Gyanvapi Mandir or Masjid | TIMELINE | All you need to know

Gyanvapi Mandir or Masjid | TIMELINE | All you need to know

The controversial story behind the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi was said to be believed that temple was destroyed before by Aurangzeb and constructed a mosque above it. Gyanvapi was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1669.  The Gyanvapi issue is almost similar to Ayodhya Ram Mandir – Babri Masjid dispute. Which was later solved by the supreme court in 2019.

For demanding proof, the Hindu side claims that Shivling is real and worshippers worship lord Shiva while the Muslim followers say that Shivling is the fountain there was no temple or had no proof of a temple.

Here is the full timeline of the Gyanvapi mosque Kashi Vishwanath dispute:-

  • In 1936, a case was filed in the District Court against the British Government for the right to offer Namaz in the entire Gyanvapi complex.
  • On 15 August 1937, the right to offer Namaz in the Gyanvapi mosque was granted explicitly.
  • On 10 April 1942, upholding the decision of the lower court, the High Court rejected the appeal.
  • In 1991, the first petition in the case was filed in Varanasi court by Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar and Pandit Somnath Vyas, and others. The petitioner had sought permission to worship in the Gyanvapi complex. 
  • Against this order in the High Court in 1998, two petitions were filed on behalf of Anjuman Inazaniya Masajid and UP Sunni Waqf Board Lucknow.
  • On October 11, 2018, former district government advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi was appointed in this case.
  • On April 8, 2021, an order was issued to carry out an archaeological survey.
  • The survey began started on 14th April 2022.