Demolition of Original Ram Mandir in 1528 as described by Sant Tulsidas ji

August 6, 2020

Copying from a Google discussion: https://groups.google.com/g/bvparishat/c/X9xQiS5HhUs?pli=1

Subodh Kumar:

"Respected scholars,

It is said that demolition of Ram Mandir in 1528 to build the Babari structure took place when Tulsi Das ji was around. It is argued by the Babri mosque representatives that since no account of the act was left by Tulsi Das ji of the destruction of original Ram Mandir, there was no Ram Mandir there in the first place.

The following deposition before Allahabad High Court in 2003 by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya lays this fallacy to rest. It also appears to be collusion of our entire media that these verses of Tulsi Das ji have never been brought out to see the day light.

I wonder if these verses can be traced and quoted by some expert for enlightenment of general public.

Deposition on behalf of Lord Rāma in Ayodhyā case

In the year 2003, Jagadguru Rāmabhadrācārya deposed as an expert witness for religious matters in the Allahabad High Court. As the infant Rāma is a minor, Jagadguru Rāmabhadrācārya, being a descendant of sage Vaśiṣṭha and thus a Brāhmaṇa from the Gurukula of Lord Rāma, defended the Lord in the case. Portions of his affidavit and cross-examination are quoted in the final judgement by the High Court. In his affidavit, he cited the ancient Hindu scriptures (Vālmīki's Rāmāyaṇa, Rāmatāpanīya Upaniṣad, Skanda Purāṇa, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, et cetera) describing Ayodhyā as a city holy to Hindus and the birthplace of Rāma. He cited verses from two works of Tulasīdāsa - eight verses from the Dohā Śataka which describe the destruction of a temple and construction of mosque at the disputed site in 1528 CE, and one verse from Kavitāvalī which mentions the disputed site. Refuting the theory of the original temple being to the North of the disputed area (as pleaded by the pro-mosque parties), he described the boundaries of the Janmabhūmi as mentioned in the Ayodhyā Māhātmya section of Skanda Purāṇa, which tallied with the present location of disputed area as noted by Justice Sudhir Agarwal. The verdict on September 30, 2010, ruled in the favour of Lord Rāma – the prayers of crores of Hindus were answered, and Jagadguru Rāmabhadrācārya’s testimony was vindicated."
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August 6, 2020

Nityananda Misra ji:

The affidavit, testimony and cross-examination of Jagadguru Rāmānandācārya, Svāmī Rāmabhadrācārya in the Ayodhya dispute lasted several days in July 2003. On the request of Hindu leaders, the Guru deposed as an expert witness for religious matters (OPW 16) in Other Original Suit Number 5. The entire deposition was in Hindi and has been published in its entirety (running into 46 pages) by Tulsi Mandal, Ghaziabad, in the *Ṣaṣṭipūrti (Abhinandana Grantha)*, ISBN: 978-81-923856-0-0. The details of the book can be found in my post on *Śrīhanumaccatvāriṃśikā* on this forum. Those interested may procure the book to read the entire testimony and cross-examination.

I have attached two pages from the affidavit which cite the verses by Tulsidas from the less-known work Tulsi Doha Shatak describing the demolition of the Ram Temple and construction of the mosque at the same
place by Mir Baqi. Using his photographic memory and command over scriptures and works in Sanskrit and Awadhi, the Guru had refuted arguments by the AIMPLB lawyers Zafaryab Jilani (who has a great knowledge of Hindu scriptures) and Mushtaq Ahmed Siddiqui.

At the end of his deposition, Justice Sibghat Ullah Khan remarked to the witness "Sir, you are indeed a
divine personality." The testimony has been cited in some detail and referred to at several places by Justice Sudhir Agarwal in his final judgement. The reference starts from page no. 780 of the judgement. The citations and observations of Justice Agarwal can be seen in the full judgement available on the

Allahabad High Court website -
http://elegalix.allahabadhighcourt.in/elegalix/DisplayAyodhyaBenchLan...
Apart from Jagadguru Rāmabhadrācārya, another high-ranking religious leader had deposed in Ram Janmabhoomi case for Hindus. He was Svāmī Avimukteśvarānanda Sarasvatī, the close disciple of Svāmī Svarūpānanda arasvatī (the incumbent Śaṅkarācārya of Dvārikā Pīṭha). The judgement by Justice Agrawal also cites the testimony of Avimukteśvarānanda Sarasvatī.

August 6, 2020

Nityananda Misra ji:

Below are the verses along with the English translations by the court (labelled as AHC), and me (labelled as NM). As I mentioned the court translations are not very accurate but get the gist or essence of the Dohas. I have tried my best to provide an accurate translation with my limited knowledge of Awadhi.

मंत्र उपनिषद ब्राह्मनहुँ बहु पुरान इतिहास ।

जवन जराये रोष भरि करि तुलसी परिहास ॥ 85 ॥

AHC: Goswami Tulsidas Ji says that 'Yavans' (barbarians /Mohammedans) ridicule hymns, several Upnishads and treatises like Brahmans, Puranas, Itihas (histories) etc. and also the Hindu society (orthodox religion) having faith in them. They exploit the Hindu society in different ways.

NM: Tulasīdāsa says that the Yavanas, filled with rage, burnt many Mantras or Saṃhitās, Upaniṣads and even Brāhamaṇas (parts of Vedas), and Purāṇa and Itihāsa scriptures, after ridiculing them.

सिखा सूत्र ते हीन करि बल ते हिन्दू लोग ।

भमरि भगाये देश ते तुलसी कठिन कुजोग ॥ 86 ॥

AHC: Goswami Tulsi Das says that forcible attempts are being made by Muslims to expel the followers of Hinduism from their own native place (country), forcibly divesting them of their Shikha (lock of hair on the crown of head) and 'Yagyopaveet' (sacrificial thread) and causing them to deviate from their religion. Tulsi Das terms this time as a hard and harrowing one.

NM: Tulasīdāsa says that in the hard and inappropriate age, [they, the Yavanas] forcibly made the Hindus bereft of Śikhā (the hair tuft) and Sūtra (the sacred thread) and made them wander [as homeless people], after which they expelled them from their country (native place).

बाबर बर्बर आइके कर लीन्हे करवाल ।

हने पचारि पचारि जन तुलसी काल कराल ॥ 87 ॥

AHC: Describing the barbaric attack of Babur, Goswami Ji says that he indulged in gruesome genocide of the natives of that place (followers of Hinduism), using sword (army).

NM: The barbaric Babar came, with a sword in his hand, and killed people after repeatedly calling out to them. Tulasīdāsa says that the time was terrible.

संवत सर वसु बान नभ ग्रीष्म ऋतु अनुमानि ।

तुलसी अवधहिं जड़ जवन अनरथ किय अनखानि ॥ 88 ॥

AHC: Gowami Tulsi Das Ji says that countless atrocities were committed by foolish ‘Yavans’ (Mohammedans) in Awadh (Ayodhya) in and around the summer of Samvat 1585, that is, 1528 AD (Samvat 1585- 57=1528 AD).

NM: Tulasīdāsa says that in the Saṃvat 1585 (1528 AD), sometime around the summer season, the ignorant Yavanas caused disaster and sorrow in Awadh (Ayodhyā).

राम जनम महिं मंदिरहिं तोरि मसीत बनाय ।

जवहिं बहुत हिन्दुन हते तुलसी कीन्ही हाय ॥ 89 ॥

AHC: Describing the attack made by 'Yavans', that is, Mohammedans on Sri Ramjanambhumi temple, Tulsi Das Ji says that after a number of Hindus had been mercilessly killed, Sri Ram Janam Bhumi temple was broken to make it a mosque. Looking at the ruthless killing of Hindus, Tulsi Ji says that his heart felt aggrieved, that is, it began to weep, and on account of incident it continues to writhe in pain.

NM: Destroying the temple at Rāmajanmabhūmi, they constructed a mosque. When they killed many Hindus, Tulasīdāsa cried out - Alas!

दल्यो मीरबाकी अवध मन्दिर रामसमाज ।

तुलसी रोवत हृदय हति त्राहि त्राहि रघुराज ॥ 90 ॥

AHC: Seeing the mosque constructed by Mir Baqi in Awadh, that is, Ayodhya in the wake of demolition of SriRam Janam Bhumi temple preceded by the grisly killing of followers of Hinduism having faith in Rama and also seeing the bad plight of the temple of his favoured deity Rama, the heart of Tulsi began to always cry tearfully for Raghuraj (the most revered among the scions of the Raghu Dynasty). Being aggrieved thereby, submitting himself to the will of Sri Rama, he shouted: O Ram ! Save....Save...

NM: Mir Baqi destroyed the temple in Awadh (Ayodhyā) and the Rāmasamāja (the idols Rāma Pañcāyatana – Rāma, Sītā, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, Hanumān). [On thinking of this,] Tulasīdāsa cries, beating his chest, O the best of Raghus! Protect us, protect us!

राम जनम मंदिर जहाँ लसत अवध के बीच ।

तुलसी रची मसीत तहँ मीरबाँकि खल नीच ॥ 91 ॥

AHC: Tulsi Das Ji says that the mosque was constructed by the wicked Mir Baqi after demolishing Sri Ram Janam Bhumi temple, situated in the middle of Awadh, that is, Ayodhya.

NM: Tulasīdāsa says that in the midst of Awadh (Ayodhyā), where the Rāmajanmabhūmi temple was resplendent, there the wicked and vile Mir Baqi constructed a mosque.

रामायन घरि घन्ट जहँ श्रुति पुरान उपखान ।

तुलसी जवन अजान तहँ कियो कुरान अजान ॥ 92 ॥

AHC: Tulsi Das Ji says that the Quran as well as Ajaan call is heard from the holy place of Sri Ram Janam Bhumi, where discourses from Shrutis, Vedas, Puranas, Upnishads etc. used to be always heard and which used to be constantly reverberated with sweet sound of bells.

NM: Tulasīdāsa says that where there was constant ringing of the bells and the narrations (upakhāna, from Saṃskṛta upākhyāna) of the Rāmāyaṇa, Veda and Purāṇa, the ignorant (ajāna) Yavana read (literally, “did”) the Quran and the Azaan (ajāna). (Yamaka figure of speech in the repetition of ajāna.)