The original temple, located at the current site of the mosque, was uprooted by Qutb al-Din Aibak in 1193/1194 CE, upon the defeat of Raja Jayachandra of Kannauj; the Razia Mosque was constructed in its place, a few years later. The temple was rebuilt by a Gujarati merchant during the reign of Iltutmish (1211–1266 CE) only to be demolished by Hussain Shah Sharqi (1447–1458) or Sikandar Lodhi (1489–1517). During Akbar’s rule, Raja Man Singh got the temple re-constructed, but it again fell victim to Aurangzeb’s intense religious zealotry.
Here is the most authentic account on Origins of Gnyanvapi based on the most ancient source – The Skanda Maha Puranam written by Sri Veda Vyasa Maharshi.
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