Major findings by ASI Survey at Gyanvapi Mosque complex confirm a pre-existing Hindu temple.  

On the details of ASI scientific survey: Large Hindu Temple Existed Under the Gyanvapi Mosque.

While the full 839-page report is not yet accessible, some operative parts of the ASI report said that parts of a Hindu temple were used in the construction of the Gyanvapi Mosque.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Jan 27, 2024:: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in its survey report of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi has claimed that a “large Hindu temple” existed there prior to the construction of the existing structure (the mosque) and that parts of the Hindu temple were used in the construction of the Islamic place of worship.

The ASI carried out a court-approved scientific survey of the 17th-century mosque adjoining the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to determine if it was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a temple, as claimed by Hindu petitioners who have sought year-round access for darshan and pooja of Maa Shringar Gauri in the Gyanvapi Masjid compound. The Varanasi court had on January 24 allowed the findings of the ASI report to be made available to all parties.

Hindu Existence is trying to highlight here the major findings of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI ), taksed by Varanasi District Court in July 2023 to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex on the basis of plea of the Hindu sides. As the full 839-page report of ASI survey on Gynvapi is now accessed by  HENB, the same is given at the end of this report to download free of cost. .

The ASI report tells, “ based on scientific studies/survey carried out, the study of architectural remains, exposed features, and artefacts, inscriptions, art, and sculptures, it can be said there existed a Hindu Temple prior to the construction of the existing structure.”

The Arabic-Persian inscriptions found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20^th regnal year of Aurangzeb (1667-77). Hence, the pre-existing structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17^th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and the part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure.”

“Existing architectural remains, decorated mouldings, on the walls, karna-ratha and prati-ratha of the central chamber, a large decorated entrance gate, with Torana on the eastern wall of the wertern chamber, a small entrance with mutilated image of lalatabimba, birds, animals, carved for decoration in and outside suggest that the western wall is remaining part of Hindu Temple. Based on art and architecture, this pre-existing structure can be identified as a Hindu Temple.”

“Sculpture of Hindu deities and carved architectural members are found buried under the dumped soil in cellar S2.” The report says, “pillars from earlier temples were reused while making cellars in the eastern part of the platform.”

“A pillar decorated with bells, niches for keeping lamps on all four sides, all bearing of Samvat 1669 (corresponding to 1613 CE, January 1, Friday) is reused in cellar no N2,” maintains the ASI report as given to all parties in the Gyanvapi –Sringargauri case.

“ASI had in its custody of an inscription engraved on a loose stone which recorded the construction of the mosque in the 20^th regnal year of Hadrat Alamgir I.e. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb corresponding to A.H. 1087 (1676-77 CE). The inscription also recorded that in the year A.H. 1207 (1792-93 CE), the mosque was repired with sahan etc. The photograph of this stone was recorded in ASI records in the year 1965-66.”

“During the recent survey, this stone with inscription was recovered from a room in the mosque. However, the lines relating to the construction of the mosque and its expansion have been scratched out.”

“This is also brought out by the biography of Emperor Aurangzeb, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, which mentions that Aurangzeb’ issued order to the governors of all provinces to demolish the schools and temples of the infidels’ (Jadunath Sarkar tr 1947, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, pp 51-52). On, September 2, 1669; it was reported that, according to the Emperor’s command his officers had demolished the temple of Vishwanath at Kashi’ (Jadunath Sarkar tr 1947, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, pp 55 51-52).”

“During the survey, several inscriptions were noticed on the existing and pre-existing structures. A total 34 inscriptions were recorded during the present survey and 32 estampages were taken.”

“These are, in fact, inscriptions on the stones of the pre-existing Hindu Temples, which have been reused during construction/repair of the existing structure. They include inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu, and kannada scripts. Reuse of earlier inscriptions in the structure, suggest that the earlier structures were destroyed and their parts were reused in construction/repair of the existing structure.”

The ASI survey reflects, “ Three names of deities such as Janardana, Rudra, and Umesvara are found in these inscriptions. Terms such as Maha-Muktimandapa mentioned in three inscriptions are of great significance.” Under the headlines “Pillars and Pilasters”, the ASI report tells, “The Pillars and Pilasters used in the existing structure were studied systematically and scientifically. For the enlargement of the mosque and constructing sahan, parts of the pre-existing temple including Pillars and Pilasters in the corridor suggest that they were originally part of the pre-existing Hindu Temple. For their reuse, in the existing structure, Vyala figures carved on either side of lotus medallion were mutilated and after removing the stone mass from the corners that space was decorated with floral design. This observation is supported by two similar pilasters still existing on the northern and southern wall of the western chamber in their original place.”

“This temple had a big central chamber and at least chamber to the north, south, east and west respectively. Remains of three chambers to the noth, south, and west still exist but the remains of the cjamber to the east and any further extension of it could not be ascertained physically, as the area is covered under a platform with stone flooring. “

“The central chamber of the pre-existing structure forms the central hall of the existing structure. This structure with thick and strong walls, along with all architectural components and floral decorations was utilized as the main hall of the mosque. Animal figures carved at the lower ends of decorated arches of the pre-existing structure were mutilated, and the inner part of the dome is decorated with geometric designs.”

“The entrance to the central chamber of the temple was form the west which was blocked by stone masonry. This entrance was decorated with cravings of animals and birfs and an ornamental torana. This large arched gateway had another smaller entrance. The figure carved on the lalatbimba of this small entrance has been chopped off. A small part of it is visible as most of it is covered with bricks, stone, and mortar which were used to block the entrance.”

The ASI repor points out that “remains of bird figure carved on the doorsill appears to be a cock’. Adding that “on the other side of the blocked main entrance quibla was made. It is simple without any decoration as such and unevenly. Plasters of either side are also damaged unevenly.”

The ASI report categorically says, “ The wstern wall  of the existing structure is the remaining part of a pre-existing Hindu temple. This wall, made of stone and decorated with horizontal mouldings, is formed by the 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 t the wall still exists unchanged whereas modifications have been made to both the side chambers.”

The ASI report adds, “all these chambers had an opening in all the four directions. Decorated arched entrances of the central, north, and south chambers towards the west have been blocked. Theacrched openings of the north and south halls were converted into steps leading to roof. Steps made in the arched entrance of the north hall are still in use. Steps made in the arched entrance of the south hall were blocked by stone masonry at some later date however one can still enter them from the roof. A large decorated entrance to the central chamber through the western chamber was blocked by stone masonry.”

With its elaborated scientific survey work, ASI comes to a conclusion, “ Hence, the pre-existing structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17^th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure. Based on scientific studies/survey  carried out, the study of the architectural remains, exposed features, and artefacts, inscriptions, art, and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a HinduTemple prior to the construction of the existing structure.”

Now, it has no doubt that the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed a Hindu temple in 1669 to build the Gyanvapi Mosuqe with an utter Islamic intolerance and Jihadi fanaticism in a barbaric way.

Download Full ASI Gyanvapi Scientific Survey report here. (Click to download)

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__Agencies.