The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in its report on the Gyanvapi mosque situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, claimed that “the Hindu temple existed before the construction of the present structure (mosque)” and that the temple was repurposed for the construction of the mosque.
In July 2023, the Varanasi district court permitted the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque to ASI. However, the plea is against the ‘spirit of SC order’ as it expressed that the directive for a survey includes excavation of the entire premise. On Jan 24, the Varanasi court allowed the findings of the ASI to be made available for all the parties. The 839-page report has not yet been released, but a portion of it has been made available.
About the Controversy
In 1991, A local priest filed a petition in court seeking permission to worship in a mosque complex, claiming it was part of the Kashi Vishwanath temple dismantled during Aurangzeb’s reign.
In 1998, The petition was initially dismissed and resurfaced after the Ayodhya Verdict of the Supreme Court in 2019. Vijay Shankar Rastogi, a lawyer, filed a petition in the lower court seeking permission for a scientific survey of the site and was opposed by the mosque management and Sunni Central Waqf Board.
In March 2021, the Supreme Court decided to examine the validity of The Places of Worship Act.
The controversy around the ownership of the mosque started when five Hindu women filed a petition in Aug 2021 seeking permission to worship Hindu deities within the mosque complex.
In May 2022, the survey began and was interrupted when petitioners claimed to have found ‘Shivling’ in a pond, leading to the sealing of the site.
Points from ASI’s Report
ASI report claimed that “it can be said that there existed a large Hindu temple, before the construction of the existing structure” and “central chamber and main entrance of the pre-existing structure in existing structure”.
It claimed that there was a “reuse of pillars and pilasters of pre-existing structure in existing structure” and that the “central chamber of the pre-existing structure forms the central hall of the existing structure”.
Regarding the western wall of the mosque, the report stated “This wall, made of stones and decorated with horizontal moldings, is formed by remaining parts of the western chamber, western projections of the central chamber and western walls of the two chambers on its north and south. Central chamber attached to the wall still exists unchanged whereas modifications have been made to both the side chambers.”
What about India’s Pluralism?
Even if the mosque is constructed after the demolition of the temple, why does a temple need to be reconstructed on the same place? Is it not possible for all religions to coexist in India? Is it not possible for both Hindus and Muslims to pray and offer namaz at the same site? Won’t your gods accept your prayers then?
Indian history has a rich and violent past, many rulers have ruled this land and for asserting power, conquered mosques, temples, and religious shrines. Does that mean the modern state should do the same?
