Varanasi court to hear plea against ‘puja’ in Gyanvapi mosque cellar on Feb 15

On January 31, the Varanasi district court allowed puja (prayers) in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The southern cellar was opened the same night and a priest performed prayers.

The cellar, which Hindu plaintiffs call ‘Vyasji ka tehkhana’ (Vyasji’s cellar), is part of the mosque complex.

The Varanasi court order came following an Archaeological Survey of India’s report which stated that “there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction” of the Gyanvapi mosque.

The report stated: “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.”

“The Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb (1667-77). 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,” it stated.

The same order was challenged by the mosque committee in the Supreme Court, which asked them to file the challenge in the Allahabad High Court where the case is now being heard.