Swami Avimukteshwaranand, who announced worship in Gyanvapi, has been placed under house arrest. In fact, the saints had announced the worship on Saturday, June 4, at the place where the Shivling was found. However, the administration refused to allow the saints to offer prayers, citing the matter being sub-judice in the court.
Swami Avimukteshwarananda sat on a dharna at the gate outside his ashram after the Varanasi administration denied permission for worship in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. He said that he would not take food until he got permission. Swami said that he should be given the right to worship the Gyanvapi Shivling.
He also said that ‘The Shivling that has appeared in Gyanvapi is an ancient Jyotirlinga. There should be a worship of that manifest Shivling every day.