Court permits ASI to survey Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque complex!

• Major victory for Hindus in legal battle!
• UP government to bear the cost of survey!

Past excavations carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Ayodhya revealed that Babri mosque was built by razing a temple on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. Supreme Court had then accepted the report of ASI’s excavation and ruled that disputed land belonged to Shri Ram. Now the upcoming excavation will disclose the history of ‘Gyanvapi’ mosque, thereby revealing the presence of ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the grand swayambhu Shivling!

Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Gyanvapi Masjid

Varanasi (U.P.) – Varanasi court on Thursday (8th April) granted permission to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out a survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Gyanvapi Mosque complex. The cost of the survey will be borne by the Uttar Pradesh government, the order stated. In December 2019, (Adv.) Vijay Shankar Rastogi had filed a petition in this regard and demanded a survey of the Gyanvyapi complex. In January 2020, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had filed an objection against the petition. (Adv.) Rastogi said that ASI will comprise a team of five people and survey the complex.

The original petition in the case was filed in a civil court in 1991 seeking permission for Hindus to perform worship in Gyanvapi. The petition was filed in the name of Swayambhu Jyotirling Bhagwan Vishweshwar, presiding Deity. Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built by king Vikramaditya around 2,050 years ago; however, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had razed the temple and used its remains to build a mosque which today is known as Gyanvapi mosque. The petition demanded the removal of mosque and transfer of control of land to the Temple Trust.