Varanasi, Jan 30 : The Varanasi district administration stopped Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati's bid to march to the Gyanvapi complex on Monday evening to perform a circumambulation of the "original Vishwanath," the police said.

Senior police and administration officers said the seer had not taken permission and could not be allowed to perform circumambulation of the complex.

The Shankaracharya has filed a petition seeking regular worshipping rights after claims that a 'Shivling' was purportedly recovered from the 'wuzukhana' (ablution pond) during a court-mandated survey in May 2022.

Bhelupur Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Atul Anjan Tripathi and Dashaswamedh ACP Awadhesh Pandey said that the seer -- if he wants to perform a circumambulation -- will have to seek permission from district administration and police.

In view of the seer's call, heavy police force was deployed at Shri Vidya Mutt in Kedarghat area on Monday.

When the seer and his disciples tried to come out, police stopped them, leading to a heated argument between the seer and the ACPs. Finally pacified, the seer decided to seek permission and went back.

The seer said he had been visiting Gyanvapi for 40 years for circumambulation and many Sanatanis practise it as priests are not allowed to offer prayers to deities inside Gyanvapi.

"I have been doing the parikrama for years. After becoming Shankaracharya, it was the first time I was going for circumambulation. Restrictions could be imposed on entering the fenced area but parikrama from outside should be allowed," the seer added.

He said the purported 'Shivling' found in the wuzukhana is Lord Adi Visheshwara, who cannot be left without daily worship.

In his suit, he sought regular worship of the purported 'Shivling' on grounds that it is the right of the deity to be worshipped every day.

His petition was filed before the court of civil judge (senior division).

In April 2023, it was transferred to the court of district judge and clubbed with six other Gyanvapi-related cases.

/IANS