Gyanvapi case: Lawyer says ASI survey found remnants of Hindu temple in Varanasi mosque

Varanasi: Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi Masjid-Kashi Vishwanath temple case, on Thursday claimed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found remnants of a large Hindu temple inside the Varanasi mosque.

Citing the 839-page ASI survey report, he said the mosque – which stands adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir – was built on the remains of a grand Hindu temple after it was demolished in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

He claimed that remnants of the statues of Hindu gods have been found in two basements during the court-ordered survey.

“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 was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

He said the present western wall of the mosque is part of the pre-existing Hindu temple.

"The ASI has said that there existed a large Hindu Temple prior to the construction of the existing structure. This is the conclusive finding of the ASI," he added.

Sculptures of Hindu deities found

Jain claimed ASI has said that sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural members were found buried.

"Existing architectural remains, decorated moldings on the walls, a large decorated entrance gate, a small entrance with a mutilated image, and birds and animals carved for decoration in and outside suggest that the western wall is the remaining part of a Hindu temple. 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, 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," he added.

Also read: Gyanvapi dispute: Hindu, Muslim sides to get copy of ASI report

Indian scripts found on inscriptions

The lawyer said the survey also found 32 inscriptions written in the Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada scripts.

"The ASI has said that during the survey, a number of 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, 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.

"These evidence indicate that when the temple of Adivishwara was demolished by Aurangzeb in the 17th century, a grand temple was pre-existing there," Jain claimed.

ASI had carried out the survey of the mosque after the district court passed an order on July 21 last year, to determine whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

On Wednesday last week, district judge A K Vishvesh ruled that the ASI survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex would be given to both the Hindu and Muslim sides.

With inputs from ANI, PTI