SRI
KRISHNA JANMABHOOMI - ART & CULTURE
News:
A short history of the
Krishna Janmasthan temple in Mathura
What's
in the news?
●
On December 14, the Allahabad High Court
allowed an application for the inspection of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex,
reigniting the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute.
Key
takeaways:
●
Hindu petitioners assert that the mosque, constructed by Emperor Aurangzeb in
1670, was built over Lord Krishna’s birthplace in Mathura.
●
The mosque is adjacent to the Krishna
Janmasthan Temple, a significant pilgrimage site.
Sri
Krishna Janmabhoomi:
1.
Nature of the Application:
●
The application is part of a petition
initiated by eight individuals including the “next friend” of Bhagwan Shree
Krishna Virajman.
2.
Survey Approval:
●
Allahabad High Court approved the survey
of the Shahi Idgah mosque on December 14.
3.
Petition’s Demands:
●
The petitioners seek the removal of
structures allegedly encroaching on the disputed land by the UP Sunni Central
Waqf Board and the mosque committee and the transfer of this land to the Shree
Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust.
4.
Challenge to the 1968 Agreement:
●
The plea contests the legality of a
compromise agreement dated October 12, 1968, between the Shri Krishna
Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and the Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah.
Go
back to basics:
1.
Aurangzeb’s Alleged Demolition:
●
The Hindu petition cites historical
records, claiming Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of Hindu temples, including
one at Lord Krishna’s birthplace, to
construct the Idgah Mosque in 1669-70.
2.
Reference to Official Records:
●
The petition mentions the Official Court
Bulletin (Akhbaraat) from January to February 1670 as evidence of Aurangzeb’s
orders.
Counterclaims
by the Muslim Side
1.
Legal Arguments:
●
Representatives of the UP Sunni Central
Waqf Board and the mosque committee argue in the High Court that the mosque
does not fall within the disputed 13.37 acres and dispute the location of
Krishna’s birthplace.
2.
Challenging the Hindu Claims:
●
They assert that the Hindu claims are
based on speculation and lack documentary evidence.
Historical
Ownership and Management:
1.
Land Ownership Changes:
●
The site, originally nazul land, was
auctioned by the East India Company in 1815 to Raja Patni Mal of Benaras.
2.
Subsequent Transactions:
●
The land was later sold to Jugal Kishore
Birla and the ownership rights were transferred to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi
Trust, established by Birla.
3.
Temple Management:
●
In 1956, the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Sewa
Sangh, later renamed as Sansthan, was established for temple management.
Parallel
with the Gyanvapi Case
1.
Similar Legal Proceedings:
●
The Mathura case is comparable to the
Gyanvapi Mosque dispute in Varanasi, where a court-ordered survey led to the
discovery of a structure claimed as a “shivling” by Hindus and a “fountain” by
Muslims.
2.
Archaeological Surveys and Legal Challenges:
●
The Varanasi district court’s order for a
scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque and the subsequent legal hurdles
reflect similar developments in the Mathura case.