Bhojshala Complex

About Bhojshala Complex: 

• It is located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.
• It was built by Raja Bhoja (1000-1055 A.D.) in 1034 AD, who was the greatest monarch of the Paramara dynasty.
• It served as a university and many students used to come here to learn music, Sanskrit, astronomy, yoga, Ayurveda and philosophy.
• History
  • In 1305 AD, it was for the first time attacked by Alauddin Khilji.
  • In 1514 AD, Mehmudshah Khilji II attacked this complex and tried to convert it into dargah. He encroached land outside Saraswati Temple and built ‘Kamal Moulana’ Makbara.
• Inscriptions found:
  • In the rocks of this complex, two hymns written in Prakrit language of the Karmavatar or crocodile incarnation of Vishnu are engraved.
  • Two Sarpabandha pillar inscriptions, one containing the Sanskrit alphabet and the main endings of nouns and verbs and the other containing the individual declensions of the ten tenses and moods of Sanskrit grammar.
• In 1951, the complex was declared as 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 ASI under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Q1: What is the mandate of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958?

The Act protects monuments and sites that are more than 100 years old, including temples, cemeteries, inscriptions, tombs, forts, palaces, step-wells, rock-cut canes, and even objects like cannons and mile pillars that may be of historical significance.

Source: Existing structure at Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh built from temple remains, says ASI survey