Is the 'Shivalinga' of Gyanvapi Mosque a fountain at all? Instructions for scientific research

• May 13, 2023

The Allahabad High Court has ordered a scientific test on the controversial 'Shivalinga' of Gyanvapi Mosque. Earlier, a group of Hindus had filed an application in the district court of Varanasi demanding an examination to find out whether the controversial structure inside the mosque in Varanasi is indeed a Shivlinga. But the court rejected their request.

But 6 months after the incident, the Allahabad High Court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a scientific survey to check whether the structure is indeed a Shivling (Gyanvapi Shivling). Before that, the petitioners went to the lower court requesting carbon dating of the structure in October. But their plea was rejected by the lower court. A section of the petitioners appealed to the High Court challenging that judgment. Following their application, the High Court gave this order on Friday. The Allahabad High Court said today that the Archeological Department of India should carry out a scientific survey of the structure without any damage. A section of Hindus claims that a structure found inside the mosque is actually a broken part of the ancient Shivlinga. On the other hand, the mosque authorities claim that what Hindutva claims is a Shivlinga is actually a part of the mosque's ablution fountain. People wash their hands and face in the water of that fountain and then pray.

Despite their push in the lower courts, the Allahabad High Court ultimately ruled in favor of examining the structure.

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