‘Go and pray to Vishnu,’ said the Supreme Court on Tuesday while dismissing a plea restoring the beheaded idol at the Khajuraho complex in Madhya Pradesh. The seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple which is part of the Khajuraho group of monuments.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said that the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
While dismissing the plea, CJI Gavai saids, “Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It’s an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission etc. Sorry,” as reported by Bar And Bench.
As per the reports, the petition was filed by one Rakesh Dalal who pointed out that the idols were desecrated and beheaded by the Islamic invaders and has remained in that condition despite repeated representations to the government.
Khajuraho temple complex
The Khajuraho complex which were originally built by the Chandela kings between the 9th and 12th century CE. After the Chandela dynasty weakened, the political and religious importance and significance of Khajuraho came down.
In 1202, Qutb-ud-din Aibak’s general Iltutmish invaded Bundelkhand. The region was home to the Khajuraho temple complex and temples were destroyed. While the entire temple complex was not ruined, it was damaged to a great extent. Out of the approximately 85 temples built, only about 20-25 survive today.
Now, even after over 75 years of independence, the idol has not been restored. The petitioner argued that refusal to restore the idol violates the devotees’ fundamental right to worship.
Currently, the temple complex is under the jurisdiction of the ASI. The Bench said, “It’s an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not… there are various issues. In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there – there is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho.”
