Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
  • A centre of Sanskrit learning
• Following the verdict, devotees began entering the complex to offer prayers.
• The court also struck down a 2003 ASI order that:
  • Allowed Hindu worship only on Tuesdays
  • Permitted Muslim prayers on Fridays

What the court said

The High Court relied on:

• Archaeological findings from the Archaeological Survey of India
• Historical and literary records
• Principles referenced in the Ayodhya Verdict

The court observed that:

• Historical records linked the site to Raja Bhoj
• References existed to a Saraswati temple at the location
• The site should remain protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act

Major directions issued

The court directed:

• ASI to continue supervising preservation and access management
• The Union government and ASI to manage the site as a Bhojshala temple and Sanskrit learning centre
• Alternative land to be identified in Dhar district for construction of a mosque

Reactions from devotees

Several Hindu organisations and devotees celebrated the verdict emotionally.

Members of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti and Bhojshala Mukti Yagna movement said:

• The verdict ended centuries of struggle
• Daily prayers would continue at the site
• Efforts would continue for “full restoration” of Bhojshala’s historical form

Why it matters

• The verdict could become another major legal reference point in religious property disputes in India.
• The judgment draws direct legal parallels with principles used in the Ayodhya case.
• The issue carries significant religious, historical and political sensitivity in Madhya Pradesh and beyond.

Who is affected

• Hindu and Muslim communities connected to the site
• Local residents in Dhar
• Archaeological and heritage authorities
• Political and religious organisations monitoring similar disputes

What to watch next

Attention now shifts to implementation of the High Court’s directions, including ASI management plans, worship arrangements and the process for identifying alternate land for mosque construction.