Temple existed at Gyanvapi: Hindu side cites ASI survey

A report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found that a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi, lawyers for the Hindu petitioners in the decades-old case announced on Thursday, marking a decisive turn in the fractious communal dispute that will have sweeping ramifications.

- Sudhir Kumar

The announcement came from Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lead lawyer for four Hindu women petitioners seeking regular worshipping rights in the mosque complex, who made the report public minutes after the 839-page document was given to the Hindu and Muslim sides.

"Based on scientific studies/ survey carried out, study of architectural remains, exposed features and artefacts, inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure," said the report.

HT has seen some segments of the document, parts of which were read out by Jain.

"ASI has given its conclusive finding and it's a very important one," Jain said, quoting the ASI report. "A lot of evidence has also been found." The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the 15th century mosque, said it was yet to go through the report.

"The Gyanvapi mosque was built 600 years ago by a zamindar (landlord) of Jaunpur. It was renovated by Mughal emperor Akbar during his rule. Then the expansion and renovation of the Gyanvapi mosque was done by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb," said SM Yasin, joint secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee. However, Yasin added, "I haven't gone through the report yet." The four Hindu women plaintiffs were visibly delighted.

"We are very happy. We have been saying it for a long time, ASI's survey report has proved that Gyanvapi is a Temple," said Rekha Pathak, one of the four plaintiffs.

The report also suggested that the temple was destroyed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. "The Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb...hence, the pre-existing structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure," the report said.