In a surprising turn of events, an Ashtadhatu idol of Goddess Vagdevi was surreptitiously installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the highly sensitive Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Saturday. The idol allegedly remained there for several hours before being removed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials later that evening.
Ritual Materials Found Near Idol
Flowers, akshat (rice grains), and other puja materials were discovered near the idol, suggesting that rituals had been performed. This development comes weeks after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, raising serious questions about security arrangements at the protected monument.
Security Lapses Under Scrutiny
Officials have yet to ascertain who brought the idol, when it was installed, and how the act escaped notice for several hours. At Bhojshala, police personnel guard the monument’s outer periphery while ASI staff monitor the interior premises. No individual or organisation has yet claimed responsibility for placing the idol inside the complex. ASI chief archaeologist Prashant Patankar refused to comment on the matter.
No Police Case Registered
In the absence of concrete ASI guidelines on objects allowed inside the Bhojshala complex, no police case was registered, said Dhar Kotwali SHO Dipak Singh Chohan. “Once guidelines are issued, police and other personnel deployed to guard the monument will ensure that no prohibited article reaches inside,” he explained.
High Court's Previous Order
The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in its May 15 order, observed that the Centre may consider representations seeking the return of the original Vagdevi idol from London and its re-establishment at the site. Following the verdict, the Hindu community began offering prayers at the monument and installed a replica of the Vagdevi idol.
Bhoj Utsav Samiti Distances Itself
The Bhoj Utsav Samiti has distanced itself from the recent development. “Our organisation has no connection with the idol found inside Bhojshala. Devotees are already worshipping a symbolic form of Goddess Vagdevi that was installed earlier this month,” said convenor Gopal Sharma.
The incident has highlighted the need for stricter security measures and clear guidelines at the historic site, which remains a focal point of religious and archaeological significance.
