Kashi Vishwanath temple case: Varanasi court allows archeological survey of Gyanvapi complex

Varanasi: A local court here on Thursday allowed an Archaeological Survey of the Gyanvapi complex adjoining the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The court, which delivered its judgement after completing the hearing on April 2, has said that the Archaeological survey would be held using radar technology.

Civil Judge Senior Division Fast Track Court Ashutosh Tiwari on Thursday accepted the application of Vijay Shankar Rastogi, a friend of Lord Vishweshwarnath demanding for an Archaeological survey.

The court was hearing the plea on an application in this ancient case pending since 1991 on behalf of Vijayashankar Rastogi, a friend of the ancient idol Swayambhu Lord Visvesvarnath.

The application says that RG Nos. 9130, 9131, 9132 area of Gyanvapi complex located in Mauja city Khas of area around one bigha and 9 biswa, court should order for an ASI survey to find out whether the land has a temple remains.

Also, by breaking the floor of the structure, see whether 100 feet high Jyotirlinga Swayambhu Visvesvarnath is present there along with walls of ancient temple, the application demanded.

With radar technology, the survey will be able to know the religious nature of the land.

The petitioner Mr Rastogi argued that the 14th-century temple had a structure in the first floor and a basement in the ground floor, with a 100-foot-high Shivalinga, which will be evident by excavation.

The temple was built thousands of years ago by King Vikramaditya in 2050 Vikram Samvat.  Then in the Satyuga, King Harishchandra and in the year 1780, Ahilyabai Holkar had renovations done, the petitioner said.

  He also said that when Aurangzeb attacked the temple, the temple did not exist for more than 100 years after that, i.e. from the year 1669 to 1780.

However, Central Sunni Waqf Board advocate Abhay Nath Yadav was not satisfied with the court orders for an ASI survey and said that they will move the Allahabad High Court against it.

Yadav said that as per the claim, when the temple was demolished, the Jyotirlinga was present at the place where it is today.  At the same time, the temple was built by Narayan Bhatt with the help of King Akbar’s Finance Minister Todarmal, which is built on the same Jyotirlinga.  In such a situation, how can the second Shivalinga come under the disputed structure. Therefore there should not be digging or survey of any kind, Yadav added. (UNI)