Illegal construction at Mansehra temple irks Hindus

PESHAWAR: Illegal constructions at the site of 3,000 years old Shiv Temple at Mansehra have irked the local Hindu community.

Despite its religious, historical, and architectural significance, the authenticity of the temple is at risk due to the unplanned constructions at the site by the department concerned. It was reported that toilets are being constructed along the lower (covered part) sacred cult object (i.e. Shiva lingam, which needs to be exposed to enhance its religious significance). This has trampled the temple's sacredness, historical and architectural originality, and authenticity.

The Hindu community has moved the Abbottabad bench of the Peshawar High Court, which has admitted the case for hearing and issued notices to the authorities, concerned seeking a reply by June 17, 2012.

Evacuee Trust Property Board’s Hindu Affairs Deputy Secretary Faraz Abbas told this correspondent that he had not received any complaint regarding the Shiv Temple. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has released funds for the construction of the temple at the request of MPA Ravi Kumar. However, the technical team of the board will visit the area in a few days and the issue will be resolved in consultation with all the stakeholders.

All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement chairman Haroon Sarab Diyal told this scribe that the community has brought the issue to the notice of the authorities concerned to stop these constructions at the site to ensure the sacredness and authenticity of this important temple. But no department has taken note of the seriousness of the matter.

He said Mansehra Shiv Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Pakistan. The temple is at least 2,000 to 3,000 years old and located on the left of Karakoram Highway in Gandhiyan village in Mansehra district. The village is better known as Chitti Gati, a name that is given due to the presence of the Shiva lingam made of white marble. This important temple is the sole example of a living Shiva lingam temple in the entire Hazara region.

“The Shiva temple is a double story structure with a square layout. The lower chamber of the temple is buried; while the upper chamber is accessible from outside at the southeast corner. The Garbhagriha (Sanctum) of the temple accommodating the Shiva lingams octagonal in shape and is surmounted by the ribbed dome showing an interesting blend of the Muslim and Hindu architectural features. The annual Shivaratri in the temple is visited by people all around Pakistan and from abroad.

Haroon Diyal said that being one of the few surviving Shiv temples, the temple has a great religious significance and has the potential to attract religious tourists/visitors from home and abroad. It can be made more attractive to the religious pilgrims and other tourist if the lower part of the cult objects is also exposed through scientific archaeological excavation by the experts.

When contacted, Archaeology and Museum Director Abdul Samad said that any heritage building which is 100 years old comes under the antiquities definition of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act 2016. The recent intervention in the Gandhian temple Mansehra is illegal and against the law. Auqaf department cannot do physical work in any such heritage building without consulting the archaeology department.

“We are facing this issue frequently with properties of auqaf and evacuee trust. We have moved a comprehensive summary to hand overall 100 years and plus old buildings to the archaeology dept for conservation and uplifting. The historic and religious buildings need to be secured for which they should be handed over to the department”, he said