The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Bengaluru): In a thought-provoking conversation at the Isha Yoga Center, Dr. Vikram Sampath, author of the forthcoming book “Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi,” engaged with renowned spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the video has been uploaded on the youtube channel of Sadhguru. The discussion delved into the pressing need to re-establish civilizationally significant temples, the atrocities endured by the Hindu population under 800 years of oppressive rule, the true essence of Sanatana Dharma, and the awakening of Bharat.
Sadhguru emphasized the importance of reclaiming not only the physical geography of the land but also the geography of the mind, which invaders sought to control by destroying temples and rewriting history to portray themselves as aspirational figures. He lamented that even after gaining independence, Bharat failed to rewrite its history from the perspective of the oppressed, leading to a lack of awareness about the atrocities committed against Hindus. Sadhguru pointed out that the worst kind of atrocities, including large-scale murder, rape, and loot, occurred in India over a period of 100 years, the likes of which were unprecedented anywhere else on the planet.
Dr. Sampath highlighted the destruction of thousands of temples in Kashi, one of the most sacred cities for Hindus, and the city lying in ruins for nearly 80 years. The ancient text “Skanda Purana” describes Kashi as “the city of light” and “the abode of Lord Shiva,” emphasizing its spiritual significance. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was repeatedly attacked and demolished by invaders such as Qutb-ud-din Aibak in the 12th century and Aurangzeb in the 17th century.
The famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, who visited India in the 7th century, described Kashi as a city of learning and wisdom, with numerous temples and monasteries. The Arab scholar Al-Biruni, who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century, wrote about the grandeur of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the immense wealth it possessed.
Despite the repeated destructions, various rulers and communities across India showed resilience and made efforts to rebuild and reclaim the temple. The Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar played a crucial role in reconstructing the temple in the 18th century, while Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler, contributed to its gold-plating in the 19th century.
Sadhguru pointed out that the evidence of Hindu icons at the Gyan Vapi mosque is so clear that even a blind person could discern it through Braille. He questioned the delay in acknowledging the obvious, stating, “A blind man can see what is Gyan Vapi. You can see these are Hindu icons. That’s why I said Hindus are mukha pranis. Our voice is not loud.”
Addressing the feasibility of reclaiming the alleged 20,000 to 40,000 destroyed temples, Sadhguru suggested setting up a commission or tribunal to examine the evidence and make decisions within the next two to three years. He emphasized that the reclamation of civilizational aspects is not against anybody and that most of the minority community, except for a few illegitimate leaders, would not have an issue with it.
Sadhguru stressed the need to distinguish between Sanatan Dharma, an eternal and inclusive way of life, and the narrow perception of Hinduism often portrayed by invaders. He called for the removal of names of cruel invaders and tyrants from streets and cities, arguing that their actions should not be glorified. Sadhguru questioned, “Why don’t we have Adolf Hitler Nagar? Why don’t we have Idi Amin Nagar or Puram? We don’t do that. People who displayed an extraordinary sense of cruelty to other human beings, whoever they were, we don’t eulogize them.”
Both Sadhguru and Dr. Sampath agreed that the reclamation of civilizational heritage is not about victory over others but a celebration of India’s rich history and culture. They emphasized the need for reconciliation and understanding between communities, with Sadhguru suggesting that most Muslims do not harbor ill feelings towards Hindus and that it is only a handful of illegitimate leaders who create discord.