Gyanvapi Survey
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report filed in the court of the District Judge states that the western wall of Gyanvapi is the only part of the pre-existing temple. The structure of the Hindu temple was demolished and used to build the mosque in the Gyanvapi complex, but the western wall was used without any damage. After the demolition of the temple located here and before the construction of the mosque, parts of the western wall were modified to suit its new use.
The northern and southern corners of the western wall have also been altered. The plain stone slab at both corners is in sharp contrast to the molded wall surface of the pre-existing structure. ASI has described every inch of the western wall in its report and along with it, 32 more important evidences of Hindu temple have been found.
Volume-1 of the ASI report has an entire chapter on the Western Wall. It is told that mason’s marks have also been found on the roof above the stairs of the southern entrance. The blocked entrances to the North Hall and South Hall on the north-west and south-west sides have also undergone major structural changes. Both entrances were blocked with stone and mortar. The architectural design of the entrance facades has also been completely destroyed.
The report noted that the mural art in the western wall, created using bricks and lime mortar, is in stark contrast to the original architectural pattern of the pre-existing structure. The internal surfaces have been thickly lime plastered, making it difficult to recognize the original features of the pre-existing structure.
