Ancient Temples And Wells In Sambhal Draw ASI’s Focus: A Cultural Discovery Or Catalyst For Controversy? Photo: | PTI Ancient Temples And Wells In Sambhal Draw ASI’s Focus: A Cultural Discovery Or Catalyst For Controversy? Photo: | PTI

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently undertaken a comprehensive survey of ancient sites in Sambhal. It includes the recently discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple and a range of wells and pilgrimage locations.pesowin

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These surveys, which took place over two days, highlight the region’s rich historical and religious significance. But at the same time, it is also intersecting with ongoing legal and social tensions.

A team from the ASI inspected the ‘Kalki Vishnu’ temple on Saturday. It included its ancient well – a part of the temple’s historic grounds. “There is a ‘krish koop’ (well) here. It is not closed, but there is no water in it. This well is mentioned in the ‘Skanda Purana’ along with all pilgrimage sites of Sambhal,” said the temple’s priest, Mahendra Prasad Sharma, describing the ASI visit as a positive step, a reported by PTI.

To cement his claims, Sharma referred to the well’s significance in ancient texts.

Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra also confirmed the ASI’s visit. She said while the age of the well remains undetermined, it is considered an ancient site. “The team stayed for about 15 minutes and also visited the temple,” she added.

The ASI’s visit to the Kalki Vishnu temple follows an earlier survey on Friday when a four-member team inspected the newly uncovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple, five other pilgrimage sites and 19 ancient wells.

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Calling the ASI’s survey significant, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said, “The ASI team surveyed five pilgrimage sites and 19 wells of Sambhal and also surveyed the new temple (Shri Kartik Mahadev temple) that was found.”

The temples and wells surveyed, he said, include Dharam Koop, Moksha Koop, Chaturmukh Koop and sites such as Chakrapani, Swargdeep and Bhadrak Ashram.

Also known as the Bhasma Shankar temple, the Shri Kartik Mahadev temple was reopened on December 13. It was hidden for decades. Authorities claimed they discovered the temple structure during an anti-encroachment drive. They said the temple, located in the Khaggu Sarai area, had remained locked since 1978. The reopening, according to them, revealed a Shivling and an idol of Lord Hanuman.

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A well was also excavated, they said, with several damaged idols found inside. “Around 10 to 12 feet of digging has been done. During this, first an idol of Parvati was found with its head broken. Then Ganesh and Lakshmi idols were found,” said Pensiya, according to PTI.

The discovery of these idols has raised questions. The district magistrate indicated that investigations would shed light on how the statues ended up in the well.

There has been a backdrop of communal unrest in the region in the wake of these discoveries. Violent protests erupted in Sambhal on November 24 over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid.

The incident resulted in four deaths and injuries to several others, including police personnel. It further inflamed tensions surrounding religious sites in the area and prompted calls for scrutiny of places with disputed religious histories.

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The ASI’s survey, in this context, are not only archaeological in nature but are also entangled in the larger discourse on religious and legal matters. The Supreme Court in December intervened in the ongoing disputes concerning religious sites.

It directed that courts refrain from entertaining new lawsuits or issuing interim orders related to the reclaiming of religious places, especially mosques and dargahs (shrines), under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The law aims to preserve the religious character of places of worship as they stood on August 15, 1947, with the Ayodhya dispute as an exception. The decision came amid rising petitions, particularly those linked to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and other sites like the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, where tensions have escalated following court-ordered surveys.

As the investigations into the temples and wells continue, and as the ASI’s findings unfold, the district administration has requested the agency to carry out carbon dating to determine the exact age of the temple and its well.

The results of these studiespesowin, according to him, could provide key insights into the history of the region and potentially influence ongoing religious and legal debates.