MP: Krishna idol found in Bhojshala complex during ASI survey, says Hindu body
Bhopal: In the fresh finding in the survey of the controversial Bhojshala temple- Kamal Maula mosque complex in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh, three ‘archaeological remains’ including an idol of Lord Krishna was found, an activist of a Hindu outfit said on Friday.
Gopal Sharma who was present during the survey of the 13th century monument by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as one of the representatives of the Hindu side, told this newspaper that three remains related to Hindu religion were found at the north-east side of the Bhojshala temple during excavation by the ASI on Thursday.
“Three archaeological remains were found during excavation by ASI in the north-east side of the complex on Thursday. They were found barely five ft from the sanctum sanctorum of the Bhojshala temple”, he said.
The three fresh findings found in the ASI-protected monument complex included one granite idol of Lord Krishna measuring 1.5 ft long and 0.5ft wide, one idol of a pair of Yakshas (Hindu mythological characters) measuring around one ft and a piece of a pillar, Mr Sharma, coordinator of Bhojshala Mukti Yagna, said.
According to him, the idol of Krishna was in the perfect shape while one of the two Yakshas carved on a hematite stone was found to be damaged.
“ASI has taken in its possession the three remains for preservation”, he added.
According to Mr Sharma, on June nine, more than 79 ‘archaeological remains’ including idols of Hindu gods such as Ganesh, Bhairavnath, Mahisasurmardhan, Hanuman and Brahma were recovered during the survey of the complex by ASI.
Similarly, on June ten, images of Sanatan religion signs such as ‘Trishul’ (triad), ‘sankha chakra’ (conch and wheel), lotus, turtle and cow, carved on stones, were recovered at the monument site.
Meanwhile, the Muslim side has strongly protested the excavation of the site by the ASI alleging that it violated the guidelines set by the Madhya Pradesh high court for the scientific survey of the monument.
“We will seek legal action against ASI for violation of the guidelines by doing excavations in the site. Some ‘vested interests’ have also launched propaganda on the recovery of remains”, local city Qazi Waqqar Siddiq has said.
The scientific survey of the monument by the ASI began around three months ago following a directive by the Madhya Pradesh high court which sought to ascertain if a mosque was built at the site by destroying a temple.