Context:

=> The Madhya Pradesh high court has issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Centre and the state government on a petition pertaining to the dispute over the monument of Bhojshala in state’s Dhar district.

Key Points:

=> Bhojshala is an ASI protected 11th century monument, which Hindus claim is a temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community treats it as Kamal Maula Mosque.

=> The name is derived from the celebrated king Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty of central India, a patron of education and the arts, to whom major Sanskrit works on poetics, yoga and architecture are attributed.

=> As per the arrangement made by the ASI on April 7, 2003, Hindus perform puja in the premises every Tuesday, while Muslims offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED