What is the History of Atala Mosque? How Did the Case Reach the High Court? Know the Details

The temple-mosque dispute in Jaunpur has reached the Allahabad High Court, where the matter has been scheduled for December 9. The Swaraj Vahini Association, headed by its president of Uttar Pradesh, Santosh Kumar Mishra, has claimed that Atala Mosque was constructed demolishing a temple. The association had even filed a case in the District Court of Jaunpur, claiming they should be allowed to worship at the site that was originally a temple dedicated to Atala Devi.

Santosh Kumar Mishra states that the Atala Mosque was built on the site of the Atala Devi Temple, which he believes was built in the 13th century by Raja Vijay Chandra. The mosque's Waqf board filed a petition in the High Court stating that the case is based on unverified online documents while they have proper records proving its status as a mosque. The matter would be heard by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal in a single-bench hearing.

Atala Mosque: Historical Background

Atala Mosque, situated near the Gomti River in the Sipah neighborhood of Jaunpur, is known for its architectural magnificence. It was built in Tughlaq style and is believed to have been initiated by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1393 and completed in 1408 by Ibrahim Shah Sharqi. The structure is 100 feet tall, with a 75-foot-high and 55-foot-wide main entrance, surrounded by galleries on all sides and domes on the north and south ends.

Its massive three-story hall reflects the scale and design of the mosque. Historically, Firoz Shah Tughlaq founded the city of Jaunpur along the Gomti River, naming it after his brother, Jauna Khan. The mosque remains an important architectural and historical landmark of the region.