ASI Report Concludes existence of Hindu Temple Structure at Gyanvapi Mosque

In a significant revelation, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, made public following a Varanasi District Court order, strongly indicates the existence of a substantial Hindu temple structure at the site. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, shared key details from the ASI study, highlighting the systematic and scientific examination of the existing structure.

Quoting from the ASI report, Jain stated, “The pillars and plasters used in the existing structure were studied systematically and scientifically. For the enlargement of the mosque and constructing sahn, parts of preexisting temple, including pillar and plasters, were reused with little modification.” This revelation suggests that elements of an original Hindu temple were repurposed in the construction of the mosque.

The ASI report points out that carvings on the pillars and stones unequivocally indicate their origin as part of a Hindu temple. The report states, “Minute study of the pillars and pilasters in the corridor suggests that they were originally part of the pre-existing Hindu temple.”

The study further reveals details about the pre-existing structures, including the central chamber, main entrance, western chamber, and walls, all of which provide insights into the architectural and historical aspects of the contested site. The ASI report affirms that the Hindu temple had a significant central chamber and at least one chamber in each cardinal direction.

Inscriptions found during the survey, including those in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu, and Kannada scripts, support the contention that earlier structures, possibly Hindu temples, were destroyed, and their components were repurposed in the construction of the existing mosque. Notably, the inscriptions mention deities such as Janardhana, Rudra, and UmeSvara.

The ASI report concludes that the nature and age of the existing architectural remains, along with the study of artefacts, inscriptions, art, and sculptures, strongly indicate the prior existence of a Hindu temple at the Gyanvapi Mosque site. The report provides valuable historical insights, shedding light on the architectural evolution of the contested structure.

This revelation is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing legal proceedings and public discourse surrounding the Gyanvapi Mosque case. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.