Jaipur: A delegation of Jain monks accompanied by Sangh parivar outfits visited the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Rajasthan’s Ajmer on Tuesday (May 7). After inspecting the compound of the historic monument, they claimed that a Sanskrit school had once existed at the site with Jain temples.
Following Jain monk Sunil Sagar’s visit to the monument, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Ajmer picked up the issue and demanded that the monument be conserved on the lines of Ayodhya, Kashi Vishwanath and Mathura.
“We saw idols of tirthankaras, gods and goddesses, resembling Ganesh ji, or Yaksha. We couldn’t go inside the rooms where these idols are kept because the key wasn’t there. Our visit to the place was successful. There was a time when the Mughals had huge influence and it is possible that it is called Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra because they changed the old structure and gave it a new look within a very short time. If a balance is created then once again a Sanskrit school, Bhartiya gaurav (pride) should be established at the place,” Sagar told reporters after his visit.
Sagar said that it is suspected that more idols could be buried near the monument and excavation should be undertaken to discover them.
“Several youths from the city were with us. Muslim community members also assembled. I said that everyone should live in peace but everyone should respect each other’s sanskars and those things should be returned to whom it belongs,” said Sagar.
The Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is presently under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
“It is actually a Masjid built by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi, in AD 1199 contemporary to the another one built at Qutub-Minar complex of Delhi known as Quwal-ul-Islam mosque (power of Islam). Sultan Iltutmish had subsequently beautified it in AD 1213 with a screen pierced by corbelled engrailed arches which appears in this country for the first time,” says the website of ASI Jaipur Circle in its description of Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra.
“However, a large number of architectural members and sculptures of temples are lying inside the verandah of the complex for safety and security purposes by the department which shows the existence of a Hindu temple in its vicinity during circa 11th-12th century AD. This mosque, built from the dismantled remains of temples, is known as Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra possibly from the fact that a fair used to be held here for two and a half days,” the description adds.
The Jain monks were accompanied by locals and members of the Sangh Parivar including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders from Ajmer.
“It is clearly mentioned in history that the Kanthabharan Sanskrit school was situated here. We went with Sunil Sagar Maharaj to inspect the compound. Some persons from the Muslim community objected to us entering the monument saying that they offer Namaaz at the place and suggested that the monks cover their bodies. We told them that we have no intention to disrupt namaaz but the Digambara Jain monks won’t cover their bodies. Thereafter, people from the Muslim community covered the place where they offer Namaaz with sheets while we inspected the compound,” said Advocate Shashi Prakash Indoria, Saha Prant Mantri, VHP, Chittorgarh Prant.
While the VHP said that it will decide its further course of action according to the guidance of Sagar, BJP leaders demanded reestablishment of the said Sanskrit school and temple.
“The so called Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra used to be the Kanthabharan Sanskrit school. It was destroyed and occupied by miscreants. We had demanded earlier as well to the central and Rajasthan government that since the place is under ASI, it should be developed on the lines of Kashi Vishwanath and Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura. More than 200 idols of gods and goddesses from the place are with the ASI and they should once again be established and illegal encroachments removed,” said BJP leader and Ajmer deputy mayor Neeraj Jain.
