Gyanvapi case: 'The western wall of existing structure is remaining part of pre-existing Hindu temple'

NEW DELHI: A Hindu temple existed at the site of the Gyanvapi Masjid before it was constructed in the 17th century. The statement, made on Thursday, references the ASI's 839-page survey report, submitted to both parties in compliance with a court order.

Varanasi district judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha, who is hearing the Shringar Gauri case, had asked ASI on July 21 last year to do a scientif ic survey of the Gyanvapi premises and determine whether the mosque stood over a pre-existing structure.

Below is the key highlights of the ASI survey:

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

THE SURVEY | Carried out by the ASI in compliance of the order of the Varanasi dist court's July 21, 2023 order, and later affirmed by Allahabad HC and the Supreme Court

THE AREA | Scientific investigation/ survey in 2150.5 sqm area fenced with steel grill, in and around the existing structure, excluding the wuzu pond area sealed by the SC order

SURVEYED OBJECTS | Inscriptions, sculptures, coins, architectural fragments, pottery, and objects of terracotta, stone, metal and glass. Objects which required first aid treatment were treated at the site. Scientific investigations were done while ensuring that no damage was caused to existing structure

SALIENT POINTS

• GPR SURVEY | The survey in the north hall indicated a small sinkhole-type cavity in the floor at 1-2 m depth towards the northern door, a steep and deep narrow cavity adjacent to the central hall passage, and the floor having a larger accumulation of mortar bed thickness

PRE-EXISTING STRUCTURE
Several pre-existing structures were found which prove that there existed a large Hindu temple, prior to the construction of the existing structure:

• Central chamber and main entrance of the pre-existing structure in existing structure
• Western chamber and western wall
• Reuse of pillars and pilasters of preexisting structure in existing structure
• Inscriptions on the existing structure
• Arabic and Persian inscription on the loose stone
• Sculptural remains in cellars, etc

CENTRAL CHAMBER & MAIN ENTRANCE

• This temple had a big central chamber and at least one chamber to the north, south, east and west respectively. Remains of three chambers to the north, south and west still exist but the remains of the chamber 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. Central chamber of the preexisting 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 utilised 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 inner part of dome is decorated with geometric designs
• Main entrance to the central chamber of the temple was from the west which was blocked by stone masonry. This entrance was decorated with carvings of animals and birds and an ornamental torana. This large arched gateway had another smaller entrance. 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

WESTERN CHAMBER & WESTERN WALL

• Eastern half of the western chamber still exists whereas the superstructure of western half has been destroyed. This chamber was also connected with north and south chambers through a corridor accessible from its north and south entrances respectively. Remains of this corridor in the northwest side came to light on removal of garbage and debris
• The western wall of the existing structure is the remaining part of a preexisting Hindu temple. This wall, made of stones and decorated with horizontal mouldings, is formed by remaining parts of western chamber, western projections of the central chamber and western walls of the two chambers on its north and south. Central chamber attached to the wall still exists unchanged whereas modifications have been made to both the side chambers
• All these chambers had an opening in all the four directions. Decorated arched entrances of central, north and south chambers towards west have been blocked. The arched openings of north and south halls were converted into steps leading to the roof. Steps made in the arched entrance of the north hall are still in use. Steps made in the arched entrance of the south half were blocked by stone masonry at the roof

PILLARS & PILASTERS

For the enlargement of the mosque and constructing sahan, parts of the pre-existing temple including pillars and pilasters were reused with little modifications. Minute study of the pillars and pilasters in the corridor suggest that they were originally part of the preexisting 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

INSCRIPTIONS

• During the survey, a number of inscriptions were noticed on the existing and pre-existing structures. A total of 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 re-used during the 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. Three names of deities such as Janardhana, Rudra, and Umesvara are found in these inscriptions. Terms such as Maha-muktimandapa mentioned in three inscriptions is of great significance Inscription On Loose Stone
• An inscription engraved on a loose stone which recorded construction of the mosque in the 20th regnal year of Hadrat Alamgir i.e., Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb corresponding to A.H. 1087 (1676-77 CE). This inscription also recorded that in the year A.H. 1207 (1792-93 CE), the mosque was repaired with sahan, etc. The photograph of this stone inscription 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 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 orders to the governors of all the provinces to demolish the schools and temples of the infidels" (Jadu Nath Sarkar (tr.) 1947, Maasir-iAlamgiri, pp. 51-52). On September 2, 1669 "it was reported that, according to the Emperor's command his officers had demolished the temple of Viswanath at Kashi" (Jadu Nath Sarkar (tr.) 1947, Maasir-i-Alamgiri)

SCULPTURAL REMAINS IN CELLARS

• A series of cellars were also constructed to the east to create additional space and a large platform in front of the mosque for accommodating large number of people for prayers
• 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, and bearing an inscription of Sarhvat 1669 (corresponding to 1613 CE, January 1, Friday) is reused in cellar N2
• Sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural members were found buried under the dumped soil in cellar S2

NATURE AND AGE

• Existing architectural remains, decorated mouldings on the walls, karna-ratha and prati-ratha of central chamber, a large decorated entrance gate with torana on the eastern wall of the western chamber, a small entrance with mutilated image on lalat bimba, birds and animals carved for decoration in and outside suggest that the western wall is remaining part of a Hindu temple. Based on art and architecture, this pre-existing structure can be identified as a Hindu temple
• The Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb (1676-77 CE). Hence, the preexisting structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure

CONCLUSION

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

(According to briefing by Hindu side's lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain)