Puranas to travelogues, all cited in SC to say Ayodhya is birthplace of Lord Ram

From the 'Purans' written by sages to travelogues of an English trader, a missionary and a physician, the counsel for deity 'Ram Lalla' cited them all in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to buttress claims that Hindus have long believed Ayodhya to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.

'Ram Lalla', a party in the decades-old Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, informed the top court through its counsel that all the relevant historical material available shows the faith and belief of Hindus that Ayodhya was 'janamsthan' (birthplace) of Lord Ram and that there was a temple at the disputed site.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was told by senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for 'Ram Lalla', that various historical texts recorded the faith and belief of Hindus about Lord Ram's birthplace.

"What is significant in these publications is the way faith and belief of Hindus in Lord Ram and Ayodhya has been perceived. This faith and belief of Hindus has remained in the past and has continued as recorded in various books. If this is belief of the people then the land can't be bisected or trisected," Vaidyanathan told the bench, also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.

Referring to a travelogue written by English merchant William Finch, who had visited India in 1608-11, Vaidynathan told the bench that he has recorded that there was a fort or a castle in Ayodhya which Hindus believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama.

"A book written by William Foster -- Early Travels in India (1583-1619) -- has a travelogue written by William Finch, who had travelled during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir. He has recorded about the presence of forts or castle in Ayodhya and belief of Hindus that it was the birthplace of Lord Ram," Vaidyanathan said.

He also referred to the account of missionary Joseph Tiefenthaler, who travelled to India between 1740 and 1765.

"Tiefenthaler has written in his travelogue that Hindus believed that the ancient city of Ayodhya was the birthplace of Lord Rama and a mosque was built on the ruins of temple", he said.

Vaidyanathan referred to other travelogues, including those written by British surveyor Montgomery Martin and a scottish Physician Francis Buchnan who had travelled to India in 1807-1814.

"Persistent pilgrimage and devotees shows the faith and belief of the people on the place, which is called Janamsthan," he said.

The bench then asked Vaidyanathan about the structure. "When it was first called Babri Masjid?".

Responding to the query, he said: "In the 19th century. There is no document available to show that earlier (prior to 19th century) it was known as Babri Masjid."
The bench asked Sunni Waqf Board, "Do you agree with the averment made by the Shia Waqf Board in its suit or you dispute it?"