ASI’s Survey Reveals Hindu Temple Beneath Gyanvapi Mosque.

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10 months ago

The Varanasi district court has decided to provide both litigants with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

As reported by ANI, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, expressed that the ASI’s findings are conclusive. According to Jain, the survey affirms the presence of a substantial Hindu Temple predating the construction of the current structure at the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

Here are the Top 10 interesting facts about the Gyanvapi case:

1. As reported by ANI, the ASI report on the Gyanvapi Mosque complex revealed that a pre-existing structure was apparently dismantled in the 17th century and “parts of it were repaired conversion and reuse.
based on scientific studies, that “a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the existing structure”.

2. ASI noted in its report that the Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentioned that the mosque was built in the 20th year of Aurangzeb’s reign (1676-77 CE).

“Thus, the pre-existing structure appears to have been demolished in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and partly modified and reused in the existing structure,” the statement added.

3. Earlier on Wednesday, a Varanasi court under district magistrate AK Vishvesh ruled that the ASI investigation report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex near Kashi Vishwanath temple will be made available for both the Hindu and Muslim parties involved.

4. The ASI further stated that the western wall of the present structure represents the remains of a “pre-existing Hindu temple”.

The ASI report points out that in connection with the expansion of the mosque and the creation of the ‘sahan’, elements of the pre-existing temple, such as the pillars and pillars, were reused with minor modifications.

5. In the eastern section, a set of cellars was built to expand the available space, accompanied by the creation of a sizable platform in front of the mosque to accommodate a large congregation for prayers. During the construction of cellars in the eastern part of the platform, pillars from previous temples were repurposed.

6. In particular, a column decorated with bells, niches for lights on four sides and the inscription Samvat 1669 were reused in tunnel N2. The report also mentions the discovery of sculptures representing Hindu deities and sculptural architectural elements buried under sedimentary soil in cave S2.

7 . “A total of 34 registrations were recorded during the current investigation and 32 stampings were carried out. These are essentially stone inscriptions of pre-existing Hindu temples, reused during the construction/repair of the existing structure. These include inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada scripts,” the report added.

8. On January 16, the Supreme Court approved a request from Hindu women petitioners to cleanse the entire ‘wazukhana’ area within the Gyanvapi mosque. The space where an alleged Shivling was discovered was maintained in a hygienic condition.

9. The ‘wazukhana’ area was sealed in 2022 after a Supreme Court order, triggered by the identification of what the Hindu side called a ‘Shivling’ and the Muslim side called a ‘fountain.’ A court-ordered inspection of the building adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple led to this discovery on May 16, 2022.

10. The Allahabad High Court had earlier ruled that civil suits filed by Hindu worshippers and deities, among other things, seeking restoration of the temple on the mosque grounds are not barred by the Places of Worship Act.