In 1669 CE, Kashi Vishwanath Temple was demolished by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. This was a calculated attack on one of the most holy Jyotirlinga temples of Hinduism, in the holy city of Varanasi. The damage was not an error but the Emperor made a deliberate choice.
The main reasoning of Aurangzeb was based on his strict sense of Islamic orthodoxy and iconoclasm. He regarded large Hindu temples and notably those with special spiritual influence such as Kashi Vishwanath as a challenge to Islamic authority and idolatrous insult. His policies encouraged the destruction of temples.
The demolition had a political reason as well. The act of demolishing a temple as significant as this one conveyed a very clear message of Mughal dominance and the overall authority of Aurangzeb. It was an atrocious display of might that was aimed at suppressing possible opposition and establishing superiority over the local Hindu community.
After the demolition, Aurangzeb commanded Gyanvapi Mosque to be built on the plinth of the temple itself, with its materials. It was this superimposition that was an intentional, lasting reminder of conquest and religious supersession, and which made the site a lasting proclamation of Mughal Islamic dominance.
Conclusion :
In 1669, Aurangzeb destroyed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to construct a mosque in its place as a part of enforcing Islamic supremacy and establishing political dominance. His move was punctuated by religious intolerance and the need to eliminate a powerful reminder of Hindu religion. The victory and religious obliteration were in carrying out the Gyanvapi Mosque on its ruins, a permanent symbol. This is an unchangeable fact of history.
