Gyanvapi Dispute: Court Resumes Hearing on Lord Adivisheshwar Case

On Monday, the Varanasi Civil Judge Senior Division (Fast Track Court) Yugal Shambhu heard arguments regarding the ancient self-proclaimed Lord Adivisheshwar case, which has been pending since 1991. Advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi concluded his arguments opposing the application for party inclusion. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 13, during which arguments from Yogendra Nath Vyas, nephew of the late plaintiff Somnath Vyas, will be presented.

The case centers on the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi, a site of historical and religious contention. The Vyas family claims hereditary rights to worship deities within the complex, asserting that these privileges have been passed down through generations. Recently, a Varanasi district court granted the Vyas family the right to perform rituals in the mosque’s southern cellar, known as ‘Vyasji ka Tehkhana.’ This decision has been met with legal challenges, including an appeal by the mosque’s management committee to the Allahabad High Court.

The dispute traces back to 1669 when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of the Lord Adivisheshwar temple, leading to the construction of the Gyanvapi Mosque. Devotees of Lord Shiva have since sought the restoration of the original temple. The current legal proceedings aim to address these longstanding grievances and determine the rightful custodianship and worship rights within the complex.

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As the December 13 hearing approaches, all eyes remain on the Varanasi court’s forthcoming decisions, which hold profound implications for the site’s future and the preservation of religious heritage.