MP High Court Declares Bhojshala Site As Temple

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 15 May 2026 declared the disputed Bhojshala Temple–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati and struck down the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) 2003 arrangement that permitted Muslims to offer namaz at the site.

The court ruled that while the ASI would continue to retain administrative control and maintain the monument, the right to perform religious rituals would remain with the Hindu side.

The court also advised the Muslim community to approach the state government for allotment of separate land in Dhar district for the construction of a mosque.

Court’s Observations

The High Court observed that the continuity of Hindu worship at the site had never been extinguished.

Referring to historical and literary evidence, the court held that the disputed structure originally functioned as Bhojshala, a renowned centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty.

Historical Background

The Hindu community regards Bhojshala as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati established by the scholar-king Raja Bhoj.

The Muslim side, however, has maintained that the site has functioned as the Kamal Maula Mosque for centuries.

Saraswati Idol in the British Museum

The court directed the government to undertake formal efforts for the repatriation of the ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati currently housed in the British Museum in London.

The idol was originally installed at Bhojshala during the reign of Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty between 1010 and 1055 AD, when the site flourished as an important educational and cultural centre.

Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence

Several important inscriptions and literary compositions have reportedly been recovered from engraved stone slabs fixed on the walls of the structure.

These include two Prakrit odes dedicated to the Kurmavatara (tortoise incarnation) of Vishnu and two Sarpabandha pillar inscriptions. 

One inscription contains Sanskrit alphabets, chief inflectional terminations of Sanskrit nouns and verbs. The second inscription contains personal terminations of the ten tenses and moods of Sanskrit grammar

According to the court, these inscriptions belong to the 11th–12th Century AD and support the historical and educational significance of Bhojshala during the Parmar period.

Sources: NDTV & MP Government