Kashi, also known as Varanasi, holds a significant place as one of the seven Mukti sthalas in Bharat, alongside Ayodhya, Mathura, Dwaraka, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Kanchi. Out of these seven, the prominent temples in three locations, namely Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Mathura, were seized by Mughal invaders. Currently, there is a petition seeking permission to worship within the Gyan Vaapi premises in Varanasi, with the claim that it was constructed atop the original temple of Lord Vishvanatha.
Today, there stands a temple of Vishvanatha adjacent to the Gyan Vaapi mosque, built by Rani Ahilyabai of the Maratha empire in 1780. According to the petitioners, the original temple dates back 2050 years and was erected by Raja Vikramaditya. Remarkably, this temple’s existence can be traced back to the time of the Mahabharata. The Mahabharata recounts that the Pandavas journeyed to this Varanasi temple on the 8th day of the Phalguni month, during a vibrant festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. Even today, a colorful festival known as “Rangbhari” resembling Holi is celebrated in this temple on the 11th day of the Phalguni month. This striking similarity between ancient and contemporary traditions provides evidence of the temple’s enduring existence for over 5000 years.
The name “Kashi” has been associated with Varanasi since ancient times, originating from the great-grandson of Ila, the daughter of Vaivasvata Manu. The temple of Vishvanatha has its origins dating back to the time when the River Ganga began to flow during the early Holocene period. According to temple tradition, Lord Shiva manifested as Svayambhu from beneath the ground, and this place came to be known as the renowned Gyan Vaapi, meaning the “Well of Knowledge.” It is believed that this well is filled with waters from the underground Ganga, and in ancient times, it was a part of the Gyan Mandapa where discourses took place. Seekers of knowledge and salvation flocked to this Vishvanatha temple.
The existence of the Vishvanatha temple is further validated through the life history of Tulsidas (1511-1623). During his lifetime, the Ram Janma Bhumi was destroyed in 1528, which he mentioned in his composition “Tulsi Shatak.” This fact was accepted as evidence during the proceedings related to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid demolition. Unable to reside in Ayodhya at that time, Tulsidas relocated to Varanasi.
During his stay in Varanasi, Tulsidas received a divine command from Lord Shiva in a dream to write the story of Rama in the local dialect. He composed the “Ramcharitmanas” in Awadhi and presented it at the Vishvanatha temple. To test the worth of his epic poem, it was placed at the bottom of a pile of Sanskrit texts in front of Lord Vishvanatha in the Garbhagriha, and the doors were sealed. When the doors were opened the next morning, Tulsidas’s work was found at the top of the stack, with the words “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram” inscribed on the manuscript, bearing Shiva’s signature. However, this temple, known for its miraculous events, was later destroyed by Aurangzeb.
Varanasi and its temple faced attacks throughout history. In the 11th century, associates of Salar Masud, the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni, attacked the city. In the 12th century, the Ghurids destroyed the temple and built the Razia Mosque in its place. The temple was reconstructed in the 13th century on the site where the Gyanvapi mosque now stands. Once again, it was demolished by Mughal rulers. During Akbar’s reign in the 16th century, Raja Man Singh of Jaipur rebuilt the temple, an act sometimes misinterpreted as representing Akbar’s Din-I llahi system. However, this contradicts the fact that Tulsidas presented his work at this temple, lamenting the sound of Azan from the nearby Ram Janma Bhumi.
The temple worshiped by Tulsidas was demolished by Aurangzeb in the 17th century (1669), and the present mosque, initially called Alamgir Mosque after Aurangzeb’s title, was built on its ruins. It later became known as the Gyan Vaapi mosque, clearly indicating that it occupied the site of the renowned Gyan Vaapi temple.
British missionary Rev. Mathew. A. Sherring, who spent a significant part of his life in Varanasi, noted that many ancient buildings in the city had been appropriated by Muslims for use as mosques, mausoleums, dargahs, and more. He emphasized the enduring impact of Aurangzeb’s religious fanaticism on Hindus.
Edwin Greaves, another British missionary in Varanasi, highlighted Aurangzeb’s actions, including the destruction of the Vishwanath temple and the erection of the mosque near Gyan vapi. This period brought immense suffering and humiliation to the city’s Hindus.
American historian Audrey Truschke, though known for her anti-Hindu stance, confirmed in her book that the Gyanvapi mosque was indeed constructed during Aurangzeb’s reign and incorporated the old Vishwanath temple structure as its qibla wall, leaving no doubt that a temple was demolished to build the mosque.
The southern side of the mosque, constructed on the pre-existing temple structure, clearly indicates the deliberate insult to Hindus. The Garbhagriha and two shrines were destroyed to make way for the three-domed mosque, while other structures like the Bull (Nandi) and the Gyan Vaapi well remained untouched. The fate of the Jyothirlinga, the image of Lord Vishvanatha, remains unknown, but it is said that the temple priest, in an effort to protect the Lingam, threw it into the well and jumped in himself.
For the next 25 years, historical accounts are silent regarding the Lingam and the people involved. Bhishan Singh attempted to recover and rebuild the temple, but the Nawab of Oudh dissuaded him. It was only a century later that Rani Ahilyabai succeeded in constructing the Vishvanatha temple, albeit not at the original site. However, there is no information about whether the original Lingam was retrieved and relocated in the new temple. The fate of the Murti of Lord Vishvanatha remains unknown.
With the court allowing archaeological surveys, the day is approaching when we may finally learn what happened to the temple and its sacred artifacts. Perhaps, in due time, God will reveal the truth.
