Proofs of temple traces in Gyanwapi Temple

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Gyanvapi: SC extends order securing site of Shivling claim

The apex court was hearing a plea seeking extension of the protection of the area in Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex, where a ‘Shivling’ was claimed to have been found during a videographic survey of the mosque premises earlier this year.

The Supreme Court Friday extended its interim direction securing the area in the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi where a ‘Shivling’ was claimed to have been found during a videographic survey of the mosque area without impeding or restricting the rights of Muslims to access and offer namaz at the mosque till further orders.

“We direct that pending further orders, the interim order dated May 17 as extended on May 20 shall continue to remain in operation,” a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices Surya Kant and P S Narasimha ordered.

Hearing a petition by five Hindu women seeking the right to worship at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, on the outer wall of the mosque complex, a Varanasi court had on April 8 appointed an Advocate Commissioner to carry out an inspection of the site, “prepare videography of the action”, and submit a report.

The mosque committee had challenged this before the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the appeal on April 21. The committee then approached the Supreme Court.

Hearing it in May this year, the Supreme Court, however, said that “ascertainment of the religious character of a place is not barred by… the (Places of Worship) Act” and declined to stay proceedings before the Varanasi court.

It asked the District Magistrate to secure the area where the ‘Shivling’ was claimed to have been found, without impeding or restricting the rights of Muslims to access and offer namaz at the mosque.

Taking into account the “complexity of the issues involved in the civil suit…and their sensitivity”, the top court transferred the proceedings pending before the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Varanasi, to the District Judge, Varanasi, for “trial and all interlocutory and ancillary proceedings”. The bench also asked the District Court to first decide the application filed by the mosque committee, challenging the maintainability of the suit by the Hindu petitioners.

The May 17 order was to continue for eight weeks from the date on which the District Court decides the question of maintainability of the suit filed by the Hindu women devotees.

On September 12, the District Court said that the suit seeking the right to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque is maintainable.

With that period set to run out on November 12, the Hindu side approached the SC, seeking extension. On Friday, the Muslim side told the bench that no reply had yet been filed on its appeal

Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Hindu side, assured that he would file a response in three weeks.

Gyanvapi case: Allahabad High Court adjourns hearing till November 28

Gyanvapi case: Hindu side’s advocate C S Vaidyanathan argued that for arriving at a logical conclusion, a survey should be conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to bring out the prima facie truth.

The Allahabad High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing in the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque case till November 28 on an appeal from the mosque management.

The court said the matter will not be adjourned on the next date of hearing.

Appearing on behalf of the temple side, advocate C S Vaidyanathan argued that for arriving at a logical conclusion, a survey should be conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to bring out the prima facie truth

Evidence through maps: How Gyanvapi mosque was built atop Vishveshwar temple

19th century English author James Prinsep had illustrated the history of the Gyanvapi mosque and the old Vishveshwar temple. Prinsep’s book “Benares Illustration” reveals surprising facts on the basis of lithography.

By Tejshree Purandare : As the debate over the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex continues in the courts, some new and old facts have come to the fore. 19th century English author James Prinsep, during his stint as illustrator and traveller, decoded the present Gyanvapi mosque way back in 1831 as he travelled across the length and breadth of the city of Varanasi.

Prinsep, in his book ‘Benares Illustrated, A Series of Drawings’, discussed the architecture of the old Vishveshwar temple, the present Gyanvapi mosque and how Mughals under Aurangzeb converted the original structure into a capacious masjid to establish their religious hegemony.

The technique he used for this was lithography.

WHAT IS LITHOGRAPHY?

James Prinsep used lithography techniques to present information with evidence. Since paintings and artifacts were not used at that time, he used lithography to engrave every scene on paper.

To understand lithography, India Today TV spoke to renowned lithography expert Bobby Kohli. Kohli explains that lithography is a printing technique that is widely used around the world. Most books, newspapers and magazines are made using lithography. It is fast, efficient, cheap and relatively easy.