Varanasi district court allowed a petition for seeking carbon dating of the Gyanvapi's Mosque internal structure

On September 22, 2022, the Varanasi district court made a significant ruling, allowing a petition that seeks carbon dating of an internal structure within the Gyanvapi Mosque. The petitioners, representing a group of Hindu women, claim that the structure in question is a ‘Shivling,’ a sacred symbol in Hinduism. The mosque is located near the historic Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, a city of immense religious significance. This decision has added further complexity to the ongoing legal and religious dispute surrounding the Gyanvapi Mosque.

The Gyanvapi Mosque Controversy: A Brief Overview

The Gyanvapi Mosque, situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, has been at the center of a long-standing controversy between Hindu and Muslim communities. The core of the dispute revolves around the historical claims regarding the mosque’s origins. According to Madan Mohan Yadav, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, the mosque was built after the demolition of a Hindu temple by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century. Yadav argues that the mosque was constructed on the ruins of the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which holds immense spiritual importance for Hindus.

On the other hand, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque, refutes these claims, asserting that the mosque is a Waqf property, governed under Islamic law. They argue that the mosque has existed for centuries and is a place of worship for Muslims.

Petition Filed by Hindu Women

The current legal proceedings were initiated by a petition filed by five Hindu women, who sought permission to offer daily prayers before idols situated on the mosque's outer walls. During a court-mandated survey of the mosque premises, these women claimed that a Shivling was discovered within the mosque’s compound. This discovery has heightened the religious significance of the site for Hindus, leading to the petition for carbon dating to determine the historical age and authenticity of the structure.

The court’s decision to allow the carbon dating petition marks a crucial step in the legal process, as it aims to provide scientific evidence regarding the disputed structure. Carbon dating, a technique used to determine the age of archaeological finds, could potentially confirm whether the structure predates the mosque or if it was part of the original temple. If the results of the carbon dating support the Hindu claims, it could have significant legal and religious implications.

Historical and Religious Context

The Gyanvapi Mosque and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple are not only important religious landmarks but also symbols of the long-standing religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India. The area surrounding these sites has witnessed numerous legal battles and social tensions over the years. The ongoing dispute over the mosque mirrors the larger narrative of temple-mosque controversies, similar to the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, which was settled by the Supreme Court of India in 2019.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, considered the holiest of Shiva temples by Hindus, making the claim of the Shivling inside the mosque especially contentious. If proven, this could reshape the religious and legal discourse surrounding the Gyanvapi Mosque, as it directly challenges the ownership and usage of the mosque’s premises.

Legal Proceedings and Implications

The Varanasi court’s decision to permit carbon dating opens the door to scientific inquiry, which could provide a more concrete foundation for either side’s claims. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has expressed concerns that this move could disturb the communal harmony in the region, as religious sentiments are deeply intertwined with the ongoing case.

For the petitioners, the discovery of the Shivling during the survey has strengthened their case, and they argue that Hindus should have the right to pray at the site. On the contrary, the mosque’s management believes that these claims are an attempt to encroach upon a historical place of worship for Muslims.

As the legal process unfolds, the case continues to attract attention from both religious and political groups. The outcome could set a precedent for similar cases across the country, as India grapples with its complex history of religious monuments and their present-day status.