Showing 12 of 12 results for “somnath temple”
📿 Myths vs Reality
History
What they say
Mughal rulers were tolerant and respected Hindu temples.
The Truth
Over 40,000 Hindu temples were destroyed by Islamic invaders. Somnath was plundered 17 times. Kashi Vishwanath, Mathura Krishna Janmabhoomi, and Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi were all demolished and mosques built on top. This is documented in their own court chronicles.
Mahmud of Ghazni's own secretary Al-Utbi records the destruction of Somnath and slaughter of 50,000 Hindus. Aurangzeb's firmans (royal orders) explicitly command destruction of Kashi Vishwanath and Mathura temples. The Archeological Survey of India has found Hindu temple foundations under the Gyanvapi mosque. The Ram Janmabhoomi was verified by ASI excavations in 2003.
🛕 Heritage Sites
Somnath Temple
Prabhas Patan, Gujarat
The first of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Destroyed 17 times by Islamic invaders.
What happened
Mahmud of Ghazni plundered it in 1025 CE. Al-Utbi records: The king entered the temple, broke the idol. Destroyed repeatedly by Alauddin Khilji (1299), Muzaffar Shah (1375), and Aurangzeb (1669).
Current status
Rebuilt in 1951 by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sources: Al-Utbi, Tarikh-i-Yamini, ASI Archaeological Survey
