A four-member team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a survey on Friday, examining the newly discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple, five pilgrimage sites, and 19 wells in Sambhal, according to a senior official.
An ASI team personnel during survey at the Kartikeya Shiv Mandir, in Sambhal, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (PTI Photo)
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya stated that the ASI team commenced the survey in the morning and worked until 3:30 PM. The team inspected five pilgrimage sites, including Bhadrak Ashram, Swargdeep, and Chakrapani, as well as 19 wells, such as Chaturmukh Koop, Moksha Koop, and Dharam Koop. The newly discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple was also part of the survey.
Additional Idols Discovered
Pensiya mentioned that although these locations had been surveyed previously, the ASI team carried out another survey on Friday. Additionally, three damaged idols were discovered in the well of the Bhasma Shankar temple in Sambhal, which was reopened last week after remaining closed for 46 years.
Discovery of Shiv Hanuman Temple in Sambhal
The Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, also known as the Bhasma Shankar Temple, was reopened on December 13 following its discovery during an anti-encroachment drive. Locked since 1978, the temple housed an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling. Authorities have also announced plans to reopen the nearby well.
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya previously informed reporters that excavation work was ongoing at the historic temple and its well. “Around 10 to 12 feet of digging has been done. During this, an idol of Parvati was found with its head broken, followed by the discovery of Ganesh and Lakshmi idols,” he said.
When questioned about whether the idols were damaged prior to being placed inside, Pensiya responded, “This is under investigation. At present, these idols have been uncovered. The full details of how they came to be inside will be revealed after a thorough investigation.”
Discovery of a New Temple Near Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid
The Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, situated in the Khaggu Sarai area, is slightly over a kilometre from the Shahi Jama Masjid, where violent clashes broke out on November 24 during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the mosque. The unrest led to the deaths of four individuals and left several others, including police officers, injured.
The district administration has sought assistance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to perform carbon dating on the temple and an adjacent well. Carbon dating is a scientific method used to estimate the age of ancient artefacts.
On December 12, the Supreme Court issued an order restraining courts across India from accepting new lawsuits or passing interim or final orders in ongoing cases related to the reclamation of religious sites, particularly mosques and dargahs (Muslim shrines).
This ruling effectively paused proceedings in approximately 18 lawsuits filed by various Hindu groups seeking surveys to determine the original religious identity of mosques, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, and the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, the site of the recent violence.
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