Varanasi city court ruled on Wednesday that Hindu petitioners are now permitted to worship inside the previously sealed ‘Vyas ka tekhana’ area of the of Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi. This basement, known as ‘Vyas ji Ka Tehkhana,’ has long been a focal point of the legal and historical debate surrounding the Gyanvapi Mosque, located near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The court directive, issued by a city judge, mandates that arrangements for Hindu worship, including the removal of barricades, should be completed within a week. The court said that prayers in the basement should be conducted by priests from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
“Hindu side allowed to offer prayers… district administration will have to make arrangements in seven days. Everyone will have the right to pray there,” said Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing the four Hindu women petitioners.
The Gyanvapi Mosque committee is expected to challenge this ruling in a higher court. The mosque complex has four ‘tekhana’, or cellars in the basement, one of which is still in the possession of a family of priests who used to reside there. The family, claiming hereditary rights, argued for access to the cellar for performing pujas.
This recent court order follows a petition to the Supreme Court by the four Hindu women, seeking excavation and a scientific survey of a ‘shivling’ reportedly discovered inside the sealed ‘wazukhana’ area of the mosque complex. Although sealed in 2022 following a Supreme Court order, the Hindu petitioners requested the ASI to conduct another survey without harming the ‘shivling.’
Last month, the Allahabad High Court rejected all the mosque committee’s requests to stop civil suits that wanted to bring back the temple at the disputed place. The main case is about the Gyanvapi mosque and its connection to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
ASI Findings
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently presented conclusive findings indicating the existence of a large Hindu temple at the Gyanvapi mosque complex location in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The petition stated, “For a proper and effective investigation, it is necessary that the ASI may be directed to undertake necessary excavation and use other scientific methods around the ‘Shivlingam’ (being claimed by Muslims as a fountain) for determining the nature of ‘Shivlingam’ and associated features without causing any damage to the object after removing artificial/modern walls/floors surrounding the ‘Shivlingam.'”
The ASI’s comprehensive 839-page report revealed that modifications were made to the mosque using pillars and plaster from the pre-existing Hindu temple. Additionally, efforts were made to erase carvings on the pillars. The report concluded, “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.”
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