Damaged idols discovered inside the reopened Sambhal temple; management writes to ASI for carbon dating.

News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 17th December 2024

Two broken statues were discovered within the well of Sambhal’s Bhasma Shankar temple, which reopened last week after 46 years of closure, authorities said on Monday. Meanwhile, the district government has asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake carbon dating on the temple and well to ascertain their ages.

The Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, popularly known as the Bhasma Shankar Temple, reopened on December 13 following an anti-encroachment effort that revealed the covered edifice. The temple, which holds a Shivling and an icon of Lord Hanuman, has been sealed since 1978 due to sectarian rioting. Authorities also intended to reopen the well near the shrine.

Sanjeev Sharma, who was present at the scene, reported seeing a broken Lakshmi idol in the well, while Satendra Kumar Singh stated a Parvati idol was discovered around 15-20 feet down. Subdivisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra said that she had received information about the finding from the local SHO and that more information was being obtained.

The district government has requested assistance from the ASI in conducting carbon dating on the temple and well to ascertain its historical date. District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya stated, “This is Kartik Mahadev’s temple.” A well known as Amrit Koop has been discovered here. Encroachments are being removed, and we have written to the ASI requesting carbon dating of the temple and well.”

According to Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar, CCTV cameras have been installed along the roads leading to the shrine, and a control room is being set up to supervise security. Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) men have also been sent to provide around-the-clock security.The temple priest, Mahant Acharya Vinod Shukla, stated that people had begun to attend the temple to pray. Mohit Rastogi, a local resident, expressed thanks for the temple’s reopening, recalling how he learned about it from his grandpa. “I thank the district administration for allowing us to reconnect with our heritage,” he remarked after providing water to the Shivling.

The temple is located in Khaggu Sarai, little over a km from the Shahi Jama Masjid. The temple has been shut since 1978, when religious disturbances purportedly dispersed the local Hindu community. Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, the 82-year-old patron of the Nagar Hindu Mahasabha, spoke about how the riots drove his group to relocate. “This temple, dedicated to our Kulguru, has been locked since then,” he informed me.

The reopening is part of a larger administrative effort to resolve encroachment and other difficulties in the region. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the temple’s rediscovery represents “our enduring heritage and the truth of our history.”