Gyanvapi mosque: 'Big Shivling' found in 'wazu khana' of Varanasi masjid during videography survey, says lawyer

Varanasi: A lawyer representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi mosque videography survey case has said that “big Shivling’ was found in the premises of the masjid after which the Varanasi civil court-ordered to seal ‘wazu khana’ in the mosque.

“During the survey exercise yesterday (Monday, 16 May), we found a well-like structure in the middle of the wazu khana. We requested the Commissioner to reduce the water level at the wazu khana. When the water was reduced, we reached the well-like structure and found a big Shivling. The Shivling has a diameter of around 4 metres and a height of around 3 feet. I believe it is deeper inside the ground,” news agency ANI quoted advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, saying.

“It was necessary to put the fact under the knowledge of the court. We moved an application in the court seeking order to preserve and secure this important piece of evidence. Following this, the court ordered the CRPF commandants to protect it round-the-clock and UP DGP and Chief Secretary to monitor it,” he said.

The lawyer further said that the wuzu should not be performed there since Shivling was found there. “The area has been sealed. And, performing wuzu at the place of Shivling is not justified. So the court gave the order to seal the wazu khana area in the mosque,” Jain said.

Asked about the claims by the other party that the structure is not Shivling but a fountain, Jain said, “We understand the difference between fountain and Shivling. If it is a fountain then it would have a different system. It is a Shivling.”

The Supreme Court will be hearing the plea seeking a stay on the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi on Tuesday. A bench, headed by Justice DY Chandrachud, will hear the plea filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee.

On this, Jain said, “I believe the matter in the Supreme Court has gone infructuous. They (Muslim party) already complied the order they challenged in the Supreme Court. They participated in exercise and were part of the commission. Now can they challenge it after participating? We believe Supreme Court will not interfere in the matter.”

Don’t Miss: Gyanvapi mosque: Shivling found on third-day of videography survey, Varanasi court orders sealing of premises

The three-day-long court-monitored videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi concluded on Monday, 16 May, 2022.

As the survey was completed, the Hindu petitioner in the case, Sohan Lal Arya on Monday claimed that the committee found a Shivling at the complex. Arya, who accompanied the court commission for the mosque survey, said that they have found “conclusive evidence”.

The survey was conducted in accordance with the Varanasi Civil Court’s order to continue the survey despite objections from the mosque authorities.

After the conclusion of the survey, the Varanasi court ordered the District Magistrate of Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma, “to seal the area where the Shivling was found and to bar people from going to the place.”

In its order, the court said that the DM, police commissioner and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandant Varanasi will be responsible for the security of the sealed area.

The civil court had appointed a court commissioner to conduct the survey and videography of the site and the same was challenged before Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the appeal on 21 April.

Five women had filed a petition in the court seeking permission for daily worship at the Shringar Gauri temple, which is claimed to be situated inside the Gyanvapi Mosque premises.

Another petition, which was filed by one Vijay Shankar Rastogi, had contended that the entire premises belonged to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and that the Gyanvapi Mosque is only a part of the temple complex, is also pending in the court since 1991.

Rastogi had also claimed that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple had been built over two thousand years ago and the temple was demolished by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Advocate Vishal Singh, the Court-appointed special assistant commissioner, in Varanasi, said that the survey was conducted in an unhindered manner.

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