The Gyanvapi Masjid- Kashi Viswanath temple age-old dispute has yet again taken centre stage after five Hindu women filed a petition in the Varanasi Court seeking permission to routinely worship Shringar Gauri and other idols within the mosque complex. For the Gyanvapi Masjid- Kasi Viswanath explainer, readers must know that the seeds of disputes were sown in the way back 1900s.
The Gyanvapi Mosque explainer focuses on the going controversy, its history, how the judicial system of India is handling the sensitive issue. To those who are still not aware of the Gyanvapi Mosque row, the Gyanvapi Masjid-Kashi Viswanath explainer will briefly elaborate it.
All About Gyanvapi Masjid Row
The Gyanvapi Masjid- Kashi Viswanath temple dispute dates back to 1991 when a group of priests in Varanasi filed a petition in the court seeking permission to worship on the mosque premises. Talking about the Gyanvapi Mosque location, the 'Masjid' is situated adjacent to the famous Kashi Viswanath temple of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the Allahabad High Court put a stay on the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque requested by the Hindu side.
Now, the question arises of how the Gyanvapi Masjid row is again in the spotlight. The Gyanvapi Masjid controversy irked once again when five women had filed a petition from Delhi before a court in Varanasi on April 18, 2021, seeking permission for daily worship and observance of rituals of Goddess Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, and Nandi located at the back of the western wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. In the petition, the women had stated that an image of Goddess Shringar Gauri existed at the spot since ancient times and urged the court to ascertain the same.
As a result, the Varanasi Court ordered a court-monitored & videographic ASI survey due to the sensitiveness of the issue. For the Gyanvapi Mosque survey, the Varanasi Court-appointed advocate commissioners, five lawyers from each side, an assistant, and a videography crew. However, the appointment of Ajay Mishra in the Gyanvapi Mosque survey team backfired. Court Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra led the team for the ASI and conducted a partial survey of some areas outside the mosque on May 6, however, they were prevented from entering the mosque complex the next day.
In fact, Gyanvapi mosque management committee knocked on the door of the court asking to remove Ajau Mishra from the team and they also accused the Court Commissioner of being biased. Turning down the plea, the Varanasi court said: "In any case, the survey work won't be stopped whether parties cooperate or don’t."
Shivling found in Gyanvapi Masjid ASI Survey
As the videographic ASI survey was given a green signal by the Varanasi Court, it was alleged that a Shivling was found inside a well of the mosque complex. On the other side, the Muslim side denied the claim and said it was only a fountain. In fact, AIMIM Chief Assaduddin Owaisi called the founding of Shivling in the Gyanvapi Mosque a blatant lie and pointed out that the Court Commissioner is yet to file his final report.
The finding of Shivling in the Gyanvapi Mosque also echoed in the Supreme Court as the apex court passed an order to protect the Shivling and seal the area so that no one steps on it. However, the top court also removed the bar of Muslims from entering the mosque.
It is pertinent to mention here that the three-day survey of the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi mosque complex is slated to be submitted to a Varanasi civil court on Tuesday. The Muslim side’s petition to Supreme Court seeks to obtain a stay on the proceedings and an order to not make the survey and its report public.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the Kashi Viswanath-Gyanvapi Masjid row in the coming weeks.
Aurangzeb and Gyanvapi Temple
It is pertinent to mention here that another petition has been filed in the same case by Vijay Shankar Rastogi. He has alleged that the entire Masid premises belonged to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple and that the Gyanvapi Masjid is part of the temple complex, is pending in court since 1991. Rastogi has further stated that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built over two thousand years ago and that the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb demolished the temple.