Survey work is going on in the historic Bhojshala in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Geological Survey of India from Hyderabad conducted a survey using a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) machine near the entrance. A place was also excavated in the northern part of the campus. During this time, three remains of pillars of special texture have been found in the ground. A special shape is made on all three pieces.
According to the information, the team entered the canteen at 8 am. The team surveyed within a radius of 50 meters from the GPR machine. Videography and photography of the survey is being done. At the same time, the Geological Survey of India team has prepared the report of the GPR survey conducted within four days, although the final report will be prepared in the lab itself. It may take a few more days. It is based on this main report that the ASI team will decide to dig at new locations in Bhojshala.
Hindu Party’s Gopal Sharma said that work was done on the inner and outer premises of the canteen on May 29. Soil removal work has been done in the northern part. Photography of other main places, including the sanctum sanctorum, was done. 1500 small and big remains, symbols of Hindu gods and goddesses, finely carved stones, two pillar bases, a three-foot-long sword, and some coins have been found in excavations.
Earlier on March 11 this year, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had directed the ASI to carry out a scientific survey of the Bhojshala. This survey will run till June 27. The ‘Hindu Front for Justice’ had demanded a scientific investigation, survey, excavation or ground penetrating radar survey of the nearly 1000-year-old Bhojshala complex. Hindu organisations had said in the court that there is a temple of Saraswati Mata in Bhojshala. To strengthen its claim, the Hindu party also presented colourful photographs of the Bhojshala before the High Court.
On the 64th day of the Archaeological Survey of India’s investigation into the historic Bhojshala complex, significant discoveries were made in the site’s northern and southern parts. The survey unearthed stone remains of pillars in the northern section and additional remains in the sanctum sanctorum. Gopal Sharma, Secretary of the Maharaja Bhoj Sewa Samiti and a key petitioner noted that the shapes and symbols on these remains resemble the existing pillars of Bhojshala. Experts are now calculating the age and historical significance of these artefacts.
The Paramara dynasty, ruling from the 10th to 13th centuries in Central India with their capital in Dhar (now Madhya Pradesh), is renowned for its contributions to art and architecture. King Bhoja, the most celebrated ruler, constructed a temple dedicated to Saraswati (Vagdevi), the goddess of knowledge, in the 11th century. This temple became a significant education centre, attracting pilgrims from distant regions. However, it suffered damage during Islamic invasions in the medieval period.
