At Katra in Mathura stands a site whose documented history spans two thousand years of construction, destruction, and reconstruction. Vajranabh, Krishna's great-grandson, built the first Kesavadev shrine at the dawn of Kali Yug. Mahmud of Ghazni burned the city in 1017 CE and encountered temples already four thousand years old. Bir Singh Bundela's grand rebuilding in 1618 cost thirty-three lakhs. Aurangzeb demolished it in 1670 and raised a mosque in its place. The legal and physical contest over that ground continues today.
Manoshi Sinha Rawal traces this sequence through the Ramayana, Mahabharata, multiple Puranas, the reports of archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, and historical documents spanning from 1815 — when Raja Patni Mal of Benaras purchased the land at a British auction — through the establishment of the Sri Krishna Janambhoomi Trust in 1950 and the current status of the Shahi Idgah Mosque on the disputed portion of the land. The book is a primary-source history, not a polemic: it lets the archaeological evidence, the land records, and the invaders' own accounts make the case.
For readers following the Krishna Janambhoomi litigation, or anyone who wants to understand the documentary basis of one of modern India's most contested cultural questions, this is the historical record assembled in one place.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Reclaiming Mathura: Historical Analysis of Krishna Janambhoomi is a historical account of Vraj, particularly Mathura, from Treta Yug to the present times based on references from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, several Puranas, archaeological reports, and a treasure trove of more historical literature spanning different time periods. Kesavadev shrine was first built by Vajranabh, Krishna's great grandson, at Katra in Mathura at the dawn of Kali Yug. When Mamhud of Ghazni destroyed the temples and burnt the city in 1017 CE, he came across few temples that were then 4000 years old. Archaeologist Alexander Cunningham opined about the Kesavadev as the grand temple that Mahmud described. Archaeologists have unearthed remnants of magnificent temples, spanning different time periods, at Katra site, with the oldest relic dating back to 2000 years. The last grand construction of Kesavadev temple by Bir Singh Bundela was carried out at a cost of 33 lakhs in 1618. At Aurangzeb's orders, this temple was destroyed in 1670. A mosque was built at the demolished site. In 1815, Raja Patni Mal of Benaras purchased 13.37 acres of land in Mathura, which included the site of the Katra Kesavadev temple, from the British in an auction. Jugal Kishore Birla bought this land from Patni Mal's descendants in 1944. In 1950, the Sri Krishna Janambhoomi Trust was set up to build a grand temple of Krishna at Katra. Part of the 13.37 acres of the land is currently under the control of Shahi Idgah Mosque, including the area where the prison cell - the birthplace of Krishna, is situated. Reclamation is indispensable given the sanctity of the site as one of the prominent tirthas of the Hindus. "...a must read book. It is a factual account of Vraj, specifically Mathura, from Treta Yug to present... The book meticulously details Mathura's resistance against invaders." - Anand Ranganathan, Author and Scientist. "...This is the background history that is absolutely necessary to understand several current debates." Sanjeev Sanyal, Writer and Economist. "...a compelling narrative that celebrates Mathura's spiritual legacy and its pivotal role in the reawakening of Bharat's soul." -Vishnu Shankar Jain, Supreme Court Advocate, Counsel for Hindus in Krishna Janambhoomi case, Gyanvapi, and other temples. "...a superb account of the history of Mathura from the earliest times." -Padma Shri Subhash Kak, Author, Historian.
