Bhojshala Complex

Source- This post on the Bhojshala Complex has been created based on the article “Existing structure at Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh built from temple remains, says ASI survey” published on “The Hindu” on 18 July 2024.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) stated in its scientific survey report that the existing structure at the Bhojshala complex was constructed using remains of an earlier temple.

About Bhojshala Complex

1. Location: The Bhojshala Complex is located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.

2. Historical Significance:

i) It was built in 1034 AD by Raja Bhoja (1000-1055 A.D.) who was the greatest monarch of the Paramara dynasty.

ii) It served as a university where students came to learn music, Sanskrit, astronomy, yoga, Ayurveda, and philosophy.

iii) The complex was first attacked by Alauddin Khilji in 1305 AD. In 1514 AD, Mehmudshah Khilji II attacked the complex and tried to convert it into a dargah. He encroached on land outside the Saraswati Temple and built the ‘Kamal Moulana’ Makbara.

3. Inscriptions:

i) Two hymns written in Prakrit, related to the Karmavatar (crocodile incarnation of Vishnu), are engraved in the rocks of the complex.

ii) One inscription contains the Sanskrit alphabet and the main endings of nouns and verbs. Another inscription contains the individual declensions of the ten tenses and moods of Sanskrit grammar.

4. Legal Protection

In 1951, the complex was declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Declaration of National Importance) Act, 1951.

It is currently protected by the ASI under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

UPSC Syllabus: Art and culture