Bharat (India) is a land of timeless values, unyielding courage, and extraordinary individuals whose lives have shaped its journey through the centuries. From the roaring battlefields of ancient empires to the quiet revolutions of poets, scientists, saints, and social reformers, the spirit of this nation has been carried forward by countless heroes some widely celebrated, others nearly forgotten.
Remembering Heroes of Bharat is an initiative of Aryan Books International dedicated to honouring these torchbearers of our collective heritage. Each volume in this series brings to light the lives, struggles, and contributions of those who stood for something greater than themselves freedom fighters, philosophers, kings and queens, visionaries, artists, and unsung heroes who changed the course of history.
In a time when the world moves at a dizzying pace, this series invites readers to pause and reflect to discover or rediscover the legacies that continue to inspire generations. Through carefully researched narratives and engaging storytelling, we aim not only to inform but also to ignite a sense of pride and purpose rooted in the rich soil of Bharat's past.
These are not just stories of the past. They are lessons for the present and beacons for the future. Let us remember and in remembering, honour the true heroes of Bharat.
Meenakshi Jain is a historian interested in cultural and religious developments in Indian history, on which she has authored several books. In 2020, she was awarded Padma Sri by the Government of India for her contributions in the fields of literature and education. In 2025, she was nominated to the Upper House of Parliament.
In the contest over historical narrative, many illustrious personalities have been relegated to the sidelines. Through denied space in academic discourse, they have continued to live in popular memory, particularly in legends and folklore. A significant dimension of the reclamation of civilizational heritage is the rehabilitation of integrators, thinker, rulers, and myriad others into the collective consciousness.
The subject of this book is Raja Bhoja Parmara, the polymath ruler of Malwa in the eleventh century. Besides being a skilled warrior, Raja Bhoja was an accomplished scholar, many of whose texts have come down to us. Ajada, in his commentary on Bhoja's Sarasvati Kanthabharana, states that the king authored eighty-four works. The most well-known of his treatises on art and architecture are Yuktikalpataru and Samaranganasutradhara. Yuktikalpataru deals primarily with architecture, arts, and crafts.
Samaranganasutradhara consists of almost 7,500 Sanskrit verses, arranged into 83 chapters in the version that has come down to us. The title can be interpreted in two ways: 'Architect of Human Dwelling' and 'Stage Manager of Battlefields. As with the ancient textual tradition, Samaranganasutradhara seems to have incorporated older works, but most of the material belongs to the time of Bhoja.
Bhoja has also left behind a rich architectural legacy; he is said to have built 104 temples. Among his most celebrated constructions is Bhojashala, a temple and centre of Sanskrit learning in Dhar. Bhojashala is linked with Sarasvati, whose shrine believed to have been situated within its precincts. When built, Bhojashala was roughly 200 feet long and 117 feet wide; located in the premises was a large well, the Akkal-kui or well of wisdom.
In its report of 1903-04, the Archeological Survey of India noted the strong evidence of a Hindu structure at the site (Archaeological Survey Reports; A.S.R. 1903-04: 44). The Report recorded the 'fortunate chance' discovery of Sanskrit inscriptions which were used as flooring when Bhojashala was converted into a mosque. Also found were inscriptions along the side and back wall of the mihrab (Archaeological Survey Reports; A.S.R. 1903-04:18).
When the slabs were detached from the structure, they revealed two Prakrit poems consisting of two odes, each of 109 stanzas. The odes, called Avani kurmmasatakam were devoted to the tortoise incarnation of Vishnu (Archaeological Survey of India 2024:483-500). The odes were said to be Bhoja's composition.
The discovery of two Serpobandhi (Sarpabandha) serpentine pillar inscriptions at Bhojashala, confirmed the long-held tradition of the existence of Bhoja's school at the site.
Also uncovered was an inscription of eighty-two lines. It contains the first two acts of a previously unknown drama (Parijata Manjari) of Rajaguru Madana, a well-known literary figure in the court of Arjunavarman, the Paramara king of Dhar, himself a litterateur and literary critic like his predecessor, Raja Bhojadeva.
Associated with Bhojashala is the question of the fate of the image of Sarasvati, goddess of learning and wisdom. An image presently in British Museum is commonly believed to have been from the Bhojashala.
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