Recovered 15 Shiv Lingas from Gyanvapi Mosque: ASI survey
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Lucknow: The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted a report on the survey in the Gyanvapi mosque complex stating that it had found 55 stone sculptures, including 15 Shivlings, three sculptures of Vishnu, three of Ganesha, two of Nandi, two of Krishna and five of Hanuman, The Indian Express reported.
The agency concluded that the mosque was built in the 17th century, destroying a part of the temple while modifying or reusing others by Aurangazeb. The ASI report, in four volumes, was published on Thursday, and copies were handed over to Hindu and Muslim litigants.
Volume 3 suggested that there were one “Makara” stone sculpture, one “Dwarpala”, one “Apasmara Purusha”, one “Votive shrine”, 14 “fragments”, and seven “miscellaneous” stone sculptures.
As per the report, out of 259 stone objects found, 55 were sculptures, 21 were household materials, five were “inscribed slabs”, and 176 were “architectural members”. Out of 27 terracotta objects, 23 terracotta figurines (two of gods and goddesses, 18 human figurines and three animal figurines).
Further, Metal objects found were 113 and 93 coins, including 40 of the East India Company, 21 Victoria Queen coins and three Shah Alam Badshah-II coins were also found.
The report states that a Krishna sculpture made of sandstone, which was 15 cm tall, 8cm wide, and 5cm thick, was found. This belonged to the late medieval period.
A Hanuman sculpture found was made of marble. It is of the modern period. The found was 21.5 cm tall, 16 cm wide, and 5 cm thick. A sandstone-made Shiv Linga was dated in the modern period. It is 6.5 cm tall, 3.5 in diameter.
An early medieval period Vishnu sculpture made of sandstone has a height of 27 cm, width of 17 cm, and thickness of 15 cm. ASI recorded all the dimension-mentioned artefacts as being in good condition.
A late medieval period Ganesha sculpture found a height of 12 cm, width of 8 cm, and thickness of 5 cm. It is also in good condition, says ASI.
All artefacts found during the survey were handed over to the Varanasi district administration, The Indian Express reported.