Ongoing restoration work at a secluded Paramara-era shrine in the Malwa region has led to the accidental discovery of gilded astronomical charts etched into the sandstone ceiling of the assembly hall. The charts, which were obscured by thick layers of lime plaster added in the 18th century, represent a complex map of the 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions) and the positions of major planets during the reign of King Bhoja. Experts believe these maps were used by temple priests to calculate auspicious timings for Vedic rituals.
The use of gold-leaf inlay within the carvings suggests that the temple received significant royal patronage, possibly as a regional observatory. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is utilizing non-invasive laser cleaning technology to carefully remove the remaining plaster without damaging the delicate pigments beneath. This discovery provides a rare material link between the mathematical treatises of the Paramara dynasty and their practical application in sacred architecture.