Deities were worshipped within Gyanvapi, God’s property cannot be given to anyone: Hindu side tells SC

Ahead of the hearing on the Gyanvapi Masjid case, the Hindu side has filed a submission claiming that the deities were worshipped within the premises, adding that God’s property cannot be given to anyone.

A day before the Supreme court is scheduled to hear the Gyanvapi mosque case, Hindu parties in the case have filed their written submissions and claimed that Hindus are continuously worshiping Lord Adi Visheshwar, Goddess Shringar Gauri and other deities within the property and that the god's property cannot be given to anyone

"Hindu side says Adi Visheshwar is the dejure owner of the entire plot," the 278 page submission stated, adding that Hindus have been following their rituals, circumambulating at the same place for centuries.

Refuting the claims by petitioners, Hindu parties said, "Aurangzeb, being the ruler, forcibly took possession. This does not give the right to the property to the Muslims. Aurangzeb did not establish any waqf. The disputed site is not a mosque.”

The submission mentioned that the fact of demolition of Shri Adi Visheshwar temple under the command of Aurangzeb was also mentioned in ‘MaasirIAlamgiri,’ a writer of the time of Aurangzeb, which has been translated by Sir Jadunath Sarkar.

"In fact the original temple was partly demolished and utilizing the remaining structure and the materials a construction was raised and named alleged ‘Gyanvapi Mosque’, whereas the deities continued in visible and invisible form within the premises of old temple. A large portion of the building and a portion of Tahkhana remained in the control of Hindus," the submission stated.

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Citing the historians, the Hindu side have confirmed that Islamic ruler Aurangzeb had issued an order on 09.04.1669 directing his administration to demolish the temple of Lord Adi Visheshwar at Varanasi.