ASI reports indicate Hindu Temple present prior to Gyanvapi Structure

Gyanvapi Dispute- Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain on Thursday, January 25 made the reports from the ASI reports public citing the existence of a Hindu temple in the place of Gyanvapi Masjid. Let's know the whole matter-

Reports to be made public

On January 24, the Varanasi district court gave the orders for the ASI reports to be made public. District Judge A K Vishvesh ruled that both the sides will get access to the scientific survey reports prepared by the Archeological Survey of India.

The report was 839 pages long. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain is representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi Masjid and Kashi Vishwanath mandir dispute. The Hindu side claims that the presence of a Hindu temple before the mosque the constructed.

Advocate Vishnu Jain made big revelations on Thursday citing the report. He said that the reports clearly mention the presence of Hindu temple over which the Mosque was constructed as remains of the Hindu temple were found in the scientific survey.

The district court of July 22, 2023, gave directions for the ASI survey to determine the existence of a Hindu temple prior to the present structure.

Hindu temple remains

While citing the reports, the representative of the Hindu side said that the remains of the Hindu temple were used with modifications for the construction of the present structure. He said “The ASI has said that the pillars and plasters used in the existing structure were studied systematically and scientifically for the enlargement of the mosque and constructing Sahan. Parts of preexisting temples, including pillars and plasters, were reused with little modifications. A minute study of pillars and plasters in corridors suggests that they were originally part of a preexisting Hindu temple for their reuse in the existing structure, Vyala figures carved on either side of the lotus medallion were mutilated and after removing the stone mass from the corners, that space was decorated with floral design."

He further said that the report has found that there existed a large Hindu temple before the present structure was built.

Gyanvapi built during Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's reign

Different parts of the building and carvings suggest that the whole western wall of the structure is the remaining part of the demolished Hindu Temple.  He said "The Arabic Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb. Hence the preexisting structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century, Based on the scientific studies survey carried out, the study of architectural remains, exposed features and artifacts inscriptions, art, and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure."

Remains of deities, inscription in Devnagri and more

He further said that there were 34 inscriptions found inside the structure carved in Devnagri, Telugu, Grantha and Kannada scripts.

The survey also found the names of three deities namely Janardana, Rudra and Umeshwara

"The ASI has said that during the survey, several inscriptions were noticed on the existing and preexisting structure. A total of 34 inscriptions were recorded during the present survey and 32 stamped pages were taken. These are in fact inscriptions on the stone of a preexisting Hindu temple which have been reused during the construction, and repair of the existing structure. They include inscriptions in the Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu, and Kannada scripts. The reuse of earlier inscriptions in the structure suggests that the earlier structures were destroyed and their parts were reused in the construction repair of the existing structure. Three names of deities such as Janardana, Rudra, and Umeshwara are found in these inscriptions," he said.

Concluding the citation he said that the findings indicate the existence of a large Hindu temple of Adivishwara which was demolished by Aurangzeb in the 17th century to build the present structure.

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