The Hindus had begun the struggle over three decades ago to claim back the Gyanvapi Temple from the Muslims. This 33 years old struggle of Hindus remained tolerant and fair. Another significant fact is that currently 24 cases pertaining to Gyanvapi are pending in the court. So, this is not only end of struggle, but the process warrants more patience.
Actually, before the current survey report of ASI, the Advocate Commissioner conducted the survey. Since questions were raised every time on the advocate survey. This time, Hindu side demanded a scientific survey before the court. For this survey, the lawyers of the Hindu side had to work hard from the District Court to the Supreme Court. Ultimately, the Supreme Court had directed the Allahabad High Court to take a call again after hearing the arguments of the Muslim side.
Ultimately, the High Court ordered a scientific survey by the ASI and on 25 January 2024, the report of the survey was made public on the orders of the Court.
As soon as this report public came in to public domain, The Hindu side’s lawyer Vishnu Jain put the report before the media at 10 pm and told that ASI has clearly mentioned that, ‘on the basis of the evidence found during the survey, it can be said, “there a big temple structure was existed and Mosque was built on that.”
After Gyanvapi’s survey report became public and continued to be in the media headlines, Vishwa Hindu Parishad National President Alok Kumar shared a video and text message on a social media platform. In which he said that the evidence collected and findings provided by the ASI prove that the religious character of this place of worship was in existence on August 15, 1947 and is a Hindu temple at present. Thus, also as per Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be declared a Hindu temple.
At the same time, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad also suggested that Hindus be allowed to perform the Seva Puja of the Shivalinga found in the so-called Vazukhana area, and that the Intezamia Committee respectfully shift the mosque to some other suitable place.
Let us now tell you how the ASI report became public on January 25, and what had happened there on…!
Following the issuing the ASI survey report on the Gyanvapi complex from the Varanasi district court at 10 pm on Thursday, January 25th, a renewed wave in Hindus swept across India. This issue is not only resonating in North India but also reached the southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The evidence unearthed by ASI during the survey drew the focus of Hindu-Sanatanis from North to South in India on this issue.
Professor Alok Tripathi is the key person who prepared the ASI report and submitted to the court with the help of eight individuals holding doctorate degrees, including two Muslims.
Drawing on references from various sources such as Shatapath Brahmana, Gopath Brahmana, Brahadranayaka Upanishad, Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, Mahabharata’s Anushasna Parva, and Buddhist texts like Mahavastu, Buddhacharita, and Jetakas, the team meticulously surveyed Gyanvapi. They also incorporated insights from the travel memoirs of European and Chinese travelers, including the notable Hwein Tsang.
In their comprehensive report, the team, responding to court instructions and questions, addressed the seventh point in the ‘Brief Findings of Survey,’ explicitly stating that a this can be said, ‘A Big Hindu temple existed before the current structure was built. Additionally, the report highlighted that the Arabic-Persian inscription inside a room indicated the mosque’s construction in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb (1676-77 CE). Consequently, it was inferred that the pre-existing structure had been destroyed during Aurangzeb’s reign in the 17th century, with some parts modified and reused in the current structure.
The Lawyers representing the Hindu side, Harishankar Jain and Vishnu Jain, asserted that Hindus should now be permitted to worship at the site.
Key Highlights of Scientific Survey
The ASI survey report spans 839 pages, presenting a thorough examination. Over 124 pieces of evidence supporting the existence of a Hindu temple are documented in the survey report.
Rigorous scientific scrutiny was applied to analyze all the evidence.
Inscriptions discovered in the survey are in Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Granthik, and Nagari scripts.
The survey uncovered idols of Dikpal, Dwarpal, Makar, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, and other deities.
The pre-mosque temple featured a spacious central chamber and a smaller chamber on the north side.
During the 17th century, the temple was dismantled, and a portion was assimilated into the mosque. The mosque’s construction incorporated temple pillars and other elements with minimal alterations. Some pillars showed attempts to erase Hindu symbols. The western wall of the mosque is identified as a part of the original Hindu temple. Thirty-two Inscriptions and stone pillars serve as evidence for the existence of the initial Hindu temple.
Inscriptions like Janardan, Rudra, Umeshwar, and ‘Mahamukti Mandap are found there.’ Traces of the temple persist in various parts of the mosque. Efforts were made during mosque construction to erase evidence from stone slabs.
Terms and References
of Survey
Responding to court instructions, ASI aimed to determine if the existing structure was built atop a pre-existing temple.
The investigation focused on the age and nature of the construction of the western wall using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
GPR was employed to explore beneath the western wall, basements, and domes of Gyanvapi.
A comprehensive list of recovered artifacts, including idols, was compiled, with their ages verified through carbon dating.
Pillars and platforms in Gyanvapi underwent scientific investigation to determine their age, construction style, and form.
The age and construction style of the Gyanvapi structure were identified using carbon dating, GPR, and other scientific methods.
Examination of recovered idols and religious items was a crucial aspect of the survey.
Initiation and Execution of the Gyanvapi Survey
Commencing on August 4, 2023, ASI initiated the survey with heightened security measures.
The ASI team, led by Professor Alok Tripathi, Dr. Gautami Bhattacharya, Dr. Shubha Majumdar, Dr. Raj Kumar Patel, Dr. Avinash Mohanty, Dr. Izhar Alam Hashmi, Dr. Aftab Hussain, Dr. Neeraj Kumar Mishra and Dr. Experts like Vinay Kumar Roy were included.
Considering the sensitivity of the survey, the court had banned media reporting during the survey.
The court had ordered a survey to be conducted without causing any damage to the structure, but in view of the soil and debris, the debris was removed with the consent of all parties taking all precautions.
There is a cordon of central security agencies all around Gyanvapi due to which it was difficult to go in and out of the mosque again and again.
In this survey which lasted for four months, the ASI team and laborers worked continuously during the hot and humid monsoon days.
There was no electricity in some of the cellars and in the early days surveys were carried out by torch and reflector light. While working in the basement, the ASI team also felt the lack of air and later the work was done by installing lights and fans. During the rainy season, the excavated area was covered with tarpaulin and a camp office of the survey was built.
Court’s curiosity, instructions and survey
The Varanasi district court had directed the ASI to survey the mosque complex in July 2023. While ordering the ASI survey, the District Judge of Varanasi had written in his order, “If a survey and scientific investigation of the plot and structure is done, then the true facts will come before the court, so that the case can be settled in the court in a just and proper manner.” Will be able to.” When this matter reached the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court directed the Superintending Archaeologist of Sarnath Circle of ASI to continue the survey of the land and building (mosque building) of Settlement Plot No. 9130 (existing Gyanvapi complex). The court wrote in its order that ASI will conduct the survey in such a way that there is no breakage. On the Supreme Court’s question, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of the Central Government, assured that neither excavation will be done nor the structure will be demolished during the survey.
4 Month Long Scientific Survey
The ASI report made public said that based on its four-month long scientific study-survey, study of architectural remains, features, sculptures-artefacts, and inscriptions, it can be easily said that the existing structure was built a top on preexisted Hindu temple there.
The Muslim side says that they too had received a copy of the ASI report late in the night and now the report is with the lawyers.
SM Yasin, joint secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which looks after the management of Gyanvapi Masjid, said, “This is a report, not a decision. Since the report is about 839 pages long, it will take time to study and analyze. Opinion will be taken from experts. Court “Will be taken up for consideration.”
The mosque side believes that Muslims have been offering namaz in Gyanvapi Mosque for about 150 years before Akbar. SM Yasin says, “Ahead is Allah’s will. Our responsibility is to keep the mosque populated. Despair is forbidden, we have to be patient. Our appeal is to avoid arguments.”
In its survey, ASI has not done a scientific survey of the sealed Vazukhana (Shivling) in Gyanvapi Mosque. Because the Supreme Court has sealed it, and had instructed the Varanasi police administration to protect the sealed place so that No one could reach there. But recently the Hindu side had filed a petition for cleaning the Argha of Shivalinga (Vuzukhana). Which was accepted by the Supreme Court.
What is written in Maasir-e-Alamgiri
ASI says that it is written in Aurangzeb’s biography Maasir-e-Alamgiri that Aurangzeb had ordered the governors of all his provinces to demolish the schools and temples of infidels.
According to ASI, it is also mentioned in Jadunath Sarkar’s 1947 English translation of Maasir-e-Alamgiri.
Quoting the English translation of Jadunath Sarkar’s Maasir-e-Alamgiri, ASI has written in its report that, “On 2 September 1669, it was recorded that following the orders of Aurangzeb, his officers demolished the temple of Vishwanath in Kashi.
Temple Stones Used in Construction of Mosque
ASI says that these inscriptions were already existed on the Hindu temple stones which were used in the construction and repair of the mosque. According to the ASI, basements were built in the eastern part of the mosque for worship and platforms and more space were also created in the mosque. The ASI report said that the pillars of the temple were used to build the basement in the eastern part. A basement used to house a pillar with bells, a lamp stand and Samvat inscriptions. Whereas at another place, idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses buried under the soil were also recovered.
Pillars
According to the ASI report, the pillars of the pre-existing temple were slightly modified to enlarge the mosque and to create its courtyard. Careful examination of the pillars has revealed that they were originally part of a pre-existing Hindu temple.
In order to use these pillars to build a mosque, a design of flowers was made next to the lotus pedestal present on them. The ASI says that the remaining part of the western wall of the existing structure (mosque) is a pre-existing Hindu temple.
This western wall, according to the ASI, is “made of stone and decorated with horizontal moldings. This western wall consists of the remaining parts of the western chambers, the western projections of the central chamber and the western walls of the two chambers to the north and south.” The central chamber attached to the wall still exists as before and the two side chambers have been modified.
The north and south entrances of the temple were converted into stairs and the stairs at the entrance of the northern hall are still in use.
Central Hall and Main Entrance
The ASI report says that the temple used to have a large central chamber and one chamber each in the north, south, east and west.
According to ASI, the central chamber of the earlier structure (temple) is now the central chamber of the current structure (mosque).
ASI believes that the main entrance to the central chamber of the temple was from the west which was blocked by stone masonry. And a block was built on the other side of the main entrance blocked with stone.
Who were included in the survey team
Archaeologist, Archaeological Chemist, Epigraphist, Surveyor, Photographer and other technical experts did the investigation and documentation. GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) surveyors tried to find out what was beneath the ground. In this survey, ASI has found evidence of demolishing the grand Hindu temple in the Gyanvapi complex and building a mosque on its structure.
All Evidences Deposited in the District Treasury
ASI has deposited all the 250 evidence materials found in the survey in the treasury under the delivery of the District Magistrate. A list of this is also deposited in the court of the District Judge. In the survey report of ASI, the materials deposited in the treasury are also important evidence for the Hindu side.
In the survey of Gyanvapi complex, fragmented statues, symbols, figures, door fragments, pitchers, elephants, horses, lotus flowers and other materials were found. These were handed over to the District Magistrate on November 6, 2023. The District Magistrate will also present all these materials in the court, if necessary, on the orders of the District Judge.
Press conference of Hindu side’s lawyer Vishnu Jain
On behalf of the Hindu side, senior Supreme Court advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain told the media that the survey proved that Gyanvapi was a big Hindu temple. It was demolished and converted into a mosque. Now a survey of the sealed warehouse will be requested. Vishnu Jain said that the report has proved the claim of the Hindu side to be true. In fact, the survey report of the Gyanvapi complex, except the seal shed, was filed by the ASI in the District Judge’s court on December 18, 2023.
How the Gyanvapi Issue Came to the fore
An application was filed in the district court for regular worship of Maa Shringar Gauri in the year 2021.
During the hearing of Maa Shringar Gauri case, the District Judge’s court had ordered an ASI survey of the premises except the sealed area of Shivling (vuzukhana) of Gyanvapi. Maa Shringaar Gauri case was filed on 17 August 2021 in the court of Civil Judge Senior Division on behalf of Rakhi Singh, Sita Sahu, Rekha Pathak, Manju Vyas and Lakshmi Devi.
On the orders of the court, survey action was taken in Gyanvapi on 6-7 May 2022 under the leadership of an Advocate Commissioner. After this, from 14 to 16 May 2022, three Advocate Commissioners conducted a survey in the Gyanvapi campus.
On May 16, 2022 itself, it was claimed that Shivalinga of Adi Vishweshwar was found in the Vaju Khana located at Gyanvapi.
On the same day, the Vujukhana was sealed by court order on the objection of the Muslim side.
Time Line