Gyanvapi Masjid Latest News: Muslim Side Claims They Didn't Receive Any Notice of ASI Survey

 

Ganges / Credit: Pexels

The survey of Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi by a team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began on Monday amid tight security. The survey is aimed at finding out whether the mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple, as claimed by some Hindu groups. The court had ordered the survey on Friday, saying that it was necessary for the true facts to come out.

Bird-Eye View of Mosque Area/Credit: Pexels

The survey will cover the entire premises of the masjid, except the Wazukhana or the ablution area of the Mosque. According to reporters on ground, 32 people from the Hindu side and the ASI survey team are inside the mosque, including four women plaintiffs and their lawyers.

Meanwhile, the Gyanvapi masjid committee is planning to approach the Supreme Court against the Varanasi court's order. Sources told News18 that the committee will seek an urgent listing before the Chief Justice of India and a stay on all proceedings in the case.

The case has been going on for decades and has sparked tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Varanasi. The Hindu side claims that the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb after demolishing a temple dedicated to Lord Vishwanath. The Muslim side denies this allegation and says that the mosque is a historical monument protected by law.

Religious Book of Muslims/Credit: pexels

The History Of Gyanvapi Masjid

The history of Gyanvapi Masjid is a subject of debate and controversy among historians and religious groups. The mosque is located in Varanasi, a holy city for Hindus, and is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the most revered shrines of Lord Shiva. The mosque was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1669, after partially demolishing the temple that existed at the site.  

However, some historians have challenged this view and suggested that both the temple and the mosque were constructed by Akbar, Aurangzeb's grandfather, who was known for his religious tolerance and syncretism. According to this theory, Akbar built the temple and the mosque as part of his system of Din-e-Ilahi, a universal faith that incorporated elements from various religions.  

The dispute over the ownership and status of the mosque has been going on for decades, with Hindu petitioners claiming that the mosque was built over a pre-existing temple and demanding access to pray at a shrine behind the mosque. The Muslim side denies this allegation and asserts that the mosque is a historical monument protected by law. The case has reached the Supreme Court, which has ordered to protect the complex and allow prayers to continue in the mosque. 

The case has also sparked tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Varanasi, as well as across India, where similar disputes over religious sites have led to violence and communal riots in the past. The most prominent example is the Babri Masjid case in Ayodhya, where a 16th-century mosque was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992, claiming that it was built over the birthplace of Lord Rama. The Supreme Court later ruled in favour of the Hindu side and allowed the construction of a temple at the site.