Historian Ram Sharan Sharma argues that the word the Sanskrit mandira, which occurs in this inscription, originally meant dwelling and was not used to describe a Hindu shrine in any Sanskrit text until the 18th century. Moreover, no earlier sources including the writings of the 17th century saint Tulsidas, refer to any temple at Rama's birthplace. Based on these arguments, Sharma concludes that the Vishnu-Hari inscription is a 17th-century inscription that was mysteriously thrust and concealed in the brick-wall of the 16th century Babri mosque.