Uttar Pradesh: Vyas family still has possession of one basement at Gyanvapi

VARANASI: Engaged in one litigation after another with the Gyanvapi mosque administration since 1880 for the possession of the Gyanvapi compound, the Vyas family of Varanasi continues to possess one of the four basements of the complex which were surveyed on a court order on Saturday.
In 1991, the Vyas family had filed a case demanding handover of the Gyanvapi mosque structure to Hindus, claiming that except the upper structure, where namaz is offered and the domes, the entire structure still stands on the Lord Visheshwar temple.
Though the Vyas family now does not live in Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi complex anymore, one of four basements of the mosque is still under its possession.
If Shailendra Kumar Pathak 'Vyasji', the successor of late Somnath Vyas, is to be believed, the "Vyas family has a history of association with the Kashi Vishwanath Temple (KVT) since 1551. It had started living in this complex since 1883". Showing old records to TOI, Vyasji said: "My ancestors not only contested different cases with the mosque authorities since 1880, but also filed the first petition in the Varanasi civil court in 1991, seeking permission for worship at Gyanvapi."
Regarding basement under possession of Vyas family, he said, "This 'tahkhana' (basement) is in the southern part of the Gyanvapi mosque located in front of the face of Nandi (in Kashi Vishwanath Dham). We used to call this portion 'garbhgriha' (sanctum sanctorum) of old Visheshwar temple. Goddess Shringar Gauri's idol was worshipped there till December 5, 1992, a day before Babri masjid demolition."
"Since December 6, 1992, the regular worship was stopped there. The basement was under the possession of our family and we were allowed to use it to keep articles related to Ramayan recitals like wooden poles, 'kanats' etc. The recital used to take place twice every year in Magh and Kartik. The Vyas family was allowed to offer prayer at Shringar Gauri on tfourth day of Chaitra Navratri," Vyasji told TOI.
A self-proclaimed nationalist Gulshan Kapoor said he and his group started an agitation to seek permission for prayer at Shringar Gauri.