Lucknow: The western wall of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi is the remaining part of a pre-existing Hindu temple, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has concluded in its survey report.
It adds that the reuse of pillars of the pre-existing structure and inscriptions on it, the Arabic and Persian inscriptions on the loose stone about the mosque being built under Aurangzeb’s rule, and sculptural remains in cellars suggest that there existed a large Hindu temple prior to the construction of the mosque.
Parts of the survey report — a hard copy of which was provided to both the Hindu and Muslim sides Thursday on directions of the court of Varanasi district judge A.K. Vishvesha — were made public by the lawyers of the Hindu side. While the ASI had submitted the report in court last month, the Hindu side had been demanding that it be made public, which the Muslim side had objected to.
A videographic survey of the Gyanvapi mosque was conducted by a commission appointed by a Varanasi court on 16 May 2022. A controversy ensued when the Hindu side claimed that a “shivling” was found in the wuzu khana of the mosque, even as the Muslim side said that it was a “fountain”. A month later, a district court ordered a scientific survey of the mosque premises, barring the wuzu khana.
After pleas filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board opposing the survey were dismissed by the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court, the survey on the mosque premises resumed in August last year, and was completed in November.
In its report that runs into 839 pages, the ASI has claimed that the western wall of the existing structure is the remaining part of a pre-existing Hindu temple.
“This wall, made of stones and decorated with horizontal mouldings, is formed by remaining parts of western chamber, western mosque and construction 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,” it states.
The report also states that a total of 34 inscriptions in the premises were recorded during the survey and 32 estampages were taken. These inscriptions, made on stones of the pre-existing Hindu temple, have been reused during the construction/repair of the existing structure (mosque), it adds.
“They include inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada scripts,” says the report. It also states that for the enlargement of the sahan (courtyard), “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 pre-existing Hindu temple,” it states.
“The objects which were noticed during the scientific investigation/survey in the complex were duly documented, including inscriptions, sculptures, coins, architectural fragments, pottery and objects of terracotta, stone, metal and glass,” reads the report. In compliance with a September 2023 order of the Varanasi district court, these objects were handed over to the district administration on 6 November 2023 for safe custody, it adds.
The report said that based on scientific studies and observations of the different parts of the structure, inscriptions on it, sculptural remains in cellars, etc., it can be said that there existed a large Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure.
“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,” it adds.
“The central chamber of the pre-existing 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 the inner part of the dome is decorated with geometric designs.”
The report further states that the 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 (ornate gateway). This large arched gateway had another smaller entrance. Figure carved on the lalata bimba (door jamb) 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,” it states.
“Remains of a bird figure carved on the doorsill appears to be of a cock. On the other side of the blocked main entrance quibla (direction towards the kaaba in Mecca) was made,” it adds.
The report says that the pillars and pilasters used in the existing structure were studied systematically and scientifically and it was found that for the enlargement of the sahan (courtyard), parts of the pre-existing temple including pillars and pilasters were reused with little modifications.
“Minute study of the pillars and pilasters in corridor suggest that they were originally part of the pre-existing Hindu temple. For their reuse in the existing structure, vyala (Hindu mythological figures) 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 designs. This observation is supported by two similar pilasters still existing on the northern and southern wall of the western chamber in their original place,” it said.
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Inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu, Kannada
The report states that a total of 34 inscriptions were recorded in the existing and pre-existing structures 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.”
It also states that three names of deities — Janardhana, Rudra and Umesvara — were found in these inscriptions. “Terms such as Maha-muktimandapa mentioned in three inscriptions are of great significance.”
‘Inscription pertaining to mosque construction scratched out’
The ASI has also suggested that lines of an inscription engraved on a particular stone were found to have been scratched out.
“ASI had in its custody, record of an inscription engraved on a loose stone which recorded construction of the mosque in the 20th regnal year of Hazrat Alamgir, i.e., Mughal emperor Aurangzeb corresponding to AH 1087 (1676-77 CE). This inscription also recorded that in the year AH 1207 (1792-93 CE), the mosque was repaired with sahan, etc. The photograph of this 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,” it states.
Buttressing its point that the mosque was constructed under the regime of Aurangzeb, it cited the Mughal emperor’s biography.
“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’. On September 2, 1669, it was reported that according to the emperor’s command, his officers had demolished the temple of Vishwanath at Kashi,” the report states.
“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 Samvat, 1669 corresponding to 1613 CE, (1 January, Friday) is reused in cellar N2. Sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural members were found buried under the dumped soil in cellar S2.”
Based on art and architecture, this pre-existing structure can be identified as a Hindu temple, the report says. “The Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in three 20th regnal years of Aurangzeb (1676-77 CE). Hence, the pre-existing 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.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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