Varanasi: In a significant development, the lawyer representing the women petitioners announced today the findings of the survey conducted at the Gyanvapi mosque.
According to the lawyer, the survey unveiled the presence of a temple, adorned with 34 inscriptions in various languages, which had been repurposed into a mosque. The report, received in hard copy, shed light on this historical transformation.
Earlier, the Varanasi district judge had declined immediate public release or distribution of soft copies of the report, citing concerns about potential distortion and misinformation on social media given the sensitivity of the case. The Gyanvapi dispute is among several temple-mosque conflicts that emerged following the Ayodhya Ram Janambhoomi issue.
Vishnu Jain, the lawyer representing the petitioners, disclosed excerpts from the report during a press conference held late this evening. Notably, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) identified a pre-existing structure along with a well adjacent to the corridor during its survey.
According to Jain, the ASI report highlighted that the central chamber and main entrance showcased elements of a pre-existing structure. Additionally, the survey revealed that pillars and plasters within the mosque were integral parts of the erstwhile temple. The inscriptions discovered within the mosque, inscribed in Devnagri, Granth, Telugu, and Kannada, referenced deities such as Janaradana, Rudra, and Umeshwara.
Further readings from the report disclosed terms like “Maha Mukti Mandap” mentioned in inscriptions, indicating a historical connection to the temple. It was also noted that pillars from an earlier temple were repurposed during construction.
The petitioners’ lawyer emphasized the necessity for an ASI survey of the Wazukhana area. The ASI had been conducting surveys on the Gyanvapi mosque premises since August 4 the previous year, with the exception of the Wazukhana area, which had been sealed by the Supreme Court’s order.
The revelations in the report hold significant implications for the ongoing case, as the Hindu side asserts that the mosque was erected atop a pre-existing temple and seeks the right to worship accordingly.
#WATCH | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, gives details on the Gyanvapi case.
He says, "The ASI has said that there existed a large Hindu Temple prior to the construction of the existing structure. This is the conclusive… pic.twitter.com/rwAV0Vi4wj
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2024
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