Gyanvapi Mosque

Gyan Vapi mosque
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Basic information
Location	Varanasi, India
Geographic coordinates	25°18′40″N 83°00′38″E / 25.311229°N 83.010461°E / 25.311229; 83.010461Coordinates: 25°18′40″N 83°00′38″E / 25.311229°N 83.010461°E / 25.311229; 83.010461
Affiliation	Islam
State	Uttar Pradesh
Country	India
Architectural description
Founder	Aurangzeb
Completed	1664
Specifications
Dome(s)	3
Minaret(s)	2

The Gyanvapi mosque is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It is located north of Dashashwamedh Ghat, near Lalita Ghat along the river Ganga.

It is a Jama Masjid located in the heart of the Varanasi city. It is administered by Anjuman Inthazamiya Masajid (AIM).

The mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1664 CE, after destroying a Hindu temple. The remnants of the Hindu temple can be seen on the walls of the Gyanvapi mosque.

The demolished temple is believed by Hindus to be an earlier restoration of the original Kashi Vishwanath temple. The original temple had been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. The temple structure that existed prior to the construction of the mosque was most probably built by Raja Man Singh during Akbar's reign. Aurangzeb's demolition of the temple was also probably attributed to the escape of the Maratha king Shivaji and the rebellion of local zamindars (landowners). Jai Singh I, the grandson of Raja Man Singh, is alleged to have facilitated Shivaji's escape from Agra. Some of the zamindars were alleged to helped Shivaji avoid the Mughal authorities. In addition, there were allegations of Brahmins interfering with the Islamic teaching. The temple's demolition was intended as a warning to the anti-Mughal factions and Hindu religious leaders in the city.

Maulana Abdus Salam contests the claim that a temple was destroyed to build the mosque. He states that the foundation of the mosque was laid by the third Mughal emperor Akbar. He also adds that Akbar's grandson and Aurangzeb's father Shah Jahan started a madrasah called Imam-e-Sharifat at the site of the mosque in 1048 hijri (1638-39 CE). Where as, The remains of the erstwhile temple can be seen in the foundation, the columns and at the rear part of the mosque clearly indicating the mosque was constructed on the demolished temple, using the same foundation, pillars etc.