KASI VISWANATAHAR TEMPLE

For All Devout Hindus, 13 – 12 – 2021 – Monday had become a Historic Memorable and Holy Day. This Day is going to become one more Important Festival Day for celebration for all Hindus to get the blessings of Kasi Viswanathar - one of the most reverent 12 Jothir Lingas.

Kasi Temple Dham Complex which was congested and confined to a mere 3000 sq.ft. area had become a massive temple complex of 5 lacs sq. ft. with all modern facilities around the temple.

This had been made possible due to two dedicated karma yogis viz. Modi and Yogi and hence the phase 1 project was completed with a record time of 33 months – that too in the midst of Covid19.

Not only Kasi Temple, but the entire Kasi Town – its many heritage buildings, Kasi Railway Station etc. were upgraded and renovated. For the inauguration function, entire Kasi Town was illuminated with lights and as Shinning being the meaning of Kasi, it had become a reality much to the delight of all Devout Hindus.

Ganga Water Purification Project was taken up much earlier and Banks of Ganga River had also been decorated for the occasion. Ganga Arati at night around 6 pm was special attractions to the tourists.

By these developments, the majority Hindus in India got justice after their silent sufferings of neglects in practicing their own religious rituals and temple worship.

The word Viswanathar consists of Two words – Viswa + Nathar which means Universe + Lord – i.e. Lord of Universe. Even the word Kasi means Shinning. In short, Kasi Viswanathar means Shinning Lord of Universe. Two Great Leaders of BJP – PM Modi at the Centre and CM Yogi at the UP State had accomplished the task of making Varnashi Shetra as Shining Town – perhaps it is going to be a model Town in our Bharat.

Even after India won its freedom, due to vote bank politics of many political parties - mainly Congress which ruled most of the period, Hindus were denied their freedom of worship in Ayodhya, Kasi and Mathura for which they had to fight for their justice. Only after Modi became PM, Ayodhya’s dispute was amicably settled and a grand Temple for Lord Rama being built at Ayodha at the same spot where Ram was believed to have born will be ready by December 2023. Kasi and Mathura are yet to be completely liberated from the Muslims’ occupations.

After Modi became Prime Minister with full majority due to the solid support of the majority of Hindus, Hindus’ Cultural Revolution along with economic revivals with unpresented infrastructure developments throughout India for Strong – Self Sufficient – Self Manufacturing Bharat within a very short period of 7 years starting from 2014 had made India Great and Admired by the World Bodies like UN, World Bank and World Health Organization – not to speak of many countries looking for India for solving many threatening political and economic and health problems.

Bharat Flag is flying high in the world arena and its message of Yoga, Hindu Culture, Ayurveda are being welcomed by many nations.

In this hour of jubilation, it will be relevant and worthwhile to know the past bloody history about Kasi Viswanathar Temple.

Kasi Viswanathar Temple was ransacked and destroyed by Muslim Rulers on about three occasions. Lastly in 1669, Aurangzeb destroyed Kasi Viswanath Temple and at that place he built a Mosque which is called Gyanavapi Mosque.

Gyanam means Wisdom and Vapi means Well and hence Gyanavapi means Well of Wisdom. These words belongs to chase undisputed Sanskrit Language and there is no semblance of Arabic in these words. This goes to prove that name Gyanavapi is nothing to do withnMuslims or their religions. Looting of Jewels of Hindus Temples after their destructions apart from killings, raping and forceful conversions and forceful feeding of beefs to the Hindu Populations are well documented by Muslims’ Rulers themselves as their religious duties and achievements as followers of the tenets of Koran.

The Gyanavapi – The well of wisdom - is situated to the north of Kasi Viswanath Temple. It was recorded that when Muslims Invaders attempted to destroy the temple, the chief priest was reported to have hidden Main Statue of Kasi Viswanathar into this well. Further there is also one pipal tree inside the mosque that was worshiped by the Hindus then.

The temple wall with its architectural designs was being used as the wall of the masque – please see the picture above published. It clearly shows that the Gyanavapi Mosque was raised on the ruins of the destroyed Kasi Viswanath Temple.

Another visual evidence is also there to prove our point that Gyanavapi Mosque was without any doubt constructed on the destruction of Kasi Viswanath Temple and some Temple Structures were used by the Muslims’ Invaders in building their mosque.

The picture above shows a portion of Temple Structure becoming the wall of the mosque. The protruding temple structure with exquisite designed pillars separating the temple complex and mosque will stand as a testimony of Muslims’ Vandalisms.

The picture above is Gyanavapi – Wisdom Well – which is in between the temple and mosque. What more evidence one needs to know that Gyanavapi Mosque was raised on the ruins of Kasi Viswanath Temple.

Gyanavapi Mosque Court Cases

Now let us know about the litigations in respect of Gyanavapi Mosque which was built by demolishing Kasi Viswanathar Temple.

1. Beginning 1984, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) along with right-

wing Hindu Nationalists engaged in a nation-wide campaign to

reclaim the sites of the mosques (allegedly) constructed by demolishing Hindu temples including the Gyanavapi.

2. A title-dispute suit was filed in the Varanasi Civil Court in 1991

for handing over the site to Hindu community; it sought to bypass

the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 (henceforth

PoW), which was in force now.

3. The court-case remained pending for 22 years. In the year 1991,

the petitioner refiled another plea requesting for an ASI survey of

the mosque-complex on the following grounds: “The temple had

allegedly existed for thousands of years (since the reign of a

Vikramaditya) before being demolished by Aurangzeb; this was

apparently proved by the continuous presence of Lingam among other

features and Hindus were deprived of their religious right to offer

water to lingams.”

4. The Gyanavapi mosque management committee (Anjuman

Intezamia Masjid) acting as the defendant denied the claims and rejected that Aurangzeb demolished a temple to construct the mosque.

5. On 8 April 2021, the Varnasi City-court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct the requested survey. In addition, a five-member committee comprising experts in archaeology was asked to be constituted, with two members from the "minority community" to determine whether any temple existed at the site, prior to the mosque.

6. Two separate petitions by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Varanasi Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which runs the Gyanvapi mosque, were filed in the Allahabad High Court challenging the Varanasi court’s April 8 order asking the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a physical survey of the premises.

7. The defendants of the case opined the Varnasi court's ruling to run up against the PoW act and other matters of law.Hence the

very same day – i.e. 8^th April 2021, a challenge was filed by the

defendants in the Allahabad High Court. On 9 September 2021, the

High Court ruled in favor of the defendants; the survey was indefinitely stayed and the judgement of Lower Varnasi Court was criticized for breach of judicial decorum.

8. Some strictures were passed on the lower Varnasi Court by the Allahabad High Court as under:

“In the opinion of the court, the court below should wait for the verdict in the petitions pending before this court and not to proceed further in the matter till the time a judgment is delivered. The judicial courtesy and decorum warranted such discipline, which was expected from the court below but for the unfathomable reasons, neither of the courses were taken.

It is to be regretted that the court below departed from this traditional way in the present case and chose to examine the question himself. I have said so with the fond hope that judicial enthusiasm should not obliterate the profound responsibility that is expected from the court below.”

9. As Comprehensive Physical Survey of Gyanavapi Mosque by Archaeological Survey of India as ordered by Varnasi Court was stayed by the Allahabad High Court, the matter is still pending in both the courts and all are waiting for their verdicts.

The case was in fact filed on behalf of Lord Kasi Viswanathar’s name praying that a portion of Kasi Viswanathar Temple was encroached by Gaynanavapi Mosque and that the land of that mosque should be restored to Kasi Viswanathar as the original owner and occupant and that the mosque should be demolished so as to give ownership to the presiding deity of the temple.

In spite of visual evidence of the destructions of temple to build Gyanavapi Mosque, our brethren Muslims had not shown big heart by handing over the land to Kasi Viswanathar and if that happens, their gesture will go a long way in Hindu-Muslim Unity to a new level of understanding and unity and harmony and peace.

It is a real eye soar to see that separating portions of Kasi Viswanathar Temple and Gyanavapi Mosque are under the control of Indian Army.

In the midst of these court cases, Gyanavapi Mosque Committee had surrendered 1700 sq.ft. Waqf Board to Temple Trust in exchange of 1000 sq.ft. temple land. When this gesture by the Hindus and Muslims could be shown in the midst of court cases, a little more give and take mindset of the two parties can find a solution to this vexing dispute.

Let Kasi Viswanathar and Allah show the way for the early solution.

KASI VISWANATHAR DHAM PROJECT PHASE 1 COMPLETION

(Dham means Divine Abode – It has become not only Divine, Holy and Heaven – but unbelievably spacious with all modern amenities with direct access from Ganga River to the Temple enabling hassle free passage for devotees to carry Ganga Water for Abhishekam of Kasi Viswanathar Diety.)

Modi had laid the foundation for this project on 08 – 03 – 2019 morning at Kasi. The period was when Corona was at its peak. Still, due to direct supervision and guidance and support of Karma Yogis Modi – Yogi, the project was completed within 33 months. In our scriptures, Viswakarma was architect and builder for Gods and Devas. Considering the completion of the project in record time and that too with many hurdles to overcome, it seems that both Karma Yogis could be considered as Avatar of Viswakarma.

Acquisition of 300 houses, Rehabilitation/Compensation of business communities in around temple complex, Constructions of 23 new buildings such as museums, pilgrim’s facility centers, food court etc. were all completed in record time. When the houses were demolished, more than 40 temples were found with exquisite sculptures which were preserved for relocation in the temple complex.

An approximately over 50-feet corridor was constructed to directly connect Ganga’s Manikarnika and Lalita Ghat to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple. This will enable the devotees to bring Ganga Holy Water by just walking freely without any obstacles direct to the temple for performing abishekam of Kasi Viswanathar which is an important religious rituals for the Hindus.

A statue of the Maratha queen, Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who got the Kashi Vishwanath temple reconstructed in 1777, were installed at Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor. The temple complex have statues of Adi Shankaracharya, Bharat Mata, and Lord Kartikeya. Besides, idols of Goddess Parvati, Goddess Annapurna, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Satyanarayan will also be restored in the KV temple premises.

Further almost all heritage buildings at Kasi were renovated and illuminated for the function. Kasi Railway Station was also got a face lift not to speak about many Ghats in Ganga River. Special Ganga Arti was performed duly witnessed by Modi – Yogi and all other dignitaries and Ganga Mata was glittering with illuminations along its shores.

5 lacs ladoos along with a booklet containing details of Kasi Shetra were distributed to the householders of Kasi. The owners of houses whose houses were acquired were invited to the function as special invitees as well.

Even the workers who were responsible for the timely completion of work inspite of Covid-19 were honoured by Modi by showering flowers petals, taking photos with them and also dining with them as well.

Last but not the least, while Modi was worshiping in Kasi Viswanath – one of the 12 Jothir Lingam, 11 other remaining lingams at various parts of India were also been worshiped by Central Ministers & BJP ruled State Chief Ministers.

Now the photos published here will speak to make you to nod your head as approval – Kasi means Shinning – Yes, Kasi had really shined spreading its message of glory, holy, courage and conviction.

HARA HARA MAHADEVA.

KASI VISWANATH DHAM – COMPLETION OF PHASE 1 – PHOTOS