Ancient Temple Found Beneath Disputed Mosque Results of the Ayodhya Excavations

Ancient Temple Found Beneath Disputed Mosque Results of the Ayodhya Excavations
By Subhamoy Das, About.com Guide


The much-awaited archaeological report that ascertains that a 10th
century temple existed at the place where the 16th century Muslim
ruler Babur built a mosque in the Indian holy town of Ayodhya, is
finally out. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has reported
that its excavations found distinctive features of a temple beneath
the Babri Mosque site.
In March 2003, an Indian court had asked the ASI to undertake
excavations at the disputed site at Ayodhya, a religious place in
northern India claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. In December 1992,
Hindu fundamentalists demolished the Babri Mosque, claiming Muslims
had built it after tearing down a Hindu temple marking the birthplace
of Lord Rama, called "Sri Rama Janma Bhumi". Hindus want to build a
new temple on the disputed ground, while Muslims demand the land be
given to them to build a new mosque.
The excavation was ordered to find answer to the question whether the
Mughal ruler Babur superimposed the mosque called Babri Masjid on a
preexisting structure after razing it or built it on virgin ground.
The answer to this question has been found from the excavations. The
574-page ASI report consisting of written opinions and maps and
drawings was opened before the court on August 25, 2003.
The report said there was archaeological evidence of a massive
structure just below the disputed Islamic structure, and concluded
that it was over the top of this construction during the early 16th
century that the mosque was constructed directly resting over it.
The excavations found ancient perimeters made of bricks that predate
the time of Babur, and walls that were anchored with beautiful stone
pieces bearing carved Hindu ornamentations like lotus, Kaustubh jewel,
alligator facade, etc. Among the excavation yields was a mutilated
sculpture of divine couple, carved architectural members including
foliage patterns and lotus motifs, and 50 pillar bases with brickbat
foundation associated with a huge structure. All these are indicative
of remains that are associated with the temples of north India.
Hindu pilgrims have always been visiting the place for thousands of
years. Now, archaeology has confirmed the existence of a holy
structure of north Indian architectural style at Ayodhya..
http://hinduism.about.com/cs/temples/a/aa082503a.htm
Ayodhya (also Oudh or Awadh), an ancient city, is one of the seven
sacred cities of the Hindus. In the Ramayana, Lord Rama was born here
during the reign of his father, Dasaratha, in what was then a
prosperous, well fortified city with a large population. In
traditional history, it was the early capital of the kingdom of
Kosala, while, in Buddha's time (6th-5th century BCE), Shravasti
became the kingdom's chief city. Scholars equate Ayodhya with the city
of Saketa, where the Buddha is said to have briefly lived. Its later
importance as a Buddhist centre was attested by the Chinese Buddhist
monk Fa-hsien in the 5th century CE who saw 100 monasteries here.
Other monuments, including a stupa (shrine), were apparently built by
Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
The Kanauj kingdom arose here in the 11-12th centuries. Later part of
the Delhi sultanate, the Jaunpur kingdom, and the Mughal Empire, Oudh
gained a degree of independence in early 18th century, before its
subordination to the British East India Company in 1764 and annexation
by the British in 1856; this and the subsequent loss of hereditary
land revenue rights helped precipitate the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
Despite the city's great age, few ancient monuments survive. Its
temples and bathing ghats by the river Saryu are of no great age. Near
the modern city are several mounds marking the site of ancient Ayodhya
that have not yet been adequately explored by archaeologists.
Ayodhya's Babri Masjid was built in the early 16th century by the
Mughal emperor Babur on a site believed to be Rama's birthplace and
the location of an ancient Hindu temple, the Ram Janmabhoomi... In
1990, riots in northern India followed the storming of the mosque by
militant Hindus intent on erecting a temple on the site; the ensuing
crisis brought down the Indian government. Two years later, on 6 Dec
1992, the three-story mosque was demolished in a few hours

http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/NorthIndia/Ayodhya/Ayodhya.htm
'Build mosque outside Ayodhya'Manjari Mishra, TNN, Jul 17, 2010,
04.09am ISTLUCKNOW: No mosque in Ayodhya, and no mosque named after a
"foreign invader" anywhere in the country: The three-day meeting of
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), held in the temple town after a gap
of 18 years, concluded
Read more: 'Build mosque outside Ayodhya' - India - The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Build-mosque-outside-Ayodhya/articleshow/6178773.cms#ixzz0wnouo0TP
of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Build-mosque-outside-Ayodhya/articleshow/6178773.cms#ixzz0wnoqLnnF
/6178773.cms