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

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!

Review as an Amazon Product: The book arrived in excellent condition.Review from a Reading Perspective:The book offers a detailed account of Kashi’s history, covering the waves of destruction during the Mughal era of expansionism and the legal contestations of recent times with great insight. I particularly enjoyed the chapters that explore scriptural references from Kashi Khanda, Linga Purana, and other texts, helping readers understand the temple’s significance in Bharat’s civilization and why its reclamation and restoration matter.

This book deserves more publicity . Vikram’s painstaking research is well evident throughout the read. It’s thought provoking as it takes the reader through the annals of history, and why Kashi is important to our civilisation.A must read, and it’s easy to grasp.

Good book

Being a staunch follower of Dr. Vikram Sampath ji I would like to request all to read his books especially this book, where he has very well articulated the findings with his cogent writing by unraveling the history of Kashi Gyan Vapi, cases of its pillage and plunder by various hegemons and despots and many incidents of our brave hearts who fought the barbarians and reclaiming the temple time and again. So now, shaving the truth is not possible after ASI revelations. I would like to eulogize Dr. Sampath taking pain for 6 months and writing this book which is the need of the hour. Hitherto, very few authors have touched this subject on this bloodiest iconoclasm on Bharat bhoomi. As a Sanatani, I do believe that various acrimonious legal battles will definitely come to an end and Nandi’s wait will be over and Mahadev will once again come and reside in Kashi Gyan Vapi Mandir. As a reader, I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Vikram Sampath ji and wishing him all the very best for this book.Har Har Mahadev.

Good read

The book brings outs every possible detail to show how our temple was destroyed and then still we are fighting a legal battle to get what is rightfully ours.EXCELLENT WORK!!

Dear Dr. SampathThank you for writing the marvelous book Waiting for Shiva. A masterpiece by a master writer and historian. Factual and deeply researched. Mahadev truly wanted the history of his city written through you. I literally heard you speak as I read (Guess you must have heard this many a times). The reverence, pain, anger, angst, frustration, tenacity and the never give up and never let go feelings comes through when reading the book. The book is best read slowly … helps absorb the above feelings and helps reiterating how we today must not let go and should keep fighting with the same doggedness displayed amply by our ancestors. We must honour them for persisting in the face of tremendous persecution. Bharat will in time be very grateful to all people who kept and are keeping the flame of reclaiming our mandirs, culture and civilization alive despite Govt efforts to curb Hindus in every aspect. Really hope you do write the book on Dharm. Your perspective on Dharm will be a riveting read. Best seller for sure :)