<p>After the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid verdict, the focus has now turned to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute.<br /> <br />An application seeking an archaeological excavation on the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque premises in Varanasi has been filed in a local court. According to reports, the court will hear the application on Jan. 9, 2020.<br /> <br />The petition was filed initially by Ramrang Sharma and Somnath Vyas but they were replaced by Vijay Shankar Rastogi after their deaths.<br /> <br />The petitioner has contended that there still exists a 'shivlingam' of Lord Vishweshwarnath (Lord Shiva) on the disputed premises and that it was one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' (important Shiva Temples) in the country. It sought a direction to undertake an archaeological excavation on the premises so that the "truth" could be set before the people.<br /> <br />The Gyanvapi Mosque, which adjoined the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, had been built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1669 after allegedly demolishing a Hindu temple.</p>.<p>Hindu seers claim that the original Vishwanath Temple (jyotirlinga) existed on the site of the alleged demolition.<br /> <br />An application was filed by Hindus in the Varanasi district court in 1991 seeking ownership of the disputed site. The Muslim side was also a party in the case.<br /> <br />The hearing of the case had been later stayed by the High Court. The stay has been vacated now and so, the hearing will resume.</p>
<p>After the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid verdict, the focus has now turned to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute.<br /> <br />An application seeking an archaeological excavation on the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque premises in Varanasi has been filed in a local court. According to reports, the court will hear the application on Jan. 9, 2020.<br /> <br />The petition was filed initially by Ramrang Sharma and Somnath Vyas but they were replaced by Vijay Shankar Rastogi after their deaths.<br /> <br />The petitioner has contended that there still exists a 'shivlingam' of Lord Vishweshwarnath (Lord Shiva) on the disputed premises and that it was one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' (important Shiva Temples) in the country. It sought a direction to undertake an archaeological excavation on the premises so that the "truth" could be set before the people.<br /> <br />The Gyanvapi Mosque, which adjoined the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, had been built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1669 after allegedly demolishing a Hindu temple.</p>.<p>Hindu seers claim that the original Vishwanath Temple (jyotirlinga) existed on the site of the alleged demolition.<br /> <br />An application was filed by Hindus in the Varanasi district court in 1991 seeking ownership of the disputed site. The Muslim side was also a party in the case.<br /> <br />The hearing of the case had been later stayed by the High Court. The stay has been vacated now and so, the hearing will resume.</p>