• Temples converted into mosques by invaders need to classified into four categories, evidence placed before Courts and the truth made public. Post production of evidence what should be done is what this photo feature explores.

Ever since lower courts issued survey orders, followed by SC temporary stay and RSS Chief Shri Bhagwat’s statement, the matter of Hindus re-claiming temples has caught attention. This article is triggered by a program I saw on channel News18 on December 23, 24 anchored by Anand Narasimhan. The panellists were Dr Ratan Sharda, Abhijit Mitra Iyer and Vinod Bansal. Earlier I saw a podcast where Smita Prakash spoke with lawyer J Sai Deepak. Some of what I write is inspired by these speakers.

Unfortunately, by being obstinate on temples like Kashi and Mathura, Indian Muslims are repeating the mistakes they made on Ram Mandir in the 1980s. Thus, earlier demand was restricted to three major temples now many are seeking to expand the scope.

I am not in favour of returning all temples destroyed by invaders back to Indics. One needs a balanced approach. Let us classify temples under 4 categories –

1. Non-negotiable – Kashi Vishwanath and Krishna Janamstan Mathura. In Kashi parts of the mosque was built on the temple plinth that can be seen even today. Indian Muslims have to respect astha or faith.

2. Temples or Saraswati Mandir converted into mosques which hold value to Hindus for e.g. Rudra Shivalaya Sidhpur, Gujarat and Bhojshala in Dhar, MP. For Hindus knowledge is very important. Read   Why Hindus give importance to education

3. Temples converted into mosques where no Hindus worship today for e.g. Ada Din ka Jhopda Ajmer, Mandu Mosques, Chisthi Dargarh Ajmer etc. 

4. Temples converted into mosques where Hindus continue to worship or they are of great significance for e.g. Sambhal is considered the birthplace of Kalki, a Vishnu avatar and it’s the Shri Hari Har Mandir just like the name of the Golden Temple is Hari Mandir.

5. Mosques made next to Temples, disturb devotees through loudspeakers.

In category 2, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) must conduct a survey, submit its report/evidence to a designated court with option to appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) who must in a time bound manner decide whether temple converted into a mosque or not. If yes, Muslims must voluntarily handover it to Hindus.

2 Rudra Shivalaya Temple, that nearly became a mosque. 

Bhojshala

In category 3, the ASI must conduct a survey, submit its report/evidence to a designated court with option to appeal to the SC who is a time bound manner must decide whether temple converted into a mosque or not. This applies to the Taj Mahal too.

If yes, the ASI must put a big board at monument entrance saying this mosque is made from ruins of Hindu or Jain temples. Just like a board is put at Qutub Minar Complex which states that mosque made from temple ruins. Details of earlier temple and who made must be provided. Read  Qutub Minar mosque built over ruins of Temples 1871-72 ASI report And Archaeologist K K Mohammad says the same thing

On Adhai din ka jhopda, a 2007 article in Tribune Chandigarh said, “This mosque was a Sanskrit college in the 12th century.

The interior of the mosque is more like a Hindu temple, with a main hall supported by numerous columns. Three pillars are placed over each other while the roof is supported on square bays. The columns are of an uncommon design, heavily decorated and quite similar to Hindu and Jain rock temples. Their bases are large and bulbous, tapering as they gain height. Although the original pillars and the roof of the pre-Muslim structure were allowed to remain, many of the original carvings were defaced by the conquerors.”

Hall supported by numerous columns in Ajmer mosque. 

5 Columns in Mosque are similar to Kiradu Temple, Barmer, Rajasthan.

6 Column design in Qutub Minar Complex seem similar on the face of it.  

This is Somvati Kund. Behind it is Darya Khan Tomb.

Hall to the West of Hoshang Shah Tomb in Mandu. Pic by local photographer

To the west of the tomb is a “colonnade with 3 rows of pillars dividing its depth of 7.6m into 3 aisles. You see the predominant influence of Hindu architecture in the designs of pillars & brackets & the arrangement of the flat roof supported on lintels”. “When Lohani caves were cleared they yielded some 80 sculpture or carvings now kept in the local museum in the Dharmasala attached to Hoshang’s tomb”. There are more similar instances of Hindu monuments in Mandu.

 Rock Cut Jain Images, Urwai Gate, Gwalior Fort, MP.

  Kund at Verinag, source of Jhelum. Shiv Temple Verinag, Kashmir.

In category 4, the ASI must conduct a survey, submit its report/evidence to a designated court with an option to appeal to the SC who must in a time bound manner decide whether temple converted into a mosque or not. The Sambhal Temple falls in this category. In such cases Muslims should voluntarily handover temple to Hindus.

Claims under categories 2 to 4 need to be made within a pre-determined period say 18 months from the date of notification. Designated Court and SC must pass order within 12 months. Judges need to be assisted by historians from all sides. The court can dismiss frivolous petitions esp. those without evidence.

This will put a closure to mosque surveys and repeated claims of temples below mosques.  

If this approach has to work, it has to be based on evidence not on emotion or ego. Indian Muslims need to stop seeing them as descendants of Muslim/Mughal Rulers and must seeing the condition of Pakistan and Bangladesh, thank their forefathers for choosing to stay in India. At the same time, Hindus must accept the SC verdict even if it goes against them. When in their favour there is no need to rejoice. Instead quietly restore the monument to its original state.

Category five causes a lot of social disturbance today. Mosque loudspeakers share prayers five times a day, disturbing all residents, at volumes that are in excess of those permitted by law. Read   2005 SC order on Loudspeakers

Police will take action when they have political support. Some like Devendra Fadnavis were honest enough to say, years ago, that reducing volumes could lead to a law and order problem.

Mosques who do not adhere to the SC order on loudspeaker volumes are guilty of contempt of court. Since all are apprehensive of and wish to avoid violence who is going to speak up.

The problem becomes acute when mosques are next to prominent Indic places of worship.

Next to Kanchi Mutt is a mosque. Sharing walls with the Bodh Gaya Temple is a mosque. Nos of loudspeakers.

10 Mosque next to Sachiya Mata Mandir, Osian, Rajasthan.

Mosque behind Shivaji statue at Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

These are only a few instances of the many across India. 

Dargahs coming up on footpaths, roads and public or private owned land is a source of friction.  Indian Muslims must get the community to stop this.

Courts and people of India must realize that following the law and maintaining peace is not the responsibility of Hindus alone.   

Unless India reclaims its Bharatiya Heritage, this wounded civilization shall fail to realize potential.

To see albums

1. Rudra Mahalaya, Sidhpur

2. Adha-din-ka-jhopda, Ajmer

3. Mandav / Mandu in Madhya Pradesh

Also read

1. A Reconstruction of Temple Destruction in India

2. A list of Hindu temples destroyed where Masjids and Dargahs stand now – Sitaram Goel

3. Meenakshi Jain. Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples: Episodes from Indian History.

4. How Hindus saved Idols and Rebuilt Temples

5. Pre-Sultanate History of Qutub Complex

6. We cannot dwell in the past, but can we afford to ignore it

7. How Azaan is increasing Hindu Muslim divide

8. Why are Hindus protesting against Namaz on vacant land in Gurgaon

9. Re-examining History – Making of the Taj