Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh): Eminent historian Irfan Habib in an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat set the records straight regarding the destruction of temples at Varanasi and Mathura by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and suggested how the government should approach the issue through the laws already in place.
"It is true that Aurangzeb destroyed temples. This is known to everyone and it is on the record. The Gyanvapi structure was never a Shivji's (sic) temple. There is no mention as such. It could be a temple belonging to either Saivaite or Vaishnavite sects. They (Hindu petitioners) claim they have found deities of both the sects which is not possible," Irfan Habib said when he was asked what he has to say on the Gyanvapi imbroglio.
"In their petition seeking survey of Gyanvapi mosque, they have not mentioned anything about the Shivling but of the Saivaite and Vaishnavite deities. After the purported discovery of 'Shivling' during the survey, they are claiming it to have been a Shivji's (sic) temple," he pointed out.
On recovery of some sculptures and motifs belonging to the Hindu religion at the Gyanvapi mosque site, Habib said, "I didn't know about such findings. But, yes it may be true or may be not. Whenever an old temple or mosque is demolished or renovated, you may find stone remnants of Buddha viharas."
"It is quite natural for those renovating or constructing a religious structure to use the stones which readily available from the decommissioned structure. It will be ridiculous if the Buddhists can stake claims for such religious structures. This also doesn't mean that based on that (findings) the temple or mosque should be brought down. It will be sheer foolishness," the historian explained on the evolution of religious structures.
