Waiting for Shiva

Waiting for Shiva Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi – is a non-fiction book by historian Vikram Sampath, published in February 2024. The book provides a detailed account of the long and contentious history of the Gyan Vapi site in Varanasi, drawing on various historical, religious, archaeological, and legal sources. The book delves into the history of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of Hinduism’s most sacred sites, which has faced multiple episodes of destruction by Islamic invaders, particularly during the Mughal era under Aurangzeb. Sampath uses extensive research, including Vedic and Puranic texts, foreign travelogues, Persian accounts, and modern legal documents, to chronicle the resilience of the Hindu community and their continuous efforts to reclaim the sacred site.