In the wake of the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) recent survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, which asserted that the mosque may have been built upon the ruins of a grand temple, the Hindu side has taken a significant step. On Monday, they filed an application in the Supreme Court urging the de-sealing of the ‘wazukhana’ area within the Gyanvapi complex. This specific area had been sealed in 2022 under a Supreme Court order.
The Hindu plea seeks permission for the ASI to conduct a thorough and non-destructive survey in the ‘wazukhana’ area while ensuring the protection of the ‘Shivling.’ The plea directly implores the Director General of the ASI to carry out investigations to determine the nature of the Shivlingam and associated features without causing any harm. The overarching goal is to shed light on the historical truth without jeopardizing the religious sanctity of the site.
The plea emphasizes the ASI’s role as a premier authority capable of scientifically surveying the sealed area, including the Shivlingam, to ascertain the facts surrounding the temple-mosque controversy. It further suggests that the ASI should employ excavation and other scientific methods to comprehensively study the sealed area and present its findings to the court.
Notably, the plea highlights concerns about the ‘Shivlingam’ being surrounded by modern artificial walls that are unrelated to the original construction. According to the Hindu side, these recent additions have been strategically erected to conceal the authentic features associated with the Shivlingam, such as Peeth and Pithika. The plea contends that this modern construction holds no religious significance for Muslims, as they reportedly believe the area to be an alleged fountain.
In an effort to unveil the truth, the Hindu side proposes that the ASI should also investigate whether the Shivlingam is indeed a fountain or not. The plea alleges that the intentional modern constructions have been employed to mask the genuine historical elements connected to the Shivlingam, and a comprehensive survey is crucial to reveal the actual facts.
As the legal battle over the Gyanvapi mosque continues, the Supreme Court now faces the decision of whether to grant permission for the ASI to reopen and survey the sealed ‘wazukhana’ area, potentially offering new insights into the complex historical and religious narrative surrounding the site.
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