Mosque panel says idol fragments, figures discarded by adjacent shops

With the Archaeological Survey of India's scientific survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque detailing the discovery of a large number of remains such as figures of Lord Ganesh and broken shivlingas found under the debris, the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee has contended that these fragments were discarded by outsiders and households as well as idol sellers who ran their businesses in a plot close to the mosque.

A broken part of a marble slab inscribed with 'Ram' in Devanagari script, the circular part of the yonipatta (base of a shivlinga) with a round socket for the linga, a four-handed terracotta figure of Ganesh and a shivlinga broken at the bottom are among the sculptural remains found in cellars of the Gyanvapi mosque buried under dumped soil.

The report said a series of cellars were constructed to the east to create additional space and a large platform in front of the mosque for accommodating large numbers of people for prayers and that pillars from earlier temples were reused in making cellars in the eastern part of the platform.


"Before the Gyanvapi mosque was barricaded in 1995, the area was open. And often households and other outsiders would dump broken idols and other objects there. In the chatta dwar, two shopkeepers sold idols and they would also often discard them there," SM Yaseen, joint secretary of the mosque committee, told ET.

Yaseen said the ASI has also relied significantly on historians in concluding its findings. "If they were referring to historians, then our historic record should have also been looked at," he said.

However, apart from the fragments of idols, the report referred to many other discoveries, such as Sanskrit and Dravidian inscriptions on the pre-existing and existing structure, including names of three deities - Janardhana, Rudra, Umesvara - and the term 'Mahamukti mandapa. About Maha-muktimandapa, the ASI said, "This is of great significance as it helps in establishing existence of the famous abode of Shiva, as mentioned in ancient texts."

Concerns Over Viral Messages Calling for a Temple

Yaseen expressed concerns over some viral messages written with the mischievous intent of demolishing the mosque like the Babri Masjid being sent to people of the Muslim community to incite them, and others being circulated on social media. He said he has informed the district magistrate of Varanasi and commissioner of police about them.