ASI Confirms Aurangzeb Demolished Keshavdev Temple to Build Mosque
The ASI's Agra circle shared historical records from the 1920 United Provinces Gazette, confirming the destruction of the temple by Aurangzeb
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) documents have confirmed that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of a Hindu temple within the Krishna Janmabhoomi complex to construct a mosque. While the documents do not explicitly mention ‘Krishna Janmabhoomi,’ however it does confirm the demolition of the former temple of Keshavdev at the disputed site by the Mughal emperor.
Ajay Pratap Singh from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, filed a Right To Information (RTI) petition seeking details about the demolition of the Keshavdev temple. In response, the ASI’s Agra circle shared historical records from the 1920 United Provinces Gazette, confirming the destruction of the temple by Aurangzeb to make way for a mosque. The records mentioned, “Portions of Katra mound which are not in the possession of nazul tenants on which formerly stood a temple of Keshavdev which was dismantled and the site utilised for the mosque of Aurangzeb.”
Advocate Singh, representing the petition against the mosque, intends to present this evidence in both the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court. The ASI’s response is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming February 22 hearing in the Allahabad High Court, which will assess the maintainability of a plea seeking the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura.
The dispute over the Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid complex has been ongoing for years. The Allahabad High Court recently approved a survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex, reigniting tensions surrounding the contested site. Hindu petitioners argue that the mosque, built by Aurangzeb in 1670, encroaches upon Lord Krishna’s birthplace. They demand the removal of structures on the disputed land and its transfer to the Shree Krishna Janmbhoomi Trust.
In contrast, representatives of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board and the mosque committee contend that the mosque does not fall within the disputed territory. The situation is similar to the Gyanvapi Mosque issue in Varanasi, where a court-ordered survey found a structure claimed as a ‘shivling’ by Hindus and a ‘fountain’ by Muslims. A district court in Varanasi directed a scientific investigation of the mosque.
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