Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi

by Vikram Sampath, Abhinava Shankara Bharati (Foreword), Sadhguru (Foreword)

Few places in the world carry the heavy burden of history as effortlessly as Kashi, or Varanasi, has. The holy city embodies the very soul of our civilization and personifies the resilience that we have displayed over centuries in the face of numerous adversities and fatal attacks.

Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi recreates the history, antiquity and sanctity of Kashi as the abode of Bhagwan Shiva in the form of Vishweshwara, or Vishwanath. Shiva himself assured his devotees of salvation if they leave their mortal coils in the city. The book delves into the history of this selfmanifested swayambhu jyotirlinga shrine of Vishweshwara, which for centuries has been both a refuge for the devout and a target of the bloodiest waves of iconoclasm. However, each time an attempt was made to obliterate the temple by demolishing it, it managed to rise and prosper. Every iconoclastic storm was followed by an episode of persistence, tenacity and stubborn resolve. Shrines fell and shrines rose, but the Hindus of Kashi never gave up—not even once.

Waiting for Shiva documents these cataclysmic events in the temple’s history. The final death blow was dealt in 1669 by the Mughal despot Aurangzeb, who demolished the temple and erected few domes on the partially destroyed western wall to call it a mosque. The temple complex was desecrated and left strewn with ruins as a grim reminder of the humiliation and insult that Hindus had to face as a consequence of their holiest shrine being torn down to smithereens. The area that is now called the Gyan Vapi mosque and the surrounding land that lies adjacent to the new temple of Vishwanath, which came up towards the end of the 18th Century, has always been one of intense contestation. Bloody riots overran Varanasi over this issue multiple times in the past. During the colonial era, the doors of the British courts were knocked at to settle the occupancy issue, and they adjudicated the matter several times. PostIndependence, too, the desire to ‘liberate’ the complex has been seething in the Hindu imagination. A new suit filed in 2021 before the Varanasi civil court reopened a longfestering historical wound. Despite several appeals right up to the Supreme Court to dismiss the plaint, a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was ordered, which would lay bare the truth in its findings by the end of 2023.

Vikram Sampath’s latest offering retraces the long history of this bitterly disputed site and the dramatic twists and turns in the checkered past of this hoary shrine. Piecing together numerous documents and accounts—Vedic and Puranic texts, Sanskrit literary sources, Agama shastras, Jataka tales, Persian accounts, travelogues of foreigners, archival records and copious legal documents detailing the contestation from the British era to modern Indian courts—the book recreates, for the first time with facts and cogent arguments, this stormy history right up to the present times. The long suppressed secrets that lay hidden in Gyan Vapi finally finds a voice through this book.

Genres: History, India, Religion, Politics, Nonfiction, Hinduism

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Born and raised in Bangalore, Vikram Sampath completed his schooling in Bangalore at the Sri Aurobindo Memorial School and Bishop Cotton Boys' School. He thereafter obtained a Bachelors in Engineering in Electronics and a Masters in Mathematics from one of India's most reputed schools, BITS-Pilani. He then went on to obtain an MBA in Finance from S P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. Vikram has worked in many leading multinational firms like GE Money and Citibank and currently is a Team Leader with a information technology company in Bangalore.

His first book, Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars has been widely acclaimed across India, and has been termed as one of the most definitive accounts on the Mysore royal family in recent times. His second book "My Name is Gauhar Jaan!" - The Life and Times of a Musician is the biography of Gauhar Jaan, India's first classical musician to record on the gramophone. The book has been hailed by several luminaries in India and abroad, and has also won the prestigious ARSC (Association of Recorded Sound Collections) International Award for Excellence in Historical Research - the first Indian book to have ever won this honour. Vikram's third book Voice of the Veena: S Balachander - A Biography narrates the story of eminent Veena maestro late Padmabhushan Dr. S Balachander.

Vikram has been a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study (Wissenschaftskolleg) in Berlin, Germany (for 2010-11) where he studied the early gramophone recordings of Indian music. He has also established the Archive of Indian Music (AIM) as a private Trust that seeks to digitize and preserve old gramophone recordings of India.

Vikram publishes regularly in leading Indian dailies and magazines on a wide array of topics. In addition, Vikram is also a serious student of Carnatic Classical vocal music and has been training under various eminent practitioners of the art form. Subjects related to history, music, art and culture are close to his heart.

Reviews

[mahesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

His legs buckled, his eyes wet,
Carved in stone, but heart beset
He sat outside with perked-up ears
Waiting patiently for 400 years
He saw the monster and his hordes
Charge his Lord with rusted swords
He saw them wash; he saw them spit
In those waters of the pit
He heard their cries, he heard their call
He lived through it; he saw it all
But not a whisper, not a groan
Life he knew was but on loan
And then, after centuries of pain
When his moment of joy came
He saw them claim
It was just a fountain.

- Ananda Ranganathan

[ಸುಶಾಂತ ಕುರಂದವಾಡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ಕಾಶಿ ವಿಶ್ವನಾಥ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಇತಿಹಾಸ, ಅದರ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆದ ಧಾಳಿ, ಅದರ ಹಿಂದೆ ಇರುವ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆದಿರುವಂತಹ ಪುಸ್ತಕ. ಕಾಶಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಯುವಂತಹ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.

[Ashok Krishna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite informative about the Gyanvapi mosque and the controversy surrounding it. The author has managed to do justice to that topic. But the book would have been even better if he had reined in his rancour for the founding fathers of the country and their decisions taken much due to expediency and goodwill. A tinge of paranoia and bitterness for the 'others' caused by his rightwing leanings are palpable.

If you're approaching the book from a political angle, it's quite informative. If you want to know the spiritual history of Kashi, I'd ask you to choose Diana Eck's wonderful book 'Banaras' instead.

[Harsh Agrawal]

Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi's Gyan Vapi by Vikram Sampath is a meticulously researched and passionately written book that delves into the complex and layered history of one of India's most sacred and contested sites, the Gyan Vapi in Kashi (Varanasi). The book is not just a historical account; it is a narrative that weaves together mythology, spirituality, legal battles, and the socio-political dynamics that have shaped the fate of this ancient city and its temples.


Structure and Approach


The book is divided into several sections, each addressing different aspects of Kashi’s history and the significance of the Gyan Vapi site. It begins with a foreword that sets the tone, emphasizing the importance of Kashi not just to Hindus, but to all Indic religions. This broad perspective is maintained throughout the book, making it relevant to a wide audience. The author’s meticulous attention to detail is evident from the outset, with a foreword that highlights the spiritual significance of Kashi and the Gyan Vapi, connecting it to the broader cultural and religious context of India.


Historical Context


Sampath’s exploration of Kashi’s history is both comprehensive and enlightening. He traces the city’s origins back to ancient times, illustrating its evolution from a pre-historic settlement to a bustling religious and cultural hub. The author’s command over historical sources, both textual and archaeological, is impressive. He skillfully navigates through ancient scriptures, Puranic texts, and the accounts of foreign travelers to paint a vivid picture of Kashi’s past.


One of the key strengths of the book is its ability to convey the spiritual and symbolic importance of Kashi. Sampath explains how Kashi, also known as Varanasi, has been the fulcrum of Hindu spirituality for millennia. The city’s significance as a center of learning, pilgrimage, and religious rituals is underscored through references to ancient texts and the accounts of travelers like Hieun Tsang and Alberuni. The author’s deep respect for the spiritual traditions of Kashi is evident in his writing, making the book not just a historical account but a tribute to the city’s enduring legacy.

Continue reading full review here: https://www.keetabikeeda.in/post/kash...

[yoursbibliophilic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vikram Sampath's "Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi's Gyan Vapi" offers a eye opening, exploration of the historical & cultural truth of the Gyan Vapi mosque complex in Varanasi, one of the most contested & revered sites in India. Few places in the world carry the heavy burden of history as Kashi, Vikram effortlessly blends this history, mythology, & politics to shed light on the controversies surrounding the site, while also offering a deeper understanding of its importance to Hindus & fight by Muslims to hold-on.
Sampath uses a well-researched approach, drawing from ancient texts, legal records, & historical accounts, to provide a balanced perspective on the controversy. He highlights the emotional, cultural, & political layers of the Gyan Vapi issue, emphasizing the complex interplay between faith, memory, & history. He has successfully shown, “the sanctity of Vishweshwara & his shrine was ever-actively present in the psyche of the Hindu rulers & dynasties of India” (Loc:1373) including common man.
The main intention of writing on this topic by Vikram is his “earnest hope through this book is to create awareness about the quintessence & hoary past of the Kashi Vishwanath temple & also the resilience that our ancestors showed in keeping its glory alive, despite terrible odds.” ( Loc:461)
In addition to era of barbaric Islamic imperialism, Vikram has covered plight of Hindus post-independence when Hindus took peaceful legal course to reclaim, the Muslims imparting “immense mental turmoil & agony for the Jains & four women plaintiffs. From threats to kill them to inducements of money, creating dissensions among their fold, & spreading wide allegations & meaningless rumors every trick in the book was employed to weaken their resolve”(Loc:3820) ending with triumph of truth when Shivling reveals in wazu khana which shamelessly Muslim dismiss stating it as a fountain & supreme count locking it up again.
This book for the first time with facts & cogent arguments, covering the stormy history right up to the present times in 7 chapters excluding introduction & Epilogue. The chapter vise summary of the book is:
Chap1: The City of Light
Vikram sets the stage by describing the historical & spiritual importance of Kashi (Varanasi), as the author traces its religious significance through ancient Hindu Scriptures, Buddhist & Jain books. This chapter emphasize deep emotional & religious value for not only Hindus but Buddhist & Jains alike.
Chap2: The Historical City
This chapter focuses on the historical conflict of distraction & reclaiming of Vishwanath temple. Sampath delves from Gupta era to Marata through Mughal era, particularly Aurangzeb's reign, when the original temple was destroyed, & the mosque was erected in its place. He has covered “this long, stormy history of this iconic city & its personification in the form of Vishweshwara, a resilient re-emergence after every catastrophe is what one notices. This, despite numerous attempts over many centuries to snuff the faith out & to undermine & humiliate it” (Loc:1485) The author outlines the timeline of significant events & introduces the roots of the religious tensions that emerged between Hindus & Muslims due to the construction of the mosque over a sacred Hindu site.
Chap3: Amidst a Multitude of Lingas
Sampath delves deeper into the symbolism of Lord Shiva & the theological importance of Kashi in Hinduism. In this chapter, “an attempt is made to briefly encapsulate what this means for a devout Hindu & look at some of the subtle significances & connotations that she too has forgotten in the several centuries of slavery & colonization” ( Loc:1495) He explains why Hindus view Kashi as the city where the divine & earthly realms intersect, making it one of the holiest cities in India. The chapter also sheds light on the philosophical underpinnings of the reverence for the Kashi Vishwanath temple, providing readers with a clearer understanding of the spiritual dimensions of the conflict. He successfully answers the question “Is Lingham a phallus?” which had became a much debated topic in India when Muslim on MSM mocked Hindus.
Chap4: Sparks in the Tinderbox
Sampath examines the constant Flashpoint between Hindus & Muslims during British rule impacted. Tracing the history from 1809 riots to 1935 which saw constant legal interference to maintain law & order. He explains how Muslims constant squabble about use of land around mosque with local administrators & provoke Hindus, lost in legal battles to gain exclusive rights.
Chap5: Legal Contestations Begin
This chapter explores the legal history surrounding the Gyan Vapi dispute. Sampath presents a detailed account of a civil suit no. 62 of 1936 in this court when a plethora of information on the historical, religious, & legal features of the entire site got systematically referenced & documented in court records for the first time. The case & its findings opened the window to the legal status of the land in question & whether its adjudication as waqf was indeed held by the then courts. The court concludes, “after several arguments & counter-arguments with attempts to deflect the issue, it was resolved that there was indeed a Vishwanath temple on this site, constructed during Akbar’s reign, & this was destroyed by Aurangzeb in 1669” ( Loc:2880) unfortunately in the judgement “the religious character of the place was not determined or called in question, nor was it decided in whose possession the land was. There was no final decision on whether the property was to be used solely as a mosque or as a temple. The only issue that it dealt with was twofold: whether the interference of government authorities while Muslims offered their prayers on the site was valid or not, & whether it was waqf property or not.” ( Loc:3022)
Chap6: In Independent India
This chapter focuses on post-Independence Gyan Vapi dispute which become intertwined with the collective memory & identity of both Hindu & Muslim communities. Sampath discusses how successive government putting burden of secularism only on Hindus & mocking them by saying the site as symbol of secularism, when in parliament Mani shanker Iyer states “When I come across a temple & mosque together, then I feel it is a secular country” . Chapter ends with the effort by Modi government effort to develop Kashi dham
Chap7: The Legal Fight Intensifies
In this chapter, Sampath provides an overview of the current state of the Gyan Vapi dispute, highlighting recent developments, including archaeological surveys & new legal petitions. He has shown how advocate commissioner survey went through so many twists & turns came to an end. He has proved yet again, Hari Shankar Jain comment ‘it is always the Hindu who strives hard to destroy another Hindu, with not an ounce of unity or vision of a larger picture or goal.’

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

#79th Indian Independence day

Vikram Sampath’s Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi is the kind of book that doesn’t so much arrive quietly on your reading list as it does crash through the door, plant a trishul in the living room, and start reciting court judgements alongside Skanda Purana verses.

Across 328 pages, he mixes the scent of incense with the dust of old legal archives, taking the reader from the mythic dawn of Kashi to the present day, where archaeology, politics, and faith are tangled in a centuries-long tug-of-war.

The premise is deceptively simple: tell the story of the Gyan Vapi site, but in doing so, he ends up telling the story of Hindu resilience itself. The narrative begins in the luminous swirl of Kashi’s spiritual gravity, where geography is inseparable from devotion and where the Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga stands as a self-manifested emblem of Shiva’s presence.

Sampath doesn’t treat this as a parochial shrine; he maps its resonance across the subcontinent, showing how the city has drawn Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and seekers of all stripes for centuries. It is the City of Light, but also a city of shadows, scarred by waves of destruction and rebirth.

That cycle forms the book’s emotional core: temples razed, mosques raised, temples built again, each phase leaving not just ruins but also memories that refuse to fade.

From the early chapters, there’s a strong sense of Kashi as both sacred and strategic, coveted by rulers who understood its symbolic weight. Aurangzeb’s 1669 destruction of the Vishwanath temple and the construction of a mosque over its ruins are presented not as isolated events but as one moment in a longer pattern of iconoclasm and reclamation.

Sampath handles this history with the energy of someone both narrating and prosecuting a case; each episode is a piece of evidence, each source a witness. When the story moves into the colonial era, the tone shifts from temple chronicles to courtroom drama.

The riots of 1809, the tensions of the 1930s, and especially the 1936 Deen Muhammad vs State civil suit are treated like key turning points in a trial that has lasted centuries. In that case, the court acknowledged the destruction of the original temple by Aurangzeb, declared the site not to be Waqf property, and noted that under Islamic law, prayer on illegally occupied land is invalid.

Yet it sidestepped the ultimate question of rightful ownership, leaving the dispute to fester in legal limbo.

The modern chapters pick up this unfinished business. Post-Independence India brought its own complexities: the Place of Worship Act of 1991, freezing the religious status of sites as they were in 1947, became both a shield and a stumbling block.

Sampath tracks the political speeches, the emotional rhetoric in Parliament, and the gradual re-entry of Kashi into the national conversation through development projects like the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. He doesn’t hide his disdain for what he calls “Nehruvian-Marxist” historiography, accusing it of downplaying Hindu perspectives and sanitising episodes of destruction. For him, the recovery of Gyan Vapi is not just about bricks and stones; it’s about reclaiming a narrative.

This is where archaeology steps onto the stage. Sampath devotes careful attention to the ASI surveys, advocates commissioner inspections, and structural studies that aim to settle with physical evidence what faith and memory have long asserted.

By grounding mythic memory in measurable data, he turns a spiritual claim into something a court might respect. The effect is to make the reader feel as if the site itself is giving testimony—its walls, pillars, and foundations whispering their history to those who know how to listen. The book’s voice here is part historian, part detective, and part priest.

The release of Waiting for Shiva was as choreographed as its contents. Launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at an event where the audience chanted “Har Har Mahadev,” it was timed in the lead-up to a politically charged year.

Sampath is not shy about aligning his work with a broader cultural and ideological awakening, and for some readers, this overt positioning will be as compelling as the history itself; for others, it will raise questions about objectivity. The prose, however, is never dry. He knows how to keep a reader hooked, whether he’s unpacking the theological meaning of the linga, quoting the Skanda Purana, or describing the fine points of property law.

Critics have been divided in their response. The New Indian Express calls it well-researched and provocative, a challenge to secularist narratives that have dominated post-Independence historiography. Keetabi Keeda praises its structure and emotional resonance, while some reviewers caution that it is a single-lens account and should be read alongside other perspectives.

The book’s power lies in its ability to make the Gyan Vapi dispute feel alive—not as an abstract court case or a distant historical quarrel, but as an ongoing chapter in a much older story of identity, faith, and belonging. It is unapologetically partisan, but also deeply invested in the material it handles.

By the final chapters, the reader has been taken from cosmic creation myths to modern survey reports, from Aurangzeb’s imperial orders to the latest petitions filed in Varanasi’s courts. Sampath’s achievement is in weaving these disparate threads into a single, unbroken narrative in which law and legend speak to each other without losing their distinct tones.

He invites the reader to stand at the edge of the Gyan Vapi well, to feel the layers of history pressing in, and to hear both the clang of a gavel and the murmur of a mantra. For those who share his sense of urgency about reclaiming the site, the book will read like a rallying cry; for those approaching it with scepticism, it will still offer a richly documented account of one of India’s most contested sacred spaces.

In the end, Waiting for Shiva is not a quiet meditation but a call to attention. It asks you to look at Kashi not just as a postcard of ghats and temples but as a living archive of resilience. It challenges you to see that heritage is not preserved by accident—it survives because people insist on it, fight for it, write about it, and, when necessary, dig it up from beneath layers of stone and silence.

Whether you agree with Sampath’s framing or not, his book leaves you with the sense that the Gyan Vapi dispute is more than a legal matter; it is a mirror reflecting how India sees itself—past, present, and future. And in that mirror, the figure of Shiva waits—silent, enduring, and watching to see who will remember.

[Kolkata, August 15, 2025]

[Swati · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved about Vikram Sampath's ‘Waiting For Shiva’

Built on the Trident of Truth, Historical evidence and Purity of intent!
The most impressive and gripping aspect of this book is that is factual not fictitious. The Proofs, artifacts and references are not an afterthought to justify the incidents but the pillar on which rises this veritable manuscript. Be it reference to the Puranic literature, or the Sanskrit works of Marathi scholars, the Kashi Khanda or Jabala Upanishad, the quotes from Iranian scholar Alberuni or the antiquarian James Prinsep, the book with thousands of anecdotes and historical evidence provides the reader the excavation tools to unearth the truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi.
History writing is as painstaking as a Tapa. Vikram has painted with his words such a thriving picture of this hallowed city that every nook and corner of the city, the space, the air, the water, the forests and hundreds of small temples have come alive to the reader. Like a skilled sculptor he has chiselled the stones of the city to unravel layers after layers of Kashi’s history through different eras. Not just limiting to historical facts, the author has remarkably weaved in space for philosophical and cultural explanations regarding the worship of Linga, the spirit of the people and the influence of Kashi, with a lot of objectivity, dedication and perseverance.

Its straight from the heart!
Only a person who can truly feel the pain of the desecration of one’s beloved deity can draw the subtle parallel to Kashi’s agony with the crusades in Europe. While the crusaders found a vent by waging fierce wars, Hindus waged a non-violent war within, and through countless ways kept Waiting for Shiva not giving up hope centuries after centuries. With each page the reader seems to be taking a pilgrimage, not only in the present Kashi but in every century gone by, accompanied by our ancestors, the scholars, the saints and the kings. While the author’s blood may have boiled or throat constricted many a times during his research, he seems to have guarded his emotions not allowing them to impact the objectivity with which he is prone to narrating the history and yet his words spring straight from the heart.

It is a multi-dimensional narrative!
This book is perhaps a long-standing debt that Vikram has paid on behalf of Hindus, the obligation of not acknowledging and documenting our past. One is awestruck at the great depth and broad span of information the author has synthesized in a few days to bring such a splendid scholarship spanning centuries, about our vast hinterland. Passion to ‘unravel the truth’ is evident from this opulent manuscript, which is resplendent with artifacts, literary evidence, reference of the legal nuances, inscriptions and historical notes ranging from Hieun Tsang to the British Indologist Sherring and the latest Archaeological Survey.
Through aeons, this single author has transcribed geographical, cultural, social, academic, economic, political, religious and spiritual landscape of Kashi. Just as Dhritrashtra would have watched the Yudh of Mahabharata through Vidur’s eyes, Vikram has held the reader in rapture with his erudite creation that spans the dimensions of science, geography, literature, history, space and time.

It’s not just about Kashi, it’s a brilliant historical scholarship of our sub-continent!
The perfunctory way in which Vikram weaves together incidents after incidents, historical references, travelogues, maps and artifacts is par brilliance. The author takes us on a time and place travel from Kandahar to Kerala, from Somnath to Bengal, introducing us to the characters (kings, ministers, travellers, sadhus, scholars) on the way, to our ancestors, making it a compulsive read for all who inhabit this sub-continent irrespective of their religious associations. Tolerance and mindful underplaying of our own inheritance has been a way of life for us but the generation who is so invested in discovering the future, must also learn where we come from.

It is not about mongering hatred or alienating one community against the other!
Until I had read this book, I always thought that God is above all the quarrels of the earthly beings, of different religions, but as Vikram establishes in this book (and in my heart) that, “Kashi is an emotion, it is an ethos that has captivated the Hindu mind for millennia”. “Acting as apologists for Islamic bigots was a clear pattern of Nehruvian secular historiography” and we all now have alternate scholarship to seek. Afterall, why should “the albatross of secularism always rests on Hindu shoulders…” as has been in India forever.
Although people may argue based on their limited outlook or biases or apprehensions, Vikram has laid bare the truth and great respect for him as he says that the community of today must not associate themselves with the barbaric acts of invaders who blotted the landscape, as they are not responsible for the atrocities of the past. Instead in a non-confrontational manner, sites where archaeological and epigraphic evidence exists, we should voluntarily exchange in a harmonious manner. May better sense prevail, and our sacrosanct places don’t become a playground of toxic politics and social unrest in the largest interests of national unity and harmony.
The mantle rests not only on authors like Vikram but on all Indians to shed the veil of ignorance and consciously and boldly accept the history that has been. Isn’t it time that the world’s most populous nation choose not to stay seeped in dark oblivion but lap up and savour what has been so painstakingly researched and investigated?
When asked about the authenticity of our epics, Sadh Guru once said, what is it to discuss, it is our history! So it is with Kashi, the Gyan Vapi, Shiva’s Avimukta!

[Srinivas Thiagarajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book summary:
As the title implies, it is about the city of Kashi waiting for the Shiva who left centuries back when the Islamic hordes broke the Kashi Viswanath temple.
It starts interestingly with a history of Kashi itself including all its names: Kashi roughly meaning beacon of light derived from the Sanskrit word Kashi, Varanasi as it was circumscribed by the Varana and Asi rivers, Avimukta i.e. one who is never forsaken etc.
While we know its Hindu history, Buddhism and Jainism also had a strong presence. Sarnath is very close to Kashi, Ashoka erected a stupa in Kashi, the 7th tirthankara of Jainism was born there and Mahavira also visited it.
It also speaks rather caustically about the failure of Hindu kings to save it front Islamic invasions due to ego, disunity etc. Pays particular attention to Prithviraj Chauhan.
One key feature of Kashi was not just its religious prominence. It was also a place that encouraged original thinking, theological debates etc. Its sacking by Islamic hordes led to the exodus of many of the thinkers including several Brahmins to Maharashtra, Hampi etc.
This continued for 300 years until the late 14th century when for two centuries it flourished shown by its usage by Ramana, Kabir, Raidas and Tulsidas as base
The heart of the book is of course – Gyan Vapi. Its creation, destruction and the fight between Hindus and Muslims on its ownership, a battle that has already extended centuries.
Two sets of cases stand out.
One was filed in 1936. It was Muslims vs. the Union with the Hindus having no role. The judgment was interesting in that it argued that Aurangzeb had indeed demolished the temple which Islam allows since it opposes idolatry. It also stated that the mosque built in its place was illegal since Islamic law does not allow a new religious structure to be erected without the permission of the old owners. However, it also argues that Aurangzeb was the king and he was above the law!
The second is an ongoing case where things were made complicated by the enactment of Hindu Places of Worship Act by the Congress government which insisted that the status quo for disputed structures remain the same as that of 1947. Here too, there are two arguments – the Muslims arguing that the temple was in their ownership in 1947 and the Hindus arguing that even if the idol of the God is destroyed, his spirit remains so it was always a Hindu temple. The study by the ASI indicates the clear presence of a temple there. However the case is yet to be closed with the court deciding in the interim that both communities would be allowed to offer prayers.

Review:
The main challenge with writing this book - is it possible for something this emotional to be written in a neutral, dispassionate fashion?
For example, he is extremely critical of the attempt by the Marxist leaning, so-called intellectuals including Romilla Thapar and Dr. Pattabhi Sittaramayya to pooh-pooh Hindu claims or even defend Aurangzeb’s actions as motivated by others.
He is also sees Nehru’s ‘secularism’ as a sham. Rather than neutrality towards all religions, it is seen by Sampath as bias towards the minority religions. For example, all Hindu temples are controlled by the government but the minority religious edifices are managed by the communities themselves
That unfortunately is a challenge for a lay person reviewer like me.
So, I will not pass judgment on the above ‘biases’. I will instead say that it with all its so called weaknesses, this book is a must read – very well researched, very well structured, covering all the elements etc.
The chapter on the linga as a phallic symbol could however have been done away. After all, this book is not about Shiva. It is about Kashi!

[Chirag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi's Gyanvapi by Vikram Sampath
Vikram Sampath, a renowned historian and prolific author known for works like Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum (1760–1799), Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past, and Bravehearts of Bharat, returns with a compelling exploration of one of India's most sacred and politically charged sites in Waiting for Shiva. This book is a gripping blend of historical narrative and spiritual depth that seeks to uncover the long-buried truths of Kashi’s Gyanvapi.

The first half of the book is steeped in the rich, pluralistic history of Kashi (Varanasi), a city that has stood as the spiritual heartbeat of India for millennia. Sampath carefully traces the evolution of this sacred geography, not just through the lens of Sanatana Dharma, but also acknowledging its deep associations with Jainism and Buddhism. He elaborately discusses the revered Shiva Linga Vishweshwara, a symbol of devotion and cultural continuity that has weathered centuries of turmoil.

In the second half, the narrative deepens, exploring the historical and emotional saga of resistance, faith, and perseverance. Sampath chronicles the repeated destruction of the Kashi Vishwanath temple—from the invasions of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, to the brutalities under various Mughal rulers, to the socio-political roadblocks in the modern era, particularly surrounding the Waqf Act during the Congress regime. Through archival evidence and scriptural references, the author paints a vivid picture of a city and its people who have waited patiently, for centuries, for Shiva to return to his rightful abode.

What stands out in this work is not just its historical depth, but also its emotional core. Sampath doesn’t merely recount events—he evokes the collective memory of generations who have fought, mourned, and hoped. The tone is scholarly, yet accessible, making it a must-read for anyone interested in India’s civilizational history, temple heritage, and the complex interplay of faith and politics.
Waiting for Shiva is a powerful, evocative, and timely narrative that sheds light on the enduring spirit of Kashi. For history enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and anyone curious about the truth behind the Gyanvapi site, this book is an essential addition to your reading list.

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi attempts to weave the spiritual, scriptural, and legal histories of one of India’s most venerated sites, Kashi. He wrote this book in six months.

Vikram's sole intention of the outcome of the book is to provide a clearer view with regard to the position of the Gyanvapi mandir. He has written this book so that readers may arrive at a conclusion themselves with regard to the status quo of the disputed site whether it is a Temple or a Mosque.

Vikram Sampath contributes to the sparse literature on the Gyanvapi case by delving into historical records, scriptures, the competing claims presented in court. It also focuses on archaeological evidence and court cases in Hindu - muslim sides. The book carries plenty of photographs of the temples and artefacts found at the site. It examines the accounts of foreign travelers, British administrator-scholars, court documents(from both pre and post Independence) which testify to Kashi’s continuing importance as a pilgrimage centre.

The author has managed to bring disconnected sources together into a common narrative which made sense to even the layman could easily assimilate it.

Shrines kept rising and falling, but the Hindus never gave up on it. This book is the story of resilience, resurrection, and reclamation in the wake of historical odds. Today Congress and many south Indian political parties talk about the North - South divide for their vote bank. There are several accounts mentioned in this book about the importance of Kashi from all parts of India. It has always been a pilgrimage place for us.

It was sad to read the sufferings of Hindus in trying to protect sacred places and amazed to see how all efforts have been taken at various points in time to restore/reclaim/rebuild. Hats off to Hindus resilience.

This book was quite informative for me. I would love to have darshan of all those temples that are mentioned in this book. After reading this book, I definitely want to read Kashi Khanda, Benaras by A.S. Atlekar and Vishwanath Rises and Rises: The Story of Eternal Kashi by Meenakshi Jain.

[Suma · Rating 5 out of 5]

“History is doomed to repeat itself when not acknowledged” . This book is a prolonged obligation paid by the author on behalf of the Hindus. Well-researched book drawing from a variety of sources, such as ancient texts, archaeological evidence, oral traditions, legal documents, courtroom trials and testimonies. One is awestruck by the meticulous details and author’s ability to weave together different strands of evidence with so much coherence.
Three things stayed with me the most.
-The patience and humiliation endured by Nandi facing his master inside the mosque watching people washing their feet and mouth on their master inside the Gyanvapi well.
-Mohammed Ghazni’s remarks of preferring to be called as an ‘Idol destroyer’ rather than an ‘Idol seller’ when offered bribe by the priests of Somnath temple if he spared the Jyotirlinga from being destroyed. This was before breaking the Jyotirlinga and transporting the pieces on camels to Ghazi and Mecca to be laid at the footsteps of the mosques.
-Selective secularism which controls only the Hindu temples and educational institutions while all other minority institutions and religious places have the right to thrive independently
Shiva’s promise of never abandoning his “Avimukta Kshetra”, has ensured time and again that Varanasi remains the proof of Hindu resilience and identity, and a living testimony to the eternal and universal message of Hinduism.
The young generation as becoming more and more aware of the ‘Great Vandalizing of India’ and although the Ayodhya movement had become the people’s movement, Kashi, Mathura and numerous other kshetras are awaiting people like Vikram Sampath, Sri Harishankar Jain and Vishnu Jain.

[Anup K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vikram Sampath’s "Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi" provides historical and spiritual documentation of Indian civilization, offering insights into the cultural, religious, and political dynamics surrounding it. The book is broadly divided into three parts: the first explores the religious and spiritual significance of Kashi and Varanasi in the Indian context, the second delves into political interventions and the history of subcontinent invasions, and the third focuses on the legal battles between different parties claiming ownership of the Gyan Vapi complex.
The book highlights events of invasions and contributions to the temple complex by various historical figures, including Ahilya Bai Holkar’s initiatives in the existing complex of the Kashi Vishvanath Temple, up to the colonial history of the 1810 Lat Bhairav riots in Varanasi and the 1936 legal case against the British Government. Another case was filed in 1991, with adjudication on a fresh plea in 2022. The author also scrutinizes some legal provisions regarding the "Places of Worship Act 1991."
Vikram Sampath’s latest offering retraces the long history of the bitterly disputed site, which indeed has dramatic twists and turns in past events and developments. The book concludes with the ASI survey completed by the Advocate Commissioner at the Gyan Vapi Complex, submitting the report to the honorable court.
The name of the book symbolizes Nandi, Shiva’s closest accomplice, who embodies receptivity, patiently awaiting his lord's appearance at his original place, with faith that truth alone triumphs, as reflected in the country's national motto, "सत्यमेव जयते"!

[Nihar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fact based account. But as a Hindu painful to read. I don't want to give a full review of the book but want to discuss an episode which made me think.

Gandhi has been discredited for his non violence approach to achieve Independence which many termed as cowardly. But this book gives detail of an account where in 1755 CE there was a incident where some local Kazi and his muslim mob went on rampage and attacked the Kashi Vishwanath temple destroying some Hindu symbolic structures. But Hindus of that time didn't do any revenge attack instead they did Bandh and Hartal throughout the city. Some even did fast unto death. At that time Muslim rulers were ruling Benaras and Hindus responded this way only despite being higher in number. In the riot of 1809 CE the British had the political power and this time Hindus retaliated severely.

Lack of political power for a long time is the reason behind this "cowardly" looking behaviour of Hindus. OTOH Muslims behaved aggressively due to political power in their hand for centuries before British. United Hindus with political power will change things completely.

[Ankur Chawla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okk,,, First time read a book which has a context of both sides of the story and interesting to note how facts are twisted in court. Fascinating read with some very interesting facts about Benaras. Also, how small decisions stand the test of time creating a problem for generations to come.

I believe there is a sit down required between parties to acknowledge the wrong doings of past, Apologies of past wrong doings by forefathers and set things right by returning what is owed to society sects, so that a prolific future can be worked upon instead giving paltry excuses and being misguided by a select few idiotic sects reps.

At least someone is doing something right somewhere now... How embarrassing it is to see that some people from our culture who we are proud of for power and power alone polity has been doing appeasement of a select few (not even a sect, a select few within a sect) and pushing rest to hell....

[Madhura Apte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every Indian… whether you believe in God or not…. Because it is not only about faith and belief towards religion and God but the reality in history that everyone must know…..Thank you Vikram Sampath bringing out the truth in the most powerful way through the book… As Vikram Sampath quoted in the book “Shrines fell and shrines rose, but the Hindus of Kashi never gave up—not even once. ... “ The quote is literally true in every sense. To carry the pain and humiliation of centuries without loosing faith is just unbelievable. You will feel that after reading that they leave no stone unturned to prove their faith and belief. The detailed legal fights given in this book till date is live proof of that… It is the book you must have in your library forever…

[Pratik Kurtarkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant compilation of history of Kashi by the author Vikram Sampath.
Its significance in Indian history and in hindu culture through various scriptures, royal inscriptions and local beliefs. The destruction of the temples of Kashi and battles ensued for claim of the land both physical and legal from the time of Aurangzeb till today and the findings through various methods used in the archelogical survey.

[Soujendra Patra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first visited Varanasi, I noticed something unusual—the Nandi was facing a different direction. I already knew that the original temple was not the current one but something beside it. This book beautifully explains Nandi's eternal wait for his lord. However, to my surprise, the original temple is not where most people believe it to be but is actually the mosque beside it, known as the Razia Sultan Mosque. Highly recommended.

[Neeraj Sinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book talks about the history of the holy city of Varanasi and especially of the Vishwanath temple, one of the most revered temple for Hindus. It is definitely readable but the focus is more on the Hindu Muslim legal conflicts on the possession of the temple. Too much of legalese in my opinion. Also one gets to hear mostly the Hindu opinion on the subject. Maybe the Muslim party didn't want to speak with Vikram given his reputation of being right wing historian.

[Navdeep Pundhir · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a holy book!
It is only fitting that we Hindus, Indians are waking up and writing detailed and well researched history which was hitherto a preserve of the leftist hypocrites who denied every glory and negated all the victories. The sickular character of our nation is finally yielding to the Dharmic traditions which makes India the glorious nation it has been

[Aditya Saraff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not exaggerating when I say that it covers every small detail that one would often miss- the importance of Kashi, of Linga worship, of the waves of Iconoclasm and the constant hindu resistance. Absolutely brilliant.
MUST READ!!

[Shazzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We just seem to be living in denial.

[mehul n · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well researched book and has provided all sources/references for the statements made in the book. Typical of Vikram and a treat to read.

[Nisha Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satyamev Jayate

[Vivek Kumar Bharathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice organisation of facts. Read this book to get what is going on actually. Should also see other perspectives to this to form an idea.

[Karan Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAITING FOR SHIVA : Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi
Vikram Sampath delves deeply into the history of Kashi, the City of Light, tracing its journey from ancient scriptures to the modern day, unraveling the story of the Gyanvapi site. As I read through this meticulously researched work, one thought kept resonating in my mind: India—a wounded civilization.

The book exposes how, under the guise of secularism, much of India’s history has been obscured from its Hindu population. It sheds light on the brutal realities of the Islamic conquests, which not only left countless people dead but also saw the desecration and destruction of their sacred places of worship. For centuries, these painful truths have been buried, fostering a collective amnesia about the cultural and religious trauma endured by Hindus.

This book is more than a historical account—it is a revelation. By uncovering this hidden past, it serves as a crucial stepping stone for Hindus to reclaim their understanding of history and connect with the true legacy of Kashi and its temples.

[Likhitha Mutyala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a powerful weapon, it brings out the truth from its origin.

[Student · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting piece of history, told unbelievably badly. Why unbelievably badly? Because its viewpoint is biased. Because the quality of writing and research leaves so so much to be desired. History is important. It needs to be investigated scrupulously. Mr Sampath is what some might pejoratively refer to as a 'bhakt.' His history lessons are coloured by his political views. What he claims on his inarticulate raving cannot be accepted unquestioningly. Disappointingly for intrepid seekers of well-written and researched narrative history, Mr Sampath has delivered a shrill, turgid polemic. The wait for a good book on the Gyanvapi Hindu-Muslim tandav endures. Unfortunately.