‘Vyas Ji ka Tahkhana’ in Gyanvapi mosque complex: Why it’s a matter of controversy in India

‘Vyasji Ka Tahkhana’ in Gyanvapi: A court in the holy Indian city of Varanasi on Wednesday (Jan 31) allowed the Hindu side to perform worshipping rituals inside one of the basements (tahkhana) inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The decision, which came days after the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, reversed a 1993 order by the state administration which prohibited Hindus from worshipping inside the sealed cellar, also known as ‘Vyas Ji ka Tahkhana’.

On Wednesday at around 10:30 pm IST, the ‘tahkhana’ was opened for the first time in 31 years, in compliance with the court order. President of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust Nagendra Pandey was quoted by the news agency PTI as saying that “prayers were performed at the site.”

What is ‘Vyas Ji ka Tahkhana’?

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The Hindu side had been fighting for the worshipping rights inside the mosque complex for decades. According to popular belief, priest Somnath Vyas used to worship the dieties in the 'tahkhana' located towards the south of the complex till as late as 1993. This 'tahkhana', one of the four cellars in the complex, is situated right opposite to a statue of Nandi bull in the adjoining Kashi Vishwanath temple premises.

The state government, led by then-Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, had issued an order to stop the religious practice at the site.

According to local media reports, several items related to the worshipping rituals, including idols, are still placed inside the basement.

Watch:Gyanvapi verdict: Court allows Hindus to offer prayers in Gyanvapi mosque's basement

The Hindu side maintains that the state government or the local administration has no right to prohibit the rituals inside the basement and they have evidence proving the fact that Somnath Vyas Ji was in possession of the basement even during the British Raj.

ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque

In January 2023, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The ASI was directed to find out whether the mosque was built there after razing down a pre-existing Hindu structure. The ASI survey this year said in its report that “there existed a large Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure” in the 17th century.

What next for the 'tahkhana'?

The Varanasi court on January 24 had already taken over the possession of the 'tahkhana'. In a subsequent order, the court directed the District Magistrate of Varanasi to get rituals performed in the basement within seven days.

"District Magistrate, Varanasi/receiver is directed to get puja, raga-blog performed of idols located in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi Mosque (suit property), through a priest nominated by Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board & plaintiff. For this purpose, make proper arrangements of iron fencing etc. in 7 days," the court order read.

(With inputs from agencies)