New Delhi: The UP police stopped Swami Avimukteshwaranand from offering prayers at the alleged shivling that was discovered at Gyanwapi mosque in the ‘wazoo khana’. On Thursday Swami Avimukteshwaranand announced that he will be going to offer prayers at the mosque complex along with 70 people.
It was then confirmed by the police on Friday that his request had not been granted due to the law and order situation in Varanasi.
On being denied entry, Swami Avimukteshwaranan got furious at the police saying that he himself wrote the application for the prayers and still did not get the permission.
He said, “I sent the application for permission with my own mobile phone, and also sent someone to the police with a hard copy of the application. I have proof. I will sit here and eat anything only after the prayers.”
He further added that he will agree whatever is court's decision. He said, “We will agree with the court’s decision, but will the god be hungry until the court decision. We filed another request with the police to let us pray in the complex, but we did not get any response.”
Swami Avimukteshwaranand is a disciple of Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati who made the announcement on Thursday to pray to the shivling-like structure discovered in the Gyanvapi mosque complex during a court-monitored survey.
“The decision of the Dharmacharya is final on the matter of Dharma (religion). As the Supreme Court defines law, dharma is defined by ‘Dharmacharya’. In Sanatan Dharma, Shankaracharya is the biggest ‘acharya’ and Swaroopanand is the senior-most. In Gyanvapi, ‘Vishwanath Ji’ (Lord Shiva) has been found and we are gathering material for prayers on behalf of Hindu community,” he told reporters on Thursday, reported PTI.
After his announcement, the security arrangements were tightened outside the mosque complex.
The Gyanvapi mosque has been in the headlines for the past month as a few women file a plea in the court seeking permission to pray regularly at the Shringar Gauri temple that is adjacent to the mosque wall. Following the same, a court-monitored survey was conducted at the mosque premises during which a shivling-like structure was discovered, which the Muslim party has maintained to be a part of the fountain mechanism used in wazoo khana.
The case is still pending in the court with the next hearing scheduled on July 4.