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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Hyderabad, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Bhagyalakshmi Temple
| image = Snap from Charminar Hyderabad 3711.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Bhagyalakshmi Temple, Hyderabad
| map_type = India Telangana
| map_caption = Location within Telangana
| coordinates = {{coord|17|21|41|N|78|28|28|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Telangana]]
| district = [[Hyderabad District, India|Hyderabad]]
| locale =Charminar, Ghansi Bazaar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500002
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Lakshmi|Bhagyalakshmi]]
| festivals=
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =1
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| temple_board =
| website =
}}
[[File:Bhagya Lakshmi temple.jpg|thumb|Goddess Bhagyalakshmi]]
'''Bhagyalakshmi temple''' is a shrine dedicated to a [[Hindu]] goddess located in [[Hyderabad, India]]. This temple is located adjacent to the city's historic monument [[Charminar]]. Charminar is under care of [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI), while a Hindu trust manages the temple dedicated to the Goddess [[Lakshmi|Bhagyalakshmi]]. The origin of the temple is currently disputed and the current structure that houses the idol was erected in the 1960s. In 2012, [[Telangana High Court]] stopped any further expansion of the temple.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/> In 2013, ASI declared the temple structure as an unauthorised construction.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mohammed |first1=Syed |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/no-records-of-chilla-adjacent-to-charminar-says-asi/article33864233.ece|title=Bhagyalakshmi temple came into existence after merger of Hyderabad with India: ASI |work=The Hindu |date=17 February 2021 }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Old-charminar 0 (1).jpg|thumb|right| View of Historic [[Charminar]], The Bhagyalakshmi Temple can be seen at the bottom right of the image]]
[[File:Bhagya.jpg|thumb|The temple]]

As per the local Telangana history and the Telugu name in the temple name board in '''View of Historic Charminar''' image, Bhagyalakshmi Goddess is worshipped as or along with Charminar Maisamma(in the stone form) and every year Bonalu is offered to her in the Ashada Masam.

According to the Muslim Priest of Charminar altar, the original stone in question was a [[guard stone]] placed near the corner to protect the walls of charminar from automobiles.<ref name="MuslimPriest">{{cite web|title=Statement of Muslim Priest of Charminar|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-hindu-temple-sits-at-the-base-of-indias-charminar-mosqueand-no-one-knows-how-long-its-been-there|website= Print version hosted at Atlasobscura |date=3 December 2015 |access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref>

In 2012, ''[[Times of India]]'' reported citing old people that in the late 1960s, the temple building was built on the east side of Charminar and opened for visits by devotees. ''Times of India'' referred to the popular folklore that the holy stone was laid at the site several years ago at an unknown date, most likely since the [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah|Quli Qutub Shah]] period. The stone was worshipped as a sign of prosperity by residents.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/> Others insist that the temple did not exist there until it was erected a few decades back and called the claims of the temple being "as old as the Charminar" as completely 'baseless' claims.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/>

Claims of newer origins of temple are proposed by historians such as [[Narendra Luther]], who claim the temple did not exist until the 1960s when it was erected un-necessarily by some locals.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012">{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Trust-denies-expansion-of-Bhagyalakshmi-temple/articleshow/17121490.cms| title = Trust denies expansion of Bhagyalakshmi temple | date = 2012-11-07 | access-date = 2012-11-07 | url-status = live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131115220430/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-07/hyderabad/34971669_1_communal-tension-temple-structure-temple-trustees| newspaper = [[The Times of India]]|archive-date = 2013-11-15 }}</ref> According to historians, one of the [[guard stone]] similar in shape to a milestone near Charminar was painted with [[saffron]] color in 1965, and an old woman became the person in-charge of this shrine. After an [[Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation]] bus collided with the stone and damaged it, a [[pucca housing|pucca]] structure was created at the site.<ref name="Asghar1991">{{cite book | author=Asghar Ali Engineer | title=Communal Riots In Post-Independence India | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yB5NM0o3I9QC&pg=PA292 | access-date=11 November 2012 | year=1991 | publisher=Universities Press | isbn=978-81-7370-102-3 | pages=291–293}}</ref> An idol of the goddess [[Lakshmi]] replaced the stone.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/>

A case was filed in the High court, opposing the encroachment of Charminar by the temple authorities. High court ordered to maintain the status quo and banned any further construction of the temple.<ref name="Hindu_HC">{{cite news|title=High Court permits decoration of Bhagyalakshmi temple at Charminar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/high-court-permits-decoration-of-bhagyalakshmi-temple-at-charminar/article4982599.ece|access-date=12 April 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 August 2013}}</ref>

Local Congress leader G. Niranjan considers the co-existence of the two structures as a reflection of the "composite culture" of Hyderabad. He claimed that [[Charminar]] had places of worship for both communities for several centuries and it was sending a message to the entire world about rich secular traditions and the ''[[Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb]]'' ("composite culture") of Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/congress-leader-questions-authenticity-of-old-photo-of-charminar/article4120520.ece | location =Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Congress leader questions authenticity of old photo of Charminar | date=2012-11-22}}</ref> A book sources the name of the shrine in the memory of the Queen [[Bhagmati]] (or Bhagyavati).<ref name="SriKanta1997">{{cite book | author=Sri Kanta Ghosh | title=Indian Democracy Derailed: Politics and Politicians | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RGyO0E86X1oC&pg=PA73 | access-date=11 November 2012 | year=1997 | publisher=APH Publishing | isbn=978-81-7024-866-8 | pages=73–74}}</ref>

==AMASR Act==
The "Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act" or [[AMASR Act]] passed in 1958 is an [[act of parliament]] of the [[government of India]] that provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.<ref name=asi1>{{cite web|title=The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958|url=http://asi.nic.in/pdf_data/6.pdf|website=Archaeological Survey of India|access-date=17 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=tripathi>{{cite news|last1=Tripathi|first1=Shailaja|title=Monumental!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/monumental/article413837.ece|access-date=17 April 2015|work=The Hindu|date=28 April 2010}}</ref>

The rules stipulate that area in the vicinity of the monument, within 100 meters is prohibited area. The area within 200 meters of the monument is regulated category. Any repair or modifications of buildings in this area requires prior permission.<ref name=TH_Illegal>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/extension-of-temple-illegal-asi/article4073253.ece | title = Extension of temple illegal - ASI | newspaper = The Hindu | author = JS Iftekhar | date = 2012-11-07 | accessdate = 2012-11-12 | location =Chennai, India}}</ref> According to the ASI officials, the Bhagya Laxmi temple comes under the prohibited area of the monument Char Minar. Hence any activity that attempts to extend the structure is considered "illegal activity".<ref name=TH_Illegal/>

== Controversies ==

The temple has been a subject of friction between temple administration, who wish to expand the temple, and local Indian historical preservationists, who want to preserve historic Muslim Indian heritage of the [[Charminar]]. Since 1951, the Charminar is under the list of centrally protected monuments that are looked after by the ASI. In the 1960s, the replacement of the holy stone with an idol and the addition of a temporary shed evoked communal tensions.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/> In 1979, the temple was vandalized by extremists when some local Hindu merchants allegedly refused to comply with a [[bandh]] protesting [[Grand Mosque Seizure]].<ref name="SriKanta1997"/>

During the [[Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav|Ganeshotsava]] celebrations in September 1983, [[Saffron]] organizations put up big cloth banners at a number of places in the area asking for the declaration of India as a [[Hindu Rashtra|Hindu republic]].<ref name="Asghar1991"/> In this charged atmosphere, it was alleged a Muslim threw a stone at the temple.<ref name="Asghar1991"/> Saffron organisations desecrated a mosque in retaliation and placed idols and pictures of Hindu Gods which resulted in local Muslim leaders calling for a bandh. The riots that ensued led to 45 deaths.<ref>[http://hawk.ethz.ch/serviceengine/Files/ISN/29056/ipublicationdocument_singledocument/3db53371-f675-4c0c-8e2b-ca61f8db3321/en/3_Communal_Riots_in_India.pdf Communal Riots in India: A Chronology (1947-2003)]{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, March 2004.</ref>

During the night of 1 November 2012, the temple administration started to carry out illegal construction work without the permission of [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI), stating that they were decorating the temple ahead of the [[Diwali]] festival by replacing old bamboo with new ones.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/troubled-old-city-keeps-police-on-the-edge/article4089858.ece | title = Troubled old city keeps police on the edge | newspaper = The Hindu | date = 2012-11-12 | access-date = 2012-11-12 }}</ref> The construction activity, which was illegal according to the ASI, was stopped by the police.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/extension-of-temple-illegal-asi/article4073253.ece | title = Extension of temple illegal - ASI | newspaper = The Hindu | author = JS Iftekhar | date = 2012-11-07 | access-date = 2012-11-12 }}</ref> Local Muslim politicians feared that the expansion might damage the historic [[Charminar]], which they identify with Islamic heritage. This construction work at the temple premises triggered Hindu-Muslim tension in the city.

The temple authorities maintain that they were not planning an expansion and had only replaced the worn-out bamboo structures with new ones.<ref name="TOI_trust_denies_2012"/> A contingent of MIM party workers and five [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]]s led by [[Akbaruddin Owaisi]] organized a rally, alleging that the police were facilitating the illegal expansion work. The police stopped the rally and took the MIM leaders into custody.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.asianage.com/india/tension-hyderabad-277 | title = Tension in Hyderabad | newspaper = Asian Age | date = 2012-11-12 | access-date = 2012-11-12 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Following this, a few violent incidents were reported in the city, including stone pelting and damage to four APSRTC buses, two cars, an ATM and a garments showroom.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-12/hyderabad/35068369_1_corporators-akbaruddin-owaisi-police-station | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130126183925/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-12/hyderabad/35068369_1_corporators-akbaruddin-owaisi-police-station | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-01-26 | title = Tension in Hyderabad Old City over Bhagyalakshmi temple pandal, MIM MLAs arrested | date = 2012-11-12 | newspaper = [[The Times of India]] | access-date = 2012-11-12 }}</ref> The city administration temporarily put a ban on the public visits to Charminar, shut down the nearby market and barricaded some of the streets.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/charminar-under-police-siege-for-third-day-292004 | title = Charminar under police siege for third day | publisher = NDTV | date = 2012-11-13 | access-date = 2012-11-13 }}</ref> The police also prevented the Hindu leaders from organizing a [[demonstration (people)|march]] to the temple by taking the organizers into custody.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.oneindia.com/2012/11/13/tension-in-hyderabad-cong-leaders-try-to-placate-mim-1098384.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130412231029/http://news.oneindia.in/2012/11/13/tension-in-hyderabad-cong-leaders-try-to-placate-mim-1098384.html | url-status = live | archive-date = 12 April 2013 | title = Tension in Hyderabad: Cong leaders try to placate MIM | publisher = One India | date = 2012-11-13 | access-date = 2012-11-13 }}</ref>

On 16 November 2012, more violence broke out after the [[Jumu'ah|Friday prayers]] at the [[Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad|Mecca Masjid]]. A large number of people proceeded towards Charminar after the prayers to offer 'salam'(salutation) at a religious symbol abutting the monument, but they were stopped by the police. The protesters started raising slogans against the police and demanded that restrictions be lifted. The protesters later pelted stones and attacked vehicles and shops. The police used [[teargas]] shells and [[Baton (law enforcement)|baton]] charge to disperse the mobs. Seven people were injured during the violence.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_seven-injured-as-violence-hits-old-hyderabad-areas_1765436 | title = Seven injured as violence hits old Hyderabad areas | publisher = [[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]] | date = 2012-11-16 | access-date = 2012-11-16 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Commons category|Bhagyalakshmi temple}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Hyderabad, India]]

Bhagyalakshmi Temple - Revision history

CoreyHodgkinson at 06:17, 26 April 2026