The survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found 55 stone sculptures in the Gyanvapi mosque premises, including 15 “Shiva linga”, reports The Indian Express.
The ASI report stated that three sculptures of Lord “Vishnu”, “Ganesha”, two of “Nandi”, two of “Krishna” and five of “Hanuman” were also found in the premises. One of the sculptures of Lord Krishna, with a height 15 cm, width 8 cm and thickness 5 cm, made of sandstone was also found during the survey. The sculpture belongs to the late medieval period and was found in the eastern side of cellar S2.
The ASI’s report which was made public on Thursday after copies of it were handed over to Hindu and Muslim litigants by the Varanasi district court has concluded that a temple “appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb and part of it… modified and reused in the existing structure”.
The Varanasi district court had asked the ASI to ascertain whether the mosque was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.”
Along with them, 259 “stone objects”, including 55 stone sculptures, 21 household materials, five “inscribed slabs”, and 176 “architectural members” were also found. Along with them, a total of 27 terracotta objects 23 terracotta figurines (two of gods and goddesses, 18 human figurines and animal figurines) were also found and studied during the survey.
Other things found during the survey include 113 metal objects, 93 coins – including 40 of the East India Company, 21 Victoria Queen coins and three Shah Alam Badshah-II coins. All the recovered objects have been handed over to the Varanasi district administration.
The description of a Lord Hanuman reads, “The extant part depicts the bottom half of a sculpture of Hanuman. The left leg bent at the knee is placed on a rock. The right leg is firmly planted on the ground.” It’s in “good” condition.” It is said to be height of 21.5 cm and a width of 16 cm.
The description of a “Shiv Linga” which the report says is made of sandstone, read, “A broken piece of a cylindrical stone object with convex top, most probably a shiva linga. It is broken at the base and some chipping marks can be seen on the top and side.”
The “Shiv Ling” with a height of 6.5 cm and diameter 3.5 cm, was found in the “western chamber” and its date/period is said to be “modern”.
A sculpture of Ganesha, whose condition is said to be “good”, was found on the western side of cellar S2 and is listed as a “late medieval”.
“The extant part depicts the crowned head of Ganesha. The trunk is turned to the right. The eyes are visible. Part of the left trunk is also extant,” the description said.
