Explained: Where Is Vyas Ji Ka Tehkana In Gyanvapi Mosque. What's In It

The Gyanvapi mosque, built in the 17th century, has four cellars. The 'Vyas ji ka Tehkhana' is one of them

In a key development in the legal battle surrounding Varanasi's Gyanvapi Masjid, a district court yesterday allowed members of a family of priests to pray in one of the cellars in the mosque complex. This cellar, known as Vyasji ka Tehkhana, was unsealed last night and a puja was held around 3 am.

A Cellar Temple

The Gyanvapi mosque, built in the 17th century, has four cellars. The 'Vyas ji ka Tehkhana' is one of them. It is located in the southern area of the mosque's barricaded complex, right opposite to a statue of Nandi bull in the adjoining Kashi Vishwanath temple premises. The cellar is about 7 feet high and has an area of 40 square feet. The petitioner, Shailendra Pathak Vyas, said there are idols inside that were worshipped before the cellar was sealed in 1993. The Muslim side denied this in the court and said the petitioner had not placed any evidence that prayers were held there. They also said there is no idol in the cellar.